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the natural result followshe gives way。
'So far； the Baron has no cause to complain。 But my Lord's turn
comes； when the marriage has been celebrated； and when the honeymoon
is over。 The Baron has joined the married pair at a palace which they have
hired in Venice。 He is still bent on solving the problem of the
〃Philosopher's Stone。〃 His laboratory is set up in the vaults beneath the
palaceso that smells from chemical experiments may not incommode the
Countess； in the higher regions of the house。 The one obstacle in the way
of his grand discovery is； as usual； the want of money。 His position at the
present time has become truly critical。 He owes debts of honour to
gentlemen in his own rank of life； which must positively be paid； and he
proposes； in his own friendly manner； to borrow the money of my Lord。
My Lord positively refuses； in the rudest terms。 The Baron applies to his
sister to exercise her conjugal influence。 She can only answer that her
noble husband （being no longer distractedly in love with her） now appears
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in his true character； as one of the meanest men living。 The sacrifice of the
marriage has been made； and has already proved useless。
'Such is the state of affairs at the opening of the Second Act。
'The entrance of the Countess suddenly disturbs the Baron's reflections。
She is in a state bordering on frenzy。 Incoherent expressions of rage
burst from her lips： it is some time before she can sufficiently control
herself to speak plainly。 She has been doubly insulted first； by a menial
person in her employment； secondly； by her husband。 Her maid； an
Englishwoman； has declared that she will serve the Countess no longer。
She will give up her wages； and return at once to England。 Being asked
her reason for this strange proceeding； she insolently hints that the
Countess's service is no service for an honest woman； since the Baron has
entered the house。 The Countess does； what any lady in her position would
do； she indignantly dismisses the wretch on the spot。
'My Lord； hearing his wife's voice raised in anger； leaves the study in
which he is accustomed to shut himself up over his books； and asks what
this disturbance means。 The Countess informs him of the outrageous
language and conduct of her maid。 My Lord not only declares his entire
approval of the woman's conduct； but expresses his own abominable
doubts of his wife's fidelity in language of such horrible brutality that no
lady could pollute her lips by repeating it。 〃If I had been a man；〃 the
Countess says； 〃and if I had had a weapon in my hand； I would have
struck him dead at my feet！〃
'The Baron； listening silently so far； now speaks。 〃Permit me to
finish the sentence for you；〃 he says。 〃You would have struck your
husband dead at your feet； and by that rash act； you would have deprived
yourself of the insurance money settled on the widow the very money
which is wanted to relieve your brother from the unendurable pecuniary
position which he now occupies！〃
'The Countess gravely reminds the Baron that this is no joking matter。
After what my Lord has said to her； she has little doubt that he will
communicate his infamous suspicions to his lawyers in England。 If
nothing is done to prevent it； she may be divorced and disgraced； and
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thrown on the world； with no resource but the sale of her jewels to keep
her from starving。
'At this moment； the Courier who has been engaged to travel with my
Lord from England crosses the stage with a letter to take to the post。 The
Countess stops him； and asks to look at the address on the letter。 She takes
it from him for a moment； and shows it to her brother。 The handwriting is
my Lord's； and the letter is directed to his lawyers in London。
'The Courier proceeds to the post…office。 The Baron and the Countess
look at each other in silence。 No words are needed。 They thoroughly
understand the position in which they are placed； they clearly see the
terrible remedy for it。 What is the plain alternative before them？
Disgrace and ruinor； my Lord's death and the insurance money！
'The Baron walks backwards and forwards in great agitation； talking to
himself。 The Countess hears fragments of what he is saying。 He speaks
of my Lord's constitution； probably weakened in India of a cold which
my Lord has caught two or three days since of the remarkable manner in
which such slight things as colds sometimes end in serious illness and
death。
'He observes that the Countess is listening to him； and asks if she has
anything to propose。 She is a woman who； with many defects； has the
great merit of speaking out。 〃Is there no such thing as a serious illness；〃
she asks； 〃corked up in one of those bottles of yours in the vaults
downstairs？〃
'The Baron answers by gravely shaking his head。 What is he afraid
of？ a possible examination of the body after death？ No： he can set
any post…mortem examination at defiance。 It is the process of
administering the poison that he dreads。 A man so distinguished as my
Lord cannot be taken seriously ill without medical attendance。 Where
there is a Doctor； there is always danger of discovery。 Then； again； there is
the Courier； faithful to my Lord as long as my Lord pays him。 Even if
the Doctor sees nothing suspicious； the Courier may discover something。
The poison； to do its work with the necessary secrecy； must be repeatedly
administered in graduated doses。 One trifling miscalculation or mistake
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may rouse suspicion。 The insurance offices may hear of it； and may refuse
to pay the money。 As things are； the Baron will not risk it； and will not
allow his sister to risk it in his place。