Lecount turned her back on him in disdainful silence. "Fond of
her!" As she repeated those words to herself, her haggard face became
almost handsome again in the magnificent intensity of its contempt.
She walked to a book-case at the lower end of the room, and began
examining the volumes in it. Before she had been long engaged in this
way, she was startled by the sound of his voice, affrightedly calling
her back. The tears were gone from his face; it was blank again with
terror when he now turned it toward her.
"Lecount!" he said, holding to her with both hands. "Can an egg be
poisoned? I had an egg for breakfast this morning, and a little toast."
"Make your mind easy, sir," said Mrs. Lecount. "The poison of your
wife's deceit is the only poison you have taken yet. If she had resolved
already on making you pay the price of your folly with your life, she
would not be absent from the house while you were left living in it.
Dismiss the thought from your mind. It is the middle of the day; you
want refreshment. I have more to say to you in the interests of your
own safety--I have something for you to do, which must be done at once.
Recruit your strength, and you will do it.
Pages:
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913