The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-01
,e.t " .oe exercising per invention when she
wee oulv exercising her n,emoryl

y ~ -
| rious to be mnde the subject Of a hasty dccis-
lon. Reserving his opinion, Henry turned
tie page and devoted himself to the reading
| II the next act. The manuscript proceeded
n follows:
"The second net opens at Venice. An in
| .erval of four months has elapsed since the
late of the scene at the gambling table. The
action now takes place iii the reception room
If one of the Venetian palaces.
'Tle baron is discovered alone on the
stage. He reyerts TO the events which have
happened since the close of the first act. The
COUNTESS has sacrificed herself: the meIcenary
marriage has taken place-but not without
obstacles caused by difrereuce Of opinion on
he question OF marriage settlements.
Private inquiries instituted in England
awe informed the baron that my lords chief
income IS derived chiefly from what is callel
sntaiied property. In case of accidents lie IS
surely bound to do something for bis bride.
let him. for example, insure his life for a
mm proposed by the barou, and let him 50
st,le the money that lis widow viii have il
t he dies first.
My lord hesitates. The Saron wastes no
lfflf III N1titNo ti-Nt01t'bs ~ ~ So r"A
Means he says. consider the marriage as
lroken or Ny lord shifts bis ground, and
pleads for a smaller sum than the sIm pro-
POSED. The baron briefly repiie-, 4 never
,argain.' Ny lord is in love; the natural re-
ul, lollows-he gives way.
so far, the baron has 10 cause 10 com.
! ,lain. But my ioru's turn comes, when the
marriage has been celebrated. and when the
honeymoon IS over. The baron has joined
he married pair at a palace which they have
iirod in Venice. He Is still bent on solving
he problem Of the Philosophers Stone His
laboratory IS set up ia the vaults beneath the
,alacc-so chat smells from chemical experi-
nents may not incomnode the countess in
| he higher regions Of the house. The one
/ } obstacle in the way Of his grand discovery j..
Is usual, the want of money. HIS position.
It the present time, has become truly criti-
al. He owes debts OF honor 10 gentlemen
II his own rank of life, which must positively
)e paid; and he proposes, in his OWN friendly
manner. TO borrow ths money Of my lord.
Ny lord positively refuses, in the rudes.
| erms. The baron applies 70 his sister 10 ex-
rcise her c%onjngal influence. She can only
answer that her noble husbaud-being no
ongor d.stractedly IN love with her-noW
appears in his true character, a. one OF the
| neanest men living. The sacrifice al the
marriage has been made, and has already
proved useless.
~Such is the state q affairs az the opening
If tine second at.
"rhe entrance OF the countess suddenly DIP
.urbs the baron's reflections. She is IN a state
| bordering on frenzy. lncohereut expressions
,f rage burst from her lips; IL is some time
| before she can sufficiently control herself to
peak plainly. She has been doubly insulted
| first, by a mental person IN her employ
nent; secondly, by her husband. Her maid,
| m Englishwoman, has declared that she Will
erve the countess no longer. She will give
| Ip her wages and return at once to England.
Being asked her reason for this strange pro-
/! eeding, she insOlently hints that the coun-
.ess' 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 dis
misses the wretch on the spot.
"My lord, hearing his wife's voice raised IN
anger, leaves the study in which he is accus-
toned to shut himself up over his books. and
asks what this disturbance means. The cour-
.ess Informs him Of the outrageous language
lnd conduct Of her maid. My lord not only
declares lis eutile APPROVAL Of the womau's
,onduct. but expresses bis own abomiuahie
ioubts Of his wife's fidelity, in language of
mch horrible brutality that no lady could
pollu,e her lips by repeating il II ! had
been q man the countess says, and III had
lad a weapon in my hand | would have
truck him dead at my feetr
"The baron, listening silently SO far. now
,peaks. Permit me to finish the sentence for
YOU he SAYS. You would have struck your
husband dead at your feet, and by that rash
net YOU wonld have deprived yourself Of tic
Insurance money settled on the wiiow-the
very money which is wanted 10 relieve your
brother from the uncomfortable pecuniary po-
,iiion which he now occupiesr
THE c%ountess gravely eminds the baron
hat this Is no joking matte. After what my
ord has said 10 her she has little doubt that
le will communicate his Infamous suspicious
10 his lawyers in England. II nothing is doEe
10 prevent it, she may he divorced and dis
graced and thrown on the world with no re-
lource but tue sale of her jewels 10 keep her
rom starving.
AT this moment the courier who has been
engaged 10 travel with my lord from England
.rosses the stage with a letter 10 take to the
post. The countess stops him and asks to
look at the address OF the letter. She takes
t from him for n moment and shows II 10 her
brother. The handwriting is my lords, and
he letter is directed to his lawyers in Lon
Ion.
1.-The courier proceeds 10 the p0stotiice. The
baron aud the countess look at each other in
Hence. No words are needed They thor.
)ughly understand the position Ia which tnoy
ave placed; they clearly see the terrible rem
.jy for il. What Is the plain alternative bc-
lore thcmf Disgrace and ruin-0r my lords
leath.
The baron wuills backward aud forward
N great agitation, talking to himself. The
| countess hears fragments OF what he is say.
my. lie speaks Of my lords constitution
probably weakened in India-Of a cold which
ny lord has caught two or three days since
# the remarkable manner in which such
Hight things as colds sometimes end in serious
illness and death.
ale observes that the countess IS li%stening
10 HIM, and asks if she has anything TO pro
pose. She is a woman who, with many de-
tects, has the meri, Of speaking out. is there
M Sncb thing as N serious illness she Ask.