'you have not given up your pleasant holiday in Italy on my account？'
'I shall go back with you to England； Agnes。 That will be holiday
enough for me。'
She took his hand in an irrepressible outburst of gratitude。 'How good
you are to me！' she murmured tenderly。 'What should I have done in the
troubles that have come to me； without your sympathy？ I can't tell you；
Henry； how I feel your kindness。'
She tried impulsively to lift his hand to her lips。 He gently stopped
her。 'Agnes；' he said； 'are you beginning to understand how truly I love
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you？'
That simple question found its own way to her heart。 She owned the
whole truth； without saying a word。 She looked at him and then looked
away again。
He drew her nearer to him。 'My own darling！' he whispered and
kissed her。 Softly and tremulously； the sweet lips lingered； and touched
his lips in return。 Then her head drooped。 She put her arms round his
neck； and hid her face on his bosom。 They spoke no more。
The charmed silence had lasted but a little while； when it was
mercilessly broken by a knock at the door。
Agnes started to her feet。 She placed herself at the piano； the
instrument being opposite to the door； it was impossible； when she seated
herself on the music…stool； for any person entering the room to see her face。
Henry called out irritably； 'Come in。'
The door was not opened。 The person on the other side of it asked a
strange question。
'Is Mr。 Henry Westwick alone？'
Agnes instantly recognised the voice of the Countess。 She hurried to
a second door； which communicated with one of the bedrooms。 'Don't let
her come near me！' she whispered nervously。 'Good night； Henry！ good
night！'
If Henry could； by an effort of will； have transported the Countess to
the uttermost ends of the earth； he would have made the effort without
remorse。 As it was； he only repeated； more irritably than ever； 'Come in！'
She entered the room slowly with her everlasting manuscript in her
hand。 Her step was unsteady； a dark flush appeared on her face； in place of
its customary pallor； her eyes were bloodshot and widely dilated。 In
approaching Henry； she showed a strange incapability of calculating her
distancesshe struck against the table near which he happened to be
sitting。 When she spoke； her articulation was confused； and her
pronunciation of some of the longer words was hardly intelligible。 Most
men would have suspected her of being under the influence of some
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intoxicating liquor。 Henry took a truer viewhe said； as he placed a chair
for her； 'Countess； I am afraid you have been working too hard： you look
as if you wanted rest。'
She put her hand to her head。 'My invention has gone；' she said。 'I
can't write my fourth act。 It's all a blankall a blank！'
Henry advised her to wait till the next day。 'Go to bed；' he suggested；
and try to sleep。'
She waved her hand impatiently。 'I must finish the play；' she
answered。 'I only want a hint from you。 You must know something
about plays。 Your brother has got a theatre。 You must often have heard
him talk about fourth and fifth acts you must have seen rehearsals； and
all the rest of it。' She abruptly thrust the manuscript into Henry's hand。 'I
can't read it to you；' she said； 'I feel giddy when I look at my own writing。
Just run your eye over it； there's a good fellowand give me a hint。'
Henry glanced at the manuscript。 He happened to look at the list of
the persons of the drama。 As he read the list he started and turned
abruptly to the Countess； intending to ask her for some explanation。 The
words were suspended on his lips。 It was but too plainly useless to speak
to her。 Her head lay back on the rail of the chair。 She seemed to be half
asleep already。 The flush on her face had deepened： she looked like a
woman who was in danger of having a fit。
He rang the bell； and directed the man who answered it to send one of
the chambermaids upstairs。 His voice seemed to partially rouse the
Countess； she opened her eyes in a slow drowsy way。 'Have you read it？'
she asked。
It was necessary as a mere act of humanity to humour her。 'I will read
it willingly；' said Henry； 'if you will go upstairs to bed。 You shall hear
what I think of it to…morrow morning。 Our heads will be clearer； we shall
be better able to make the fourth act in the morning。'
The chambermaid came in while he was speaking。 'I am afraid the
lady is ill；' Henry whispered。 'Take her up to her room。' The woman
looked at the Countess and whispered back； 'Shall we send for a doctor；
sir？'
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Henry advised taking her upstairs first； and then asking the manager's
opinion。 There was great difficulty in persuading her to rise； and accept
the support of the chambermaid's arm。 It was only by reiterated promises
to read the play that night； and to make the fourth act in the morning； that
Henry prevailed on the Countess to return to her room。
Left to himself； he began to feel a certain languid curiosity in relation
to the manuscript。 He looked over the pages； reading a line here and a
line there。 Suddenly he changed colour as he read and looked up from
the manuscript like a man bewildered。 'Good God！ what does this mean？'
he said to himself。
His eyes turned nervously to the door by which Agnes had left him。
She might return to the drawing…room； she might want to see what the
Countess had written。 He looked back again at the passage which had
startled himconsidered with himself for a moment and； snatching up
the unfinished play； suddenly and softly left the room。
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CHAPTER XXVI
Entering his own room on the upper floor； Henry placed the
manuscript on his table； open at the first leaf。 His nerves were
unquestionably shaken； his hand trembled as he turned the pages； he
started at chance noises on the staircase of the hotel。
The scenario； or outline； of the Countess's play began with no formal
prefatory phrases。 She presented herself and her work with the easy
familiarity of an old friend。
'Allow me； dear Mr。 Francis Westwick； to introduce to you the persons
in my proposed Play。 Behold them； arranged symmetrically in a line。
'My Lord。 The Baron。 The Courier。 The Doctor。 The Countess。
'I don't trouble myself； you see； to invest fictitious family names。 My
characters are sufficiently distinguished by their social titles； and by the
striking contrast which they present one with another。
The First Act opens
'No！ Before I open the First Act； I must announce； injustice to myself；
that this Play is entirely the work of my own invention。 I scorn to borrow
from actual events； and； what is more extraordinary still； I have not stolen
one of my ideas from the Modern French drama。 As the manager of an
English theatre； you will naturally refuse to believe this。 It doesn't matter。
Nothing mattersexcept the opening of my first act。
'We are at Homburg； in the famous Salon d'Or； at the height of the
season。 The Countess （exquisitely dressed） is seated at the green table。
Strangers of all nations are standing behind the players； venturing their
money or only looking on。 My Lord is among the strangers。 He is struck
by the Countess's personal appearance； in which beauties and defects are
fantastically mingled in the most attractive manner。 He watches the
Countess's game； and places his money where he sees her deposit her own
little stake。 She looks round at him； and says； 〃Don't trust to my colour； I
have been unlucky the whole evening。 Place your stake on the other colour；
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and you may have a chance of winning。〃 My Lord （a true Englishman）
blushes； bows； and obeys。 The Countess proves to be a prophet。 She
loses again。 My Lord wins twice the sum that he has risked。
'The Countess rises from the table。 She has no more money； and she
offers my Lord her chair。
'Instead of taking it； he politely places his winnings in her hand； and
begs her to accept the
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