The morning times., 1897-03-07
PART II.

The count was the first 20 speak. He
had the flask Of wine il his hands, and
Eugene, who watched him Ike one fas-
cinated, observed that his ann trenbled
when he raised it.
Come" said he, In a thick, unnatural
voice, there is no finer ArInagnac in Pans
than this. Let me give you some"
Eugene bowed his head. His face was
almost hvid now. For that which he must
suffer he cared nothing. He would sooner
have died there and then than make sure
OF SO horrible a truth. My brother a
poisuner,'' he said to himself hundred
times. "oh, what shame. what dIshonur!''
The count filled his glass and pushed
il over to him. Eugene was surprised 10
see that his brother helped himself also
10 the wine, drinking the half OF glass
at a draught The action rcassured MIN.
They have told me a lie he said to
himself for the twentieth time, and with
this upon his lips and the warning OF old
Antonio ringing in his ears like a knell
be lifted the purple glass and drank from
IT. The half is life,'' said the voice
Eugene drank exactly one-half and put
The glass upon the table. The count did
not appear 70 notice the action
so you leave Paris tomorrow said
be, pleasantly.
The dragoon answered incohere ntly.
A strange Joy began to quicken the blood
in his veins He had looked to fall sense
less after drinking the wine; but to his
amaZement nothing happened. Rather,
he felt elated eager TO talk nonsense, light
headed as q child. ''Pishi'' said he to
himself what a calumny to spread
The reaction was terrible, Overwhelming.
He had the desire TO rise and embrace his
brother. He spoke of little Corinne freely
even Of his Iove for her. The count re-
Piled 10 mono syIlables. He. too, was watch
ing. but the light of long years Of hate
was in his eyes. The moment OF his ven
geance had come, he said.
Five minutes had passed now since Eu-
gene drank The wine; five minutes which he
declared were the happiest In hS life. But.
OF a sudden. his JOY was turned 10 great
fear: his words were broken on his lips;
cold sweat started to his forehead: his
heart quick kened with a pulse OF weakness.
IN that instant he knew that the old ply
Eician had not cheated him. Death HIM
self seemed TO nave touched him on the
forehead. a dreamy, irresistible sleep
stole upon him surely. Everything in the
room was Still clear TO his eyes: but the
power 81 action and OF speech was becom-
Ing less every moment. He felt that he
was sinking down into Inconsistencies.
'Oh. he n.oaned. Il shall never see Tjtle
Corinnc acain.'' All his love for her was
magnined a thousand times at the thought.
lie cicHchea his hauds ara swore that he
would not die. With last great effort,
and a last loud cry, he raised himself from
his chair-only to fail headlong at bis
brothers feet; and TO lie there. seeing all.
hearing all iut unable to move a limb or
utter word
The Count Of Drives, who had waited
for the moment rose for the first time
since his brother had drunk the wine.
Eugene, living there in the trance
which the poison had put upon him, could
observe all the others actions-and lie
watched him like a prisoner may
watch a captor from whom he has no
hope Of mercy. Deliberately and with
ali the nerve of a man grown callous
60 crime, the count began to finish his
work He put out the lights upon the
table, one by one, until a single candle
alone lighted the vast chamber. Then,
taking this candle in his hand, he bent
over tie body before him and looked at
1t with malignity woeful to see.
"Pah,'' he said, placing the light upon
the table again, 'Conde's legion will want
q captain tomorrow and Corinne lover.
He brought it upon llimself-why should l
pity him?'
The dragocn heard the words very
plainlr, and the hate in them added TO
that which he suffered. 1t was true,
then, as Antonio had told him, that his
brother meant to XIII him when he
asked him to the Chateau Saint Mande.
n~ -@SnRscted at the same time that