Page:All the Year Round - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/514

504 crowning triumph! But then—these lines—these lines." And she touched her tinted cheek, where La Pareuse's utmost skill had failed in its combat with time!

The white negro stooped her woolly head to her mistress's ear, and whispered. The latter started, and gazed at her.

"You are jesting!"

"My life upon it. It is certain. The smoothness and beauty of a morning rose, yourself—again sixteen."

"La Pareuse, it is horrible."

"To her, madame means?" grinned the negro.

"To me. Tell me, La Pareuse, do they hang, in this land, for—for murder?" asked Mrs. Fonnereau.

"It is not murder. I will take care of this, my most lovely neck!" said La Pareuse, laying her finger, with unaffected love and admiration, on her mistress's. "But a few drops. Bright as a rose! To-morrow? he will come again to-morrow."

"To-morrow," replied Melusina, faintly. "Go, now."

Lieutenant Haldimand did come to-morrow. But he had learned more—much more—and being, as I have said, a man of action, came armed with two useful weapons, a doctor's certificate and a magistrate's search-warrant, and accompanied by the doctor himself, and a constable.

Proceeding to the back, or kitchen-entrance, the constable took charge of an alarmed young lady, who acted as scullion, and general drudge to La Pareuse. By her, they were directed straight to the apartment occupied by Miss Fonnereau, the door of which stood open.

With stealthy steps, the visitors approached. Heavy breathing, and moans were audible within. Another step, and La Pareuse could be seen, kneeling at the foot of Geraldine's bed. So intent was she on her occupation, that the doctor laid his hand upon her shoulder, before she was aware of his presence.

"Bleeding to death, ah!" he said, taking from her hand a basin half-filled, and, pushing the woman aside with his foot, hastily stanched the blood that was streaming from a vein punctured in each of the poor girl's white attenuated feet.

"Take her, constable," said Haldimand. "Now, woman, where is your fiend of a mistress?"

"Don't hurt me. It is not murder!" shrieked the woman. "She is not even hurt. I gave her a sleeping potion. Look—she is awaking!"

"Not hurt!" cried the indignant doctor. "Take blood from a shadow like that, and tell me she is not hurt!"

"We only borrowed it," said La Pareuse, sullenly.

Borrowed' it!" echoed the doctor.

"It was for my mistress, to keep her beautiful. Books say that if you touch your face with the living blood of a pure young thing like that, the beauty comes again."

"Books? Devils' books. Faugh!" growled the doctor. "Where's your mistress, you old witch?"

"At her toilette."

"Let us help. Come, Haldimand."

They ran down stairs.

"Go you first," said the doctor, pushing La Pareuse forward. The latter entered the chamber.

The next moment she uttered a shriek so piercing that it was heard, people said, at the distance, of a mile. All rushed in.

The graceful figure of Melusina was seated at the toilette-table. She was leaning her cheek on her hand, but the finger tips were crimsoned, and the still and fearful face, reflected in the mirror, bore streaks and patches of the same hue. instinctively the men shrunk back. There was little need of La Pareuse's shriek of agony.

"Dead! Dead! Dead!"

In the emotion of that horrible toilette, some vessel had given way, and her own blood had actually mingled with that which this wretched slave of vanity and passion was using, as she hoped, for her own adornment, and the success of an evil end.

Geraldine lived to regain her beauty, and reward her gallant rescuer, and Leafy Dell resembles its former self only in name.