Part 45 (1/2)
All the way home this woman's heart grew more and more bitter because of the jealous thoughts that rankled in her breast. Her love for her husband was of that selfish sort, that exacted all for herself. She wished not only to be first in his affections, but she desired to be second, third, and last. He must not love any other than herself, unless indeed it might have been a child of hers. Having been denied that boon, she could not bear to think that he had been the father of a child not hers. She hated that dead mother, and lacking opportunity to vent her spite in that direction, she transferred her venom to her offspring. She had never liked Leon, but now she despised him utterly.
She thought of Lossy, the dog which her husband had bought and presented to Leon. That the Doctor should have been so solicitous for the lad, galled her. The dog had always been an object upon which she would vent her spite when it could not be known, but now she would give some open evidence of her displeasure.
As she entered the hallway at home, imagine her delight to see Lossy, poor dog, sitting down idly tearing a fine lace handkerchief with his teeth. It seemed to her that Providence offered her an excuse for what she contemplated. She called the dog to her, and the faithful, unsuspecting creature followed her up the stairs to his doom. She went into the laboratory, knowing that both the Doctor and Leon were out, and readily found a bottle marked ”Aconite.”
She sat upon a low bench and called Lossy. The confiding beast went to her, and, raising himself, planted his forepaws in her lap. He would have kissed her face, but she prevented him. Grasping his jaws in her powerful hands she forced them open, and poured the entire contents of the bottle into his mouth, holding his jaws apart until he was forced to swallow the liquid. Then she released him, and he ran to that asylum of refuge and safety, his master's room. Alas, that master was away, courting! Thus Lossy's fate was sealed!
Madame awaited for Leon's return, anxious to gloat over his grief at the death of his pet, and it was for this, and to carry out another design, that she went to his room while he was ministering to his dog.
Before she could fulfil her other project her husband, having returned home, interrupted them, having been attracted by the noise from Leon's room.
When she left them Madame went to her own apartment, and after the death of the dog, Dr. Medjora followed her there, determined to discover the whole truth. As he entered she arose to meet him, facing him with an undaunted air.
”Cora,” demanded the Doctor, ”how dared you commit such a hideous crime? Why did you poison that dog?”
”Because it was my pleasure to do so!”
”Your pleasure to deprive a poor dumb brute of life? You should be ashamed to make such a confession!”
”I am not the only one who might make confessions!”
”What do you mean?” The Doctor instantly realized that a covert threat lay hidden in her words.
”You have deceived me,” cried his wife, at last giving full play to her anger. ”For years you have lied to me. But at last I know everything. I know who Leon is!”
”Do you?” The man was exasperatingly calm. He folded his arms and, gazing coldly upon the wrathful woman, added, ”What is it that you think you know?”
”I do not think! I tell you I know! You brought him here, calling him a poor boy whom you wished to befriend. That was a lie! He is your own child!”
”How do you know that?”
”I hired a detective. He found out the whole hideous truth. I have your letters for proof, so you need not attempt denial.”
”So you have found letters? Are they genuine? Let me see them?”
”I am not such a fool as that. I have hidden them where you cannot find them. I have a better use for them than to give them to you!”
”Indeed, and may I ask what use you intend to make of them?”
”I mean to take them to Judge Dudley, and to his daughter Agnes! Ha!
That idea does not please you, does it?”
”With what purpose would you show them the letters?”
”I know what you are aiming at! I am not the fool that you think! I have studied you, and watched you all these years, and I understand you very well. You wish Leon and Agnes to be married?”
”I do! What of it?”
”What of it? It shall never be! That shall be my vengeance for your long deception. I will prevent that marriage if it cost me my life!”