'While the Countess is still absorbed in the bold yet simplecombination of circumstances which she has discovered, the Baronreturns. He takes a serious view of the case of the Courier; it may benecessary, he thinks, to send for medical advice. No servant is leftin the palace, now the English maid has taken her departure. The Baronhimself must fetch the doctor, if the doctor is really needed.
'"Let us have medical help, by all means," his sister replies. "Butwait and hear something that I have to say to you first." She thenelectrifies the Baron by communicating her idea to him. What danger ofdiscovery have they to dread? My Lord's life in Venice has been a lifeof absolute seclusion: nobody but his banker knows him, even bypersonal appearance. He has presented his letter of credit as aperfect stranger; and he and his banker have never seen each othersince that first visit. He has given no parties, and gone to noparties. On the few occasions when he has hired a gondola or taken awalk, he has always been alone. Thanks to the atrocious suspicionwhich makes him ashamed of being seen with his wife, he has led thevery life which makes the proposed enterprise easy of accomplishment.
'The cautious Baron listens--but gives no positive opinion, as yet."See what you can do with the Courier," he says; "and I will decidewhen I hear the result. One valuable hint I may give you before yougo. Your man is easily tempted by money--if you only offer him enough.The other day, I asked him, in jest, what he would do for a thousandpounds. He answered, 'Anything.' Bear that in mind; and offer yourhighest bid without bargaining."
'The scene changes to the Courier's room, and shows the poor wretchwith a photographic portrait of his wife in his hand, crying. TheCountess enters.
'She wisely begins by sympathising with her contemplated accomplice.He is duly grateful; he confides his sorrows to his gracious mistress.Now that he believes himself to be on his death-bed, he feels remorsefor his neglectful treatment of his wife. He could resign himself todie; but despair overpowers him when he remembers that he has saved nomoney, and that he will leave his widow, without resources, to themercy of the world.
'On this hint, the Countess speaks. "Suppose you were asked to do aperfectly easy thing," she says; "and suppose you were rewarded fordoing it by a present of a thousand pounds, as a legacy for your widow?"
'The Courier raises himself on his pillow, and looks at the Countesswith an expression of incredulous surprise. She can hardly be cruelenough (he thinks) to joke with a man in his miserable plight. Willshe say plainly what this perfectly easy thing is, the doing of whichwill meet with such a magnificent reward?
'The Countess answers that question by confiding her project to theCourier, without the slightest reserve.
'Some minutes of silence follow when she has done. The Courier is notweak enough yet to speak without stopping to think first. Stillkeeping his eyes on the Countess, he makes a quaintly insolent remarkon what he has just heard. "I have not hitherto been a religious man;but I feel myself on the way to it. Since your ladyship has spoken tome, I believe in the Devil." It is the Countess's interest to see thehumorous side of this confession of faith. She takes no offence. Sheonly says, "I will give you half an hour by yourself, to think over myproposal. You are in danger of death. Decide, in your wife'sinterests, whether you will die worth nothing, or die worth a thousandpounds."
'Left alone, the Courier seriously considers his position--and decides.He rises with difficulty; writes a few lines on a leaf taken from hispocket-book; and, with slow and faltering steps, leaves the room.
'The Countess, returning at the expiration of the half-hour's interval,finds the room empty. While she is wondering, the Courier opens thedoor. What has he been doing out of his bed? He answers, "I have beenprotecting my own life, my lady, on the bare chance that I may recoverfrom the bronchitis for the third time. If you or the Baron attemptsto hurry me out of this world, or to deprive me of my thousand poundsreward, I shall tell the doctor where he will find a few lines ofwriting, which describe your ladyship's plot. I may not have strengthenough, in the case supposed, to betray you by making a completeconfession with my own lips; but I can employ my last breath to speakthe half-dozen words which will tell the doctor where he is to look.Those words, it is needless to add, will be addressed to your Ladyship,if I find your engagements towards me faithfully kept."
'With this audacious preface, he proceeds to state the conditions onwhich he will play his part in the conspiracy, and die (if he does die)worth a thousand pounds.
'Either the Countess or the Baron are to taste the food and drinkbrought to his bedside, in his presence, and even the medicines whichthe doctor may prescribe for him. As for the promised sum of money, itis to be produced in one bank-note, folded in a sheet of paper, onwhich a line is to be written, dictated by the Courier. The twoenclosures are then to be sealed up in an envelope, addressed to hiswife, and stamped ready for the post. This done, the letter is to beplaced under his pillow; the Baron or the Countess being at liberty tosatisfy themselves, day by day, at their own time, that the letterremains in its place, with the seal unbroken, as long as the doctor hasany hope of his patient's recovery. The last stipulation follows. TheCourier has a conscience; and with a view to keeping it easy, insiststhat he shall be left in ignorance of that part of the plot whichrelates to the sequestration of my Lord. Not that he caresparticularly what becomes of his miserly master--but he does disliketaking other people's responsibilities on his own shoulders.
'These conditions being agreed to, the Countess calls in the Baron, whohas been waiting events in the next room.
'He is informed that the Courier has yielded to temptation; but he isstill too cautious to make any compromising remarks. Keeping his backturned on the bed, he shows a bottle to the Countess. It is labelled"Chloroform." She understands that my Lord is to be removed from hisroom in a convenient state of insensibility. In what part of thepalace is he to be hidden? As they open the door to go out, theCountess whispers that question to the Baron. The Baron whispers back,"In the vaults!" The curtain falls.'