New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-30

thick boots, l knew they were more per
feet than any ideals formed by the sculp-
tors chisel.
As have said, was no particular adj
mirer OF women. had had ample oppor-
tunities for becoming thoroughly acquaint-
ed with all varieties Of the female sex, and
my experience had not tended to elevate
the feminine character in my estimation.
Nevertheless / was not an anchorite, and
the sight Of so much lovliness some
what unsettled my nerves. ! passed
an hour 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 chemistry, and especially to the subject
of poisons. The book she was looking for
related to this latter topic, and was very
rare. She had sought for it in nearly every
large city in Europe. and had left orders
for it with every bookseller without re-
striction as to price. At last she had
traced copy to Rome, and to the very
shop in which we stood, and no pleasure
short Of owning it could be greater than
that of finding it herself.
Well, scarcely know what induced me
to actas did. l have often tried to trace
the line of my thoughts on that occasion,
and have never succeeded in doing so to
my satisfaction. Perhaps was moved and
instigated by the devil, or perhaps had
conceived train of thought of which / was
unconscious. Be that as it may while she
was looking through pile OF musty vol
umes l had overturned for her, found in
another part Of the shop the book she was
SO eager to obtain. Instead of giving it to
her, carefully concealed il under my coat,
and soon afterwards she left the shop, pro-
ming 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 computations Of conscience.
determined to buy it; so | paid double
price, to ensure the old mans secrecy, and
went off with my treasure.
The next morning, when / arrived at the
corner of the Via Condotti and the Corso,
! found my acquaintance waiting in her
carriage. She got ont and Joined me.
thought this very singular behaviour.
However, | put the best possible in
depreciation upon it, and Aattered my
self that | effectually concealed my
thoughts Her conversation was still upon
poisons-slow, secret poisons, such as those
used by the Borgias and Tophanias, and
the mode of preparation of which is lost.
did not know what to think of her. She
talked in the most voluble 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 would
cause death without leaving trace by
which it could be detected. | was not
easily shocked, but such ideas entertained
by woman of wonderful beauty and ele-
gance staggered me- began to study her
physically and psychologieally, and before
we arrived at the Piazza di Montecitorio
had formed very definite conclusions in re-
gard to her.
In the first place. noticed that the pupils
of her eyes were 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 perceived
that there was an excitement of manner
about her of which she appeared to be
unaware. 1t seemed to me to be involun-
tary, and it alternated with short periods
of mental depression, during which, not
withstanding all her efforts, tears came into
her eyes
From these facts l concluded that she
was under the influence of some powerful
narcotic substanee-opium, perhaps, and
from the style and purport OF her CONVEX
sation l further judged that she contem-
plated killing some one with poison, pro-
vided she could do so with safety to her
self.
When returned home I took up the
book had purchased the previous day. 1t
was small, thin quarto volume, and pur-
ported to be an exact account of the poison
with which Locusta killed Britannicus in
few seconds, and of that which Seianus ad-
ministered to Drusus, and which was so
slow and subtle in its action that
several months elapsed before death
took place. There were many margi-
nal notes written in small and delicate
hand, several of which suggested various
improvements in the art OF making these
poisons. As turned over the leaves OBJ
served that letter upon each page had
red line drawn under it. Beginning with
the first page / traced them all out, and
spelled the name Cesare Borgia. had no
doubt, therefore, that the book had once
belonged to that brilliant, but atroeiously
wicked prince. and had doubtless served
him in his various psychological operations.
Now, this book pertained to subject
which for many years had interested me,
merely, however, as matter of science.
With my ideas in regard to my newly
found acquaintance, deemed it a danger
GUS volume to place in her hands. There
were, therefore, two good reasons why |
determined to keepit: so carefully sealed
it up and concealed IL in an out-of-the-way
place among various objects of curiosity
and art which had picked up in my wan
derings.
In regard to the lady. made few in
quiries, and, having ascertained that her
name was so unromantic one as Brown;
that she was married; that her husband
was an invalid, and that she had apart
ments in the Palazzo Barberini, / dismissed
her and her supposed schemes as much as
possible from my attention. wished to
employ my mind with other thoughts, but
every morning, as | have stated, she OBJ
truded herself upon me, and persisted in
her conversations relative to poisons.
Finally came to detest her most cordially,
and would gladly have rid myself of the
hateful association had / not been tied up
in way which l cannot disclose without
breaking faith with others and exposing
matters relating to myself which am not
yet ready to make public.
dressed myself with scrupulous care
for the dinner, and at a few minutes
before seven drove to the PalazZo Bar
berini. Imade the proper inquiries Of the
porter, and was directed TO Mrs. Browns
apartments. In an ante-rsom / found
servant in plain clothes, to whom gave
my name, and by whom was shown into