follow when she has done. The Courier is not
weak enough yet to speak without stopping to think first. Still
keeping his eyes on the Countess, he makes a quaintly insolent remark
on what he has just heard. "I have not hitherto been a religious man;
but I feel myself on the way to it. Since your ladyship has spoken to
me, I believe in the Devil." It is the Countess's interest to see the
humorous side of this confession of faith. She takes no offence. She
only says, "I will give you half an 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 position--and decides.
He rises with difficulty; writes a few lines on a leaf taken from his
pocket-book; and, with slow and faltering steps, leaves the room.

'The Countess, returning at the expiration of the half-hour's interval,
finds the room empty. While she is wondering, the Courier opens the
door. What has he been doing out of his bed? He answers, "I have been
protecting my own life, my lady, on the bare chance that I may recover
from the bronchitis for the third time. If you or the Baron attempts
to hurry me out of this world, or to deprive me of my thousand pounds
reward, I shall tell the doctor where he will find a few lines of
writing, which describe your ladyship's plot. I may not have strength
enough, in the case supposed, to betray you by making a complete
confession with my own lips; but I can employ my last breath to speak
the half-dozen words which will tell the doctor where he is to look.
Those words, it is needless to add, will be addressed to your Ladyship,
if I find your engagements towards me faithfully kept."

'With this audacious preface, he proceeds to state the conditions on
which he will play his part in the conspiracy, and die (if he does die)
worth a thousand pounds.

'Either the Countess or the Baron are to taste the food and drink
brought to his bedside, in his presence, and even the medicines which
the doctor may prescribe for him. As for the promised sum of money, it
is to be produced in one bank-note, folded in a sheet of paper, on
which a line is to be written, dictated by the Courier. The two
enclosures are then to be sealed up in an envelope, addressed to his
wife, and stamped ready for the post. This done, the letter is to be
placed under his pillow; the Baron or the Count