w 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. I will set you the example of
eating, if you still distrust the food in this house. Are you composed
enough to give the servant her orders, if I ring the bell? It is
necessary to the object I have in view for you, that nobody should
think you ill in body or troubled in mind. Try first with me before the
servant comes in. Let us see how you look and speak when you say, 'Bring
up the lunch.'"

After two rehearsals, Mrs. Lecount considered him fit to give the order,
without betraying himself.

The bell was answered by Louisa--Louisa looked hard at Mrs. Lecount. The
luncheon was brought up by the house-maid--the house-maid looked hard
at Mrs. Lecount. When luncheon was over, the table was cleared by the
cook--the cook looked hard at Mrs. Lecount. The three servants were
plainly suspicious that something extraordinary was going on in the
house. It was hardly possible to doubt that they had arranged to share
among themselves the three opportunities which the service of the table
afforded them of entering the room.

The curiosity of which she was the object did not escape the penetration
of Mrs. Lecount. "I did well," she thought, "to arm myself in good time
with the means of reaching my end. If I let the grass grow under my
feet, one or the other of those women might get in my way." Roused by
this consideration, she produced her traveling-bag from a corner, as
soon as the last of the servants had entered the room; and seating
herself at the end of the table opposite Noel Vanstone, looked at him
for a moment, with a steady, investigating attention. She had carefully
regulated the quantity of wine which he had taken at luncheon--she had
let him drink exactly enough to fortify, without confusing him; and she
now examined his face critically