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。
'My Lord himself is the next character who appears。 He has
repeatedly rung for the Courier； and the bell has not been answered。 〃What
does this insolence mean？〃
'The Countess （speaking with quiet dignityfor why should her
infamous husband have the satisfaction of knowing how deeply he has
wounded her？） reminds my Lord that the Courier has gone to the post。 My
Lord asks suspiciously if she has looked at the letter。 The Countess
informs him coldly that she has no curiosity about his letters。 Referring
to the cold from which he is suffering； she inquires if he thinks of
consulting a medical man。 My Lord answers roughly that he is quite old
enough to be capable of doctoring himself。
'As he makes this reply； the Courier appears； returning from the post。
My Lord gives him orders to go out again and buy some lemons。 He
proposes to try hot lemonade as a means of inducing perspiration in bed。
In that way he has formerly cured colds； and in that way he will cure the
cold from which he is suffering now。
'The Courier obeys in silence。 Judging by appearances； he goes very
reluctantly on this second errand。
'My Lord turns to the Baron （who has thus far taken no part in the
conversation） and asks him； in a sneering tone； how much longer he
proposes to prolong his stay in Venice。 The Baron answers quietly； 〃Let
us speak plainly to one another； my Lord。 If you wish me to leave your
house； you have only to say the word； and I go。〃 My Lord turns to his
wife； and asks if she can support the calamity of her brother's absence
laying a grossly insulting emphasis on the word 〃brother。〃 The Countess
preserves her impenetrable composure； nothing in her betrays the deadly
hatred with which she regards the titled ruffian who has insulted her。 〃You
are master in this house； my Lord；〃 is all she says。 〃Do as you please。〃
'My Lord looks at his wife； looks at the Baronand suddenly alters his
tone。 Does he perceive in the composure of the Countess and her brother
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something lurking under the surface that threatens him？ This is at least
certain； he makes a clumsy apology for the language that he has used。
（Abject wretch！）
'My Lord's excuses are interrupted by the return of the Courier with
the lemons and hot water。
'The Countess observes for the first time that the man looks ill。 His
hands tremble as he places the tray on the table。 My Lord orders his
Courier to follow him； and make the lemonade in the bedroom。 The
Countess remarks that the Courier seems hardly capable of obeying his
orders。 Hearing this； the man admits that he is ill。 He； too； is suffering
from a cold； he has been kept waiting in a draught at the shop where he
bought the lemons； he feels alternately hot and cold； and he begs
permission to lie down for a little while on his bed。
'Feeling her humanity appealed to； the Countess volunteers to make
the lemonade herself。 My Lord takes the Courier by the arm； leads him
aside； and whispers these words to him： 〃Watch her； and see that she puts
nothing into the lemonade； then bring it to me with your own hands； and；
then； go to bed； if you like。〃
'Without a word more to his wife； or to the Baron； my Lord leaves the
room。
'The Countess makes the lemonade； and
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