Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/314

306 Raw-head-and-bloody-bones; but you'll be sorry for it some day. But—but, merciful God, Julius, the plague—you have got the plague! it is true—I can see it in your eyes! Here is the medicine I discovered. I have cured fifty people with it—drink it; it's your only chance!"

'The sudden change in his manner, his earnestness, and the mention of the fearful scourge, of which no less than ten thousand people had died in the previous week, deprived me of my senses, and entirely threw me off my guard. Mechanically I swallowed the contents of the phial which he put into my hand. As I said before, the plague paralyzed everything, and I was myself now paralyzed. I felt myself reeling, falling, and then became totally insensible.

'When I came to myself it was with a feeling of intense coldness, and I had most painful sensations all over my body, particularly in my shoulders and down my back. With a great effort I raised myself in bed, and looked towards the window. To my intense astonishment, Helen was standing beside it, contemplating the silent street below. She turned and looked at me, her eyes fearfully gazing, and without uttering a word fell down on the floor in a deep swoon. I sprang up to fly to her assistance; my bed fell on the floor with a loud crash; I looked back at it, and saw that I had been lying in a coffin!

'I left Helen as she fell, and rushed into Reginald's room. He was there, compounding some more of his infernal medicines. I cried aloud: "What—assassin!—not gone yet!" He started up with an air of wildness, kicked his table down, shouted "Liar—villain—dog—crocodile!" then made a furious blow at my face, which I was fortunately able to elude, and finally flung himself down the stairs and out into the street—an unhappy being deprived of his senses.

'Agnes flew up to the scene of distraction. She was