Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-09-24

with her that morning / perceived that
she was well educated, and that she had
gone much farther than myself in certain
branches of knowledge. Her attention
was however directed chiefly TO chemis-
try, and especially to the subjeetof poisons'
The book she was looking for related 70
the hitter topic, and was very rare nhe
had sought for it in nearly every large city
in Europe, and had left orders for 1t with
every bookseller without restriction as to
,Drice At last she had traced a copy to
Rome, and to the very shop in which we
stood. and no pleasure short of owning II
conld be greater than that of finding it her
self.
Well / sacrcely know what induced me
m act as | did. Ihaye often tried TO trace
the line of my thoughts on this occasion,
and have never succeeded in DONG so 10
INV satisfaction. Perhaps / was moved
and instiQated by the devil, or perhaps |
had conceived.a train of thought of which |
was unconscious. Be that AZ it may, while
she was looking through a pile OF musty
volumes had overturned for her, l found
in another part of the shop the book she
WAS so eager to obtain. Instead OF giving
il TO her, / carefully concealed it under my
coat and soon afterward she lett the snop'
promising to return the following day.
| was now in dilemma. was Obliged
either TO replace the book or to take the
old bookseller into my confidence. Many
persons would have done neither of these
things, but would have stolen the work
without any compunctions OF conscience
l determined to buy it; so | paid double
price to insure the old mans secrecy and
went off with my treasure.
Next morning when l arrived at the cor
ner of the Via Condotti and the Corso, l
found my acquaintance waiting in her car
riaee. She got out and joined me. L
thought this very singular behavior How
ever, / put the best possible Interpretation
upon it, and flattered myself that l effect
ually concealed my thoughts. Her conver-
sation was still upon poisons secret
poisons such as those used by the Borglas
and Tophanlas, and the mode ofpreparation
which is lost. did not know what to
think of it. The talked in the most volu-
BILE manner of those deadly agents, and
informed me without reserve that the great
desire of her life was to be able to make
poison which could cause death without
leaving trace by which it could be detect
ed was not easily shocked, but such
ideas entertained by woman of wonderful
beauty and elegance staggered me. lbegan
to study her physically andpspcholog1cally,
and before we arrived at the Piazza di Mon
tecitorio had formed very definite conclu-
sions in regard to her
In the first place L,noticed that the pu-
pills of her eyes we're largely dilated; that
they did not contract when we came into
the full light of the sun; and that she was
unable to hold her hands steady. Then l
perceived that there was an excitement OF
manner about her of which she seemed to
be unaware. 1t seemed to me to be invol-
1ntary, and it alternated with short periods
Of mental depression, during which, not
all her efforts, tesrs came in
% her eyes.
From these facts concluded that she
vas under the influence of some powerful
narcotic substance opium perhaps; and
rom the style and purport of her converse
ion. further judged that she contempla-
ed killing some one with poison, provided
he could do SO with safety to herself
When returned home | took up the
,ook had purchased the previous day. 1t
vas asmall thin quarto volume, and pur-
,orted to be an exact account OF the poison
Nth which Locusta killed Brittannicus in
few seconds, and of that which Seianus |
administered to Drusus, and which was SO
low and subtle in its action that several
aonths elapsed before death took place.
There were many marginal notes written in
small and delicate hand, several of which |
variouseimprovements in the art !
# making these poisons. As turned over
he leaves observed that letter on each |
,age had red line drawn under 1t. Be-
gin2ing with the first page, traced them
ii aut, and spelled the name Cesare Bor-
yia' hna no doubt, therefore, that the
)ook had once belonged to that brilliant, |
,ut atrociously wicked prince, and had
doubtless served him in his various toXico- |
ogical operations.
Now this book pertained to subject
which for many years had interested me,
merely, however, as a matter Of science.
With my ideas in regard to my newly found
l deemed it dangerous vol
lme to place in her hands. There were,
hefefore, two good reasons why l determ-
ned tdekeep it; so l carefully sealed it up
nd concealed it in an out-of-the-way place
mong various objects of curiosity and art
which 1 had picked mp in my wander
ngs. 4
In regard to the lady, | made few in
Iuiries, and, having ascertained that her
lame was so unromantic one as Brown;
hat she was married; that her husband was
n invalid, and that she had apartments in
he Palazzo Barberini, / dismissed her and |
er supposed schemes as much as possible
rom my attention. / wished to employ
~ mind with other thoughts, but every
lorning, as I have stated, she obtruded
erself 1pon me, and persisted in her con-
relative to poison. Finally l
anne to detest her most cordially, and
'ould gladly have nd myself of the hateful
had not been tied up in way
hich | cannot disclose without breaking
18th with others and exposing matters re-
ting to myself which am not yet ready
} make public.
l dressed myself with scrupulous care
II the dinner, and at few minutes before
sven drove to the Palazzo Barberini. l
Iade the proper inquiries of the porter,
nd was directed to Mrs. Browns apart
tents. In an anteroom found servant
/ plain clothes, to whom l gave my name,
nd by whom was shown into the draw
groom. 1t was large and lofty cham
sr, elegantly and tastefully furnished =
efore had time to observe my surround /
Igs more closely, the curtains which con-
.aled the door at the end of the room
ere thrown aside, and my hostess ad-
lnced to meet me. To my surprise, in
ead Of greeting me as an acquaintance,
lie bowed in stately manner, and mo-
oned me to be seated, politely inquired
lie object of my visit.
am not easily thrown off my guard, and
| that period of my life was even more
than now; but this strange
onduct so confused me that made some
bsurd reply, and remained standing
''There is evidently o mistake, said the
idy "You were announced to me as Mr..
It. Armand. I cannot recollect that / have
Iad the honor Of knowing any gentleman
{ that name, and your face is altogether
TRANCE to me. Y
'Then Madame" said I, with some as
,erity in my voice, ''permit me to beg par
Inn for NV intrusion In iustice. however