’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.’

CHAPTER XXVIII

So the Second Act ended.

Turning to the Third Act, Henry looked wearily at the pages as he let them slip through his fingers.  Both in mind and body, he began to feel the need of repose.