He was to be at home in the afternoon, and to come and drink his tea in Veronica's room when Matilde sent for him.

Just when Matilde was pouring out the tea, he was to distract Veronica's attention from the tea-table for a moment.

She would not tell him that she intended to half poison him, too, for he was a coward, and at the last minute, dreading pain, he would not drink from his cup.

She knew that well enough.

She would tell him when he began to suffer the effects, and assure him that he was not going to die.