It may be that I am swift of thought beyond the ordinary man, or it may be that what then came to me was either a flash of inspiration or the conclusion to which I leapt by instinct.

But in that moment the whole plot of Madonna's poisoning was revealed to me.

Poisoned she had been--aye, but by some drug that did but produce for a little while the outward appearance of death so truly simulated as to deceive the most experienced of doctors.

I had heard of such poisons, and here, in very truth, was one of them at work.

His vengeance on her for her indifference to his suit was not so clumsy and primitive as that of simply slaying her.