Page:Dumas - Tales of Strange adventure (Methuen, 1907).djvu/136

124 to Vanly. I fully expected Vanly would have snatched the glass from her hands, and drunk off its contents. But not a bit of it! on the contrary, she shrank away, stepped backwards to the door, opened it and fled.

"I darted after her; 'Oh! dearest Vanly,' I cried, ' fear nothing, come back; I do not believe her, the thing is impossible.'

"'Impossible!' cried Shimindra in despair at my incredulity; 'impossible, you say!'

"'Yes, I do; and unless you give me a proof . . .'

"'And if I do give you a proof!' cried Shimindra, 'if I give you a proof, you will believe.'

"'Why, then I must.'

"'You will believe this woman is a poisoner?'

"'Certainly I will.'

"'And you will cease to love her?'

"' How! cease to love her! not only that, but I will denounce her, I will accuse her, I will have her hanged, drawn and quartered.'

"'You swear you will?'

"'Yes, I swear.'

"'Well, then,' said Shimindra, 'here is the proof—' and she swallowed the glass of pink liquor off at one gulp, before I could do a thing or say a word to stop her.

"I gave a great cry of grief and horror, for indeed, poor girl, I had nothing to allege against her, and I loved her dearly.

"'Now,' she said, falling into my arms, 'you will understand the reason why the report was bruited amongst your guests that you were attacked with the cholera. Indeed, scarcely had Shimindra pronounced the words ere I saw her turn deadly pale, and pressing her hand to her bosom, she exhibited every sign of the most acute suffering. CHAPTER XX

CONCLUSION

HAT I saw left no room for doubt. Vanly was guilty, and Shimindra was poisoned. I had only one wish—to save the poor woman's life, who had sacrificed herself for mine.

"'Help, help!' I shouted, 'a doctor, a doctor.'

"Then, as no one answered, for Vanly had taken her precautions, and there was not a soul in the house, I threw open the window.

"'Help!' I halloed again, 'help I a doctor, a doctor!'

"Fortunately, at the moment a dock porter was passing along the quay; he heard my shouts, knew my voice, and put himself at my orders.

"'A doctor, fetch a doctor!' I called, tossing him a gold piece.

"He picked up the coin, nodded his head, and went off at his utmost speed. In five minutes he returned with a Bonze or medicine-man who practised among the common people out of charity, and who enjoyed a great reputation for skill and sanctity among the riverside population.

"But though scarcely ten minutes had elapsed since Shimindra had swallowed the poison, the drug had already worked terrible havoc. The breathing was loud and stertorous, the muscles of the abdomen and trunk were beginning to contract; the lips were covered with froth, the head was thrown back convulsively, and vomiting was beginning. I ran to meet the doctor, and hurried him in to Shimindra.

"'Oh! oh,' he cried, the moment he set eyes on her, 'the woman has the cholera, or else . . .—' he stopped and hesitated.

"'Or else?' I insisted.

"'Or else she has been poisoned.'

"'What with?'

"'With the upas of Java.'

"'That's it,' I cried, 'yes, yes, she has been poisoned with the upas of Java. What antidote is there?'

"'There is no antidote, or if there is . . .'

"'Go on.'

"'It is so rare . . .'

"'Tell me what it is, this antidote?'

"'Bezoar stone.'

"'Bezoar, you say?'

"'Yes, but bezoar of the cow, not bezoar of the goat . . .'

"'But bezoar of the ape?'

"'No doubt, no doubt, but where to get it . . .'

"I gave a cry of joy.

"'Look!' I said, 'look,' and I drew my bezoar stone from its leather sachet.