ctory
of artists' colours? and that you had your information from Miss Carmina
herself, after she had shown you the telegram announcing his death?

"A lady, possessed of your scientific knowledge, does not require to be
told that poisons are employed in making artists' colours. Remember
what the priest's letter says of Teresa's feeling towards you, and then
say--Is it so very unlikely that she has brought with her to England
one of the poisons used by her husband in his trade? and is it quite
unreasonable to suppose (when she looks at her canister) that she may be
thinking of you?

"I may be right or I may be wrong. Thanks to the dilapidated condition
of a lock, I can decide the question, at the first opportunity offered
to me by the nurse's absence from the room.

"My next report shall tell you that I have contrived to provide myself
with a sample of the powder--leaving the canister undisturbed. The
sample shall be tested by a chemist. If he pronounces it to be poison, I
have a bold course of action to propose.

"As soon as you are well enough to go to the house, give the nurse her
chance of poisoning you.

"Dear madam, don't be alarmed! I will accompany you; and I will answer
for the result. We will pay our visit at tea-time. Let her offer you
a cup--and let me (under pretence of handing it) get possession of the
poisoned drink. Before she can cry Stop!--I shall be on my way to the
chemist.

"The penalty for attempted murder is penal servitude. If you still
object to a public exposure, we have the chemist's report, together with
your own evidence, ready for your son on his return. How will he feel
about his marriage-engagement, when he finds that Miss Carmina's
dearest friend and companion has tried--_perhaps, with her young lady's
knowledge_--to poison his mother?

"Before concluding, I may mention that I had a narrow escape, only two
hours since, of being seen by Teresa on the stairs.

"I was of course prepared for this sort of meeting, when I engaged my
room; and I have therefore not been foolish enough to enter the house
under an assumed name. On the contrary, I propose (in your interests)
to establish a neighbourly acquaintance--with time to help me. But the
matter of the poison admits of no delay. My chance of getting at it
unobserved may be seriously compromised, if the nurse remembers that
she first met with me in your house, and distrusts me accordingly. Your
devoted servant, L. F."

Having comp