e
project. Rage and anger have increased the bad symptoms, and made him
much worse. Great anxiety about the fate of his child, a daughter of his
former wife; constantly exclaiming, "They will rob her! they will leave
her a beggar, and I have none to protect her." A violent paroxysm of
pain--agonizing pain--has left him very low.

"'"What name do you give this malady, doctor?" he asks me.

"'"It is a gastric inflammation, but not unaccompanied by other
symptoms."

"'"How brought on?"

"'"No man can trace these affections to primary causes."

"'"I can,--here, at least," breaks he in. "This is poison, and _you_
know it. Come, sir," he cried, "be frank and honest with one whose
moments are to be so few here. Tell me, as you would speak the truth in
your last hour, am I not right?"

"'"I cannot say with certainty. There are things here I am unable to
account for, and there are traits which I cannot refer to any poisonous
agency."

"'"Think over the poisons; you know best. Is it arsenic?"

"'"No, certainly not."

"'"Nor henbane, nor nicotine, nor nitre, nor strychnine,--none of
these?"

"'"None."

"'"How subtle the dogs have been!" muttered he. "What fools they make
of you, with all your science! The commonest money-changer will detect a
spurious shilling, but you, with all your learning, are baffled by every
counterfeit case that meets you. Examine, sir; inquire, investigate
well," he cried; "it is for your honor as a physician not to blunder
here."

"'"Be calm; compose yourself. These moments of passion only waste your
strength."

"'"Let me drink,--no, from the water-jug; they surely have not drugged
_that!_ What are you doing there?"

"'"I was decanting the tea into a small bottle, that I might take it
home and test it."

"'"And so," said he, sighing, "with all your boasted skill, it is only
after death you can pronounce. It is to aid the law, not to help the
living, you come. Be it so. But mind, sir," cried he, with a wild
energy, "they are all in it,--all. Let none escape. And these were my
friends!" said he, with a smile of inexpressible sorrow. "Oh, what
friends are a bad man's friends! You swear to me, doctor, if there has
been foul play it shall be discovered. They shall swing for it Don't
you screen them. No mumbling, sir; your oath,--your solemn sworn oath!
Take those keys and open that drawer there,--no, the second one; fetch
me the papers. This was my will two months ago," said he, tearing o