Part 43 (2/2)
”She has poisoned Lossy! Let me go! I will kill her!”
Leon struggled fiercely to be free, but he found himself restrained by muscles which were like steel. The Doctor, however, was himself tremendously moved by what he heard. Addressing his wife he asked:
”Did you do that? Does he speak the truth?”
”I gave the beast poison. Yes! What of it?”
”Then you are a wicked fiend, Madame. Leave the room!”
”I will not!” replied Madame, with energy.
”Leave the room, or else I will release the boy. Go! go quickly whilst you may!” The Doctor's tones were imperative, and as the woman looked into the faces of the two men, her courage left her, and with a muttered imprecation she hurried from the room. As the door closed after her, the Doctor released Leon, but by a swift movement intercepted him as he endeavored to escape from the apartment, and turning the key in the lock he took it out, and thus prevented Leon from following his wife.
”Leon, my dear boy,” said the Doctor, in tones expressive of the deepest sympathy, ”let us see what we can do for Lossy. Perhaps it is not too late to save him, and it is better to do that, than to vent your anger upon a woman.”
”A woman! Do not call her by that name. She is a contamination to her s.e.x. Pardon my speaking so of your wife, Doctor, but--but--she has murdered Lossy. Murdered my dog, just as I called such a deed murder, in the little story which I showed to you that day in the woods. Do you remember?”
”Perfectly, but there can be no murder unless he dies. Let me see!”
”Yes! Yes! Save him! Use your wonderful knowledge to save this dumb brute, as I have seen you pluck infants from the brink of the grave.
Save my pet, my kind friend! Save him and I will do anything for you!
Only save my Lossy!”
Poor Leon! This was the one love which had been his for so many years.
How long he had taken comfort and pleasure in lavis.h.i.+ng his affection upon his dog, who had learned to understand and obey his slightest nod.
Dr. Medjora examined Lossy carefully, and looked very grave. Presently he looked up, and placing one hand tenderly on Leon's head, he spoke softly:
”Be brave, my lad. Many such bitter moments as this must be borne through life. You must meet them like a courageous man.”
”There is no hope?” sobbed Leon.
”None! He is dying now! See how faint his respirations are?”
With a cry of anguish Leon fell to his knees and gazed into his dog's eyes. He patted the head lying so limp and listless, and in response poor Lossy made one feeble effort. He gazed back into his master's face, and Leon ever afterward claimed that, in that last lingering look, he detected the living soul which was about to depart from his dying dog. Lossy painfully opened his mouth and protruded his tongue so that it barely touched Leon's hand in the old-time affectionate salutation, and the soul of the dog departed for that realm beyond the veil.
Leon leaned forward a moment, with his ear to the dog's heart, listening for an answering vibration, which would indicate that life yet lingered, but, receiving none, with a cry he fell forward to the floor and burst into uncontrollable sobs.
Doctor Medjora, wise physician that he was, made no futile effort to restrain these tears, knowing them to be the best outlet for natural grief. With a glance filled with tender love for his _protege_, he unlocked the door and pa.s.sed out un.o.bserved, leaving Leon with all that remained of the Marquis of Lossy.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE DISCOVERY.
Early in the morning of the same day upon which Leon had offered himself to Agnes, Madame Medjora, reading her _Herald_, had at last found the long-awaited personal, ”Come,” the signal which she had arranged with the detective. Immediately after breakfast, therefore, she had started forth to learn what had been discovered.
<script>