the risk would be, would she drink it or not--he would have to run that risk; if he failed this time, he would not the next. But, then, suppose she awoke and screamed--pshaw! when she saw it was he Kitty would not dare to make a scene, and he could easily make some excuse for his presence there. It was a wild scheme, but then he was in such a dangerous position that he had to try everything. When M. Vandeloup had come to this conclusion he arose, and, going to the supper room, drank a glass of brandy; for even he, cool as he was, felt a little nervous over the crime he was about to commit. He thought he would give Kitty one last chance, so when she was already cloaked, waiting with Mrs Riller for the carriage, he drew her aside. ‘You did not mean what you said tonight,’ he whispered, looking searchingly at her. ‘Yes, I did,’ she replied, defiantly; ‘if you push me to extremities, you must take the consequences.’ ‘It will be the worse for you,’ he said, threateningly, as the carriage drove up. ‘I’m not afraid of you,’ she retorted, shrugging her shoulders, a trick she had learned from him; ‘you have ruined my life, but I’m not going to let you ruin Madame’s. I’d sooner see her dead than in your arms.’ ‘Remember, I have warned you,’ he said, gravely, handing her to the carriage. ‘Good night!’ ‘Good night!’ she answered, mockingly; ‘and to-morrow,’ in a low voice, ‘you will be astonished.’ ‘And to-morrow,’ he said to himself, as the carriage drove off, ‘you will be dead.’ CHAPTER XI THE VISION OF MISS KITTY MARCHURST