The Busy Inn

Summary

Within the shadowy confines of the aptly named Busy Inn, a den of illicit gambling, its proprietor Bessyne finds his avarice insatiable. Dissatisfied with mere wagering profits, he embarks on nocturnal forays of brigandage. His manipulative spouse, Eugenia, a seasoned accomplice in fleecing the Inn’s clientele, exerts relentless pressure upon Bessyne’s virtuous sister, Anna, coercing her into the family’s criminal enterprise despite her profound reluctance. This unwilling immersion into deceit leads Anna into the orbit of Prince Myloff, a frequent patron, igniting a fervent, if ill-fated, romance. However, Eugenia, herself captivated by the Prince’s allure, observes this burgeoning affection with venomous jealousy. In a cruel act of vengeance, she meticulously poisons Myloff’s perception of Anna, sowing seeds of doubt and calumny. Overwhelmed by despair and convinced of the Prince’s lost affection, Anna consumes what she believes to be a fatal draught. As the perceived end approaches, she summons Myloff, who has coincidentally returned to the Inn, and pours out her heart, affirming her genuine love. Convinced by her desperate sincerity, the Prince, moved by her raw confession, arranges for her immediate transfer to his home for urgent medical attention, simultaneously declaring their imminent betrothal. The dramatic tension, however, dissolves as Bessyne, with a wry flourish, reveals the 'poison' to be nothing more than a potent sleeping potion, a theatrical flourish concluding a tale steeped in moral ambiguity and emotional turmoil.

Synopsis

Dissatisfied with the profits of his gambling house, the Busy Inn, Bessyne resorts to robbery at night. Eugenia, his wife, who does her share in extorting money from those who visit the Inn, persuades her husband to force Anna, his sister, who has been reluctant up to now, to take part in the scheme. As a result of her participation Anna falls in love with Prince Myloff, one of the frequenters of the Inn, and with whom Eugenia is also fascinated, and in revenge, Eugenia poisons the mind of the prince against Anna. Disheartened, Anna drinks what she believes is poison, and, feeling that she is dying, summons the prince, who has called at the Inn, and assures him that she really loves him. Convinced, the prince has Anna taken to his home for treatment, and declares that their betrothal will be announced at once. But Bessyne relieves the tension by revealing that what Anna drank was only a sleeping potion.