"'Beware!' I said, with a laugh, 'beware of what, my dear Madam
Laffarge?'
"'Of this!'
"And with a movement as rapid as lightning she drew from her breast a
small silver-mounted pistol, which she aimed straight at my breast.
"I was not in a mood to care much for pistols, Surry. When a man is
engaged in a little affair like that, bullets lose their influence on
the nerves.
"'That is a pretty toy!' I said. 'Where did you procure it madam, the
poisoner?'
"With a face resembling rather a hideous mask than a human countenance,
she rushed upon me; placed the muzzle of the pistol on my very breast;
and drew the trigger.
"The weapon snapped.
"A moment afterward I had taken it from her hand and thrown it into a
corner.
"'Very well done!' I said. 'What a pity that you use such indifferent
caps! Your pistol is as harmless as your tea!'
"She uttered a hoarse cry, but did not recoil in the least, Surry! This
woman was a curiosity. Instead of retreating from me, she clenched her
small white hand, raised it above her head, and exclaimed:--
"'If _he_ only were here!'
"'_He_, madam?' I said. 'You refer to your respected _brother_--to Mr.
Mortimer?'
"'Yes! _he_ would make you repent your cowardly outrages and insults.'
"I looked at my watch, it was just eleven.
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