登陆注册
15459600000070

第70章 CHAPTER XXVII(2)

'The Countess answers that question by confiding her project to the Courier, without the slightest reserve.

'Some minutes of silence follow when she has done. The Courier is not weak enough yet to speak without stopping to think first.

Still keeping his eyes on the Countess, he makes a quaintly insolent remark on 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 to me, I believe in the Devil."It is the Countess's interest to see the humorous side of this confession of faith. She takes no offence. She only says, "I will give you half an hour by yourself, to think over my proposal.

You are in danger of death. Decide, in your wife's interests, whether you will die worth nothing, or die worth a thousand pounds."'Left alone, the Courier seriously considers his position--and decides. He rises with difficulty; writes a few lines on a leaf taken from his pocket-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 the door. What has he been doing out of his bed? He answers, "I have been protecting my own life, my lady, on the bare chance that I may recover from the bronchitis for the third time.

If you or the Baron attempts to hurry me out of this world, or to deprive me of my thousand pounds reward, I shall tell the doctor where he will find a few lines of writing, which describe your ladyship's plot. I may not have strength enough, in the case supposed, to betray you by making a complete confession with my own lips;but I can employ my last breath to speak the 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 on which 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 drink brought to his bedside, in his presence, and even the medicines which the doctor may prescribe for him. As for the promised sum of money, it is to be produced in one bank-note, folded in a sheet of paper, on which a line is to be written, dictated by the Courier.

The two enclosures are then to be sealed up in an envelope, addressed to his wife, and stamped ready for the post. This done, the letter is to be placed under his pillow; the Baron or the Countess being at liberty to satisfy themselves, day by day, at their own time, that the letter remains in its place, with the seal unbroken, as long as the doctor has any hope of his patient's recovery.

The last stipulation follows. The Courier has a conscience; and with a view to keeping it easy, insists that he shall be left in ignorance of that part of the plot which relates to the sequestration of my Lord.

Not that he cares particularly what becomes of his miserly master--but he does dislike taking other people's responsibilities on his own shoulders.

'These conditions being agreed to, the Countess calls in the Baron, who has been waiting events in the next room.

'He is informed that the Courier has yielded to temptation;but he is still too cautious to make any compromising remarks.

Keeping his back turned on the bed, he shows a bottle to the Countess.

It is labelled "Chloroform." She understands that my Lord is to be removed from his room in a convenient state of insensibility.

In what part of the palace is he to be hidden? As they open the door to go out, the Countess whispers that question to the Baron. The Baron whispers back, "In the vaults!"The curtain falls.'

同类推荐
  • 推逢寤语 医林琐语

    推逢寤语 医林琐语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 居业录

    居业录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 豪谱

    豪谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说宝贤陀罗尼经

    佛说宝贤陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 蛾眉拳谱

    蛾眉拳谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 人生誓言

    人生誓言

    人生谁才知道人活着的意义,那又有谁知道你自己在唯一的生命中最重要的又是什么?
  • 猎阳之断生死

    猎阳之断生死

    茫茫恒宇无时无刻在发生一些奇异的事,‘绿阳’的诞生便是其中之一。生物在‘绿阳’的照耀下觉醒了体内传承的记忆。伍郁云身负绝顶能力为了守护心中的信念不断拼搏,他在苍茫宇宙中会走到哪一步?请看《猎阳之断生死》!
  • 无相馆记事簿

    无相馆记事簿

    无相馆的老板换成了刚刚十八岁的无相,无相馆记事簿的秘密到底是什么?
  • 遇上了我的爱

    遇上了我的爱

    她,叶幸允他,慕林冽当她遇上了他他爱上了她究竟是谁的劫?她说:“我一直觉得你是我再难以靠近的人,可是这样一个人突然和我说爱我,这叫我如何接受?他说:“她一直是我人生中的意外。”一个矫情考古女主慢慢沦陷,冷情总裁男主吃掉窝边草的故事。一眼倾心,一世爱恋
  • 扭转天地

    扭转天地

    一个在现代社会中屡屡不得志的大学生,不断悔悟着自己从小以来的种种不应该,发誓如果重生一定要做人中龙凤,然而2012年的世界末日仿佛提供了这个机会。。。。。
  • 超神面具

    超神面具

    敌人太强打不赢?从额头往下一拉。“出来吧!面具”带上面具还是干不赢?“你这是逼我全身虚化!”左手虚闪,右手王的闪光。对了,头上还有一发!(没有看过死神的读者们不要紧,不会影响阅读,这是一个另类金手指。)(注意!本书不会出现什么斩魂刀之类的,主角只能虚化,放虚闪)(如果有什么意见,请在下方留言。小⑨会一个个仔细看的。)书友群:93772667
  • 我爱太深,终成劫

    我爱太深,终成劫

    很多人,因为一个人爱上了一座城。因为一个人,离开了一座城。当我坐上一个陌生的旅途车。我在想,我是为什么离开。也许卑微,也许不舍。你渗透了时间。时间渗透了我的生活。杨凌轩对我说,如果一开始我爱上你,便是一场幸福,现在已变惘然一梦。秦东篱对我说,爱,一场,我终抵不过你心中,执着,余生,你不爱我,我能参与,便足已!终究,我爱太深,终成劫………很多人,因为一个人爱上了一座城,因为一个人,离开了一座城。
  • 腹黑老公有怪癖:夫人,我饿了

    腹黑老公有怪癖:夫人,我饿了

    听说,每一个人的身边,都有一个保护神。或者前世爱人,或者今生至亲,或者……神鬼妖魔。一纸合同,苏杏成为墨扬的女保镖,成为他的保护神。可是……谁来告诉她,为什么高冷的总裁是个胆小鬼?“夫人,我怕鬼,一起睡吧!”“夫人,有妖怪,让我抱着你吧!”“夫人,有邪魔,听说双修可以治胆小……”半夜月上枝头,总裁爬上床:“夫人,我好饿。”苏杏怒而撕衣:“有本事把我吸干!”“嗷!夫人的血最香!”总裁意犹未尽抹去嘴角鲜血,勾起一丝邪笑,“我还饿。”
  • 进旨

    进旨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 租房诡事

    租房诡事

    房东老太太一直嘱咐我,睡觉时要把门关好,加上卫生纸,可是我没听,自从房间门口出现黄纸之后,我的人生便发生了改变。好友毛子从网上约了个姑娘叫小影,可小影说要救我性命……从此之后,我的人生一片昏暗,不停的经历种种怪事,更让我一次又一次的徘徊在生死间,我曾见过道门之巅,也曾看过鬼门阴棺,一个又一个的惊天阴谋接踵而至,当我就快解开真相的那一刻,我才发现,这一切,从一开始就是一个阴谋!廉价房千万不要住,尤其是死过人的楼,很容易出事,就知道你们不信,接下来,我说说我租房遇到的那些怪事!