Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-14
CHAPTER xxvII.

mnnuscript, and never to look at if sga ;n I The one chance of relieving his mind from 1 the dreadful uncertainty that oppressed iii ] by obtaining positive evidence of the truth l was a chance annihilated by the countess death. What good purpose could be served what relief could he anticipate, if he read 1 more?
 He walked up and down the room. After l an interval, his thoughts took new direc- tion: the question of the manuscript pre- sented itself under another point of view. | Thus far, his reading had only informed him l that the conspiracy had been planned. How l did he know that the plan had been put in ex- l ecutionf
 l Tue manuscript lay just before him on the foor He hesitated-then picked it up; and, returning to the table, read on as follows. from the point at which he had let off:
 "While the countess is still absorbed in the bold yet simple combination of circumstances which she has discovered, the baron returns. He takes serious view of the case of the courier; it may be necessary, he thinks, to in the palace, now the English maid has taken her departure. The baron himself must fetch ! the doctor, if the doctor is really needed. 1 Let us have medical help by all means,' his sister replies. But wait and hear some l thing that have to say to you first Sha l then electrifies the baron by communicating l her ideas to him. What danger of discovery have they to dreads My lords life ill Venice has been life of absolute seclusion; nobody but his banker knows him, even by personal appearance. He has presented his letter of credit as a perfect stranger; and he and his banker have never seen each other since that first visit. He has given no parties, and gone to no parties. On the few occasions when he l hos Iii, ,,l. fo1y l,or l always been alone. Thanks to the atrocious l su@piciou which makes him ashamed of being sa@.i ,sisil his wife, he has led the very life which makes the proposed enterprise easy of ac nnplishment.
 The cautious baron listens-but gives no positive opinion as yet See what you can do with the courier,' he says, and will de eide when I hear the result One valuable l hint may give you before you go. Your man is easily tempted by money-if you only l offer him enough. The other day I asked him in jest what he would do for 6 ,OOO. He l answered anything. Bear that in mind, and offer your high st bid without bargaining l lhc scene changes to the courier's room and shows the poor wretch with a photo graphic portrait of his wife in his hand, cry l ing The countess enters.
 "She wisely begins by sympathizing with 1 her contemplated accomplice. He is duly grateful; he confides his sorrows to his gra- l clous mistress. Now that he believes himself 1 to be on his d>athbed he feels remorse for his neglectful treatment of his wife. He could l resign himself to die, but despair overpowers him when he remembers that he has saved no money, ansl that he will leave his widow 1 without resources, to the mercy of the world.
 "On this hint the countess speaks Sup | EoH tn h 1u cu thing, she says; and suppose you were re- warded for doing it by present of 91 ,O00 as a | legacy for your widowp
 ~''The courier raises himself on his pillow, and looks at the countess with an expression of incredulous surprise She ca1i hardly be cruel enough Q,e thinks to joke with a man ill his miserable plight. Will she say plainly what this perfectly easy thing is, the doing of which will meet with such a magnificent reward?
 "The countess answers that question by confiding her project to the courier, without | the slightest reserve.
 s.Some minutes of silence follow when she has done. Tho courier is not weak enough yet to speak without stopping to think first. Still keeping his eyes on the countess, he makes a quaintly innocent remark on what he has just heard I have not hitherto been religious man; but feel myself on the way to it. Since your ladyship has spoken to me, believe ill the devil' It is ane countess ill., terest to see the humorous side of this con. fession of faith. She takes no offense. She only says, I will give you half all hour by yourself, to think over my proposal You are in danger of death. Decide, in your wife's interests, whether you will die worth nothing, or die worth a thousand pounds.'
 ..Left alone, the courier seriously considers his pos!ioG-and decides. He rises with diff fcuty: writes q few lines on a leaf taker 7 from his pocket book; and with slow and fal teril,g stops leaves the room. . .. l "The countess returning at the expiration of the !:a!f hour's interval, finds the room |. en,py While she is wondering the courier
 opens the door. What has he been doi g or
 of his bed1 He answers: I have been pro , tecting my own life, my lady, on the bar } chance that may recover from the bronchiti for the third time If you or the baron at
 tempt to hurry me out of this world or to de
 prive me of my G1 ,0OO reward I shall tell tn
 doctor where he will find a few lines of writ
 ing which describes your ladys lip's plot. may not have strength enough, ill the cas { supposed, to betray you by making com . plete confession with my own lips, but cal employ my last breath to speak the hal l uOZSA WOluS WHICH, VIII oCia cuO ooSooi "dSA
 he is to look. Those words, it is needless t
 add, will be addressed to your ladyship if , find your engagements toward me faithful. kept.'
 t'With this audacious preface he proceed
 to state the condition on which he will pla,
 his part in the conspiracy, and die Gf he doe die) worth G1 ,00O.
 s.Either the countess or the baron are t toste the food and drink brought to his bed side, in his presence, and even the medicine
 which the doctor may prescribe for him. A
 for the money, i. is to be produced in on
 bank note, folded in sheet of paper, O
 which a line is to be written, dictated by tn
 courier. The two inclosures are then to
 sealed up in an envelope, addressed to hi
 wife, and stamped ready for the post. Th
 done, the letter is to be placed under hi
 pillow; the baron or the countess being g
 liberty to satisfy themselves, day by day g
 their own time, that tue letter remains i
 its place, with the seal unbroken, as long 6
 the doctor has any hope of his patients rt
 covery. The last stipulation follows Th
 courier has a conscience; and with view t
 keeping it easy, insists that he shall be left
 ignorance of that part of tue plot which IT
 lates to the sequestration of my lord. Nc
 thot ho coros narticnlarY what becomes (