Four of them would mean certain, almost instant death.' For more than a month that little box of tablets has lain at his elbow, so to speak.

Death has been within reach all this time.

Those tablets are still there, Mrs.Thorpe, so now you understand." "Yes," she said, staring at him as if fascinated; "they are still there.

I understand." The thick envelope that Mr.Hollenback handed to Anne on the day of her wedding contained a properly executed assignment of securities amounting to two million dollars, together with an order to the executors under his will to pay in gold to her immediately after his death an amount sufficient to cover any shrinkage that may have occurred in the value of the bonds by reason of market fluctuations.

In plain words, she was to have her full two millions.