"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 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.
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