"Thou canst not; it is a message no one can deliver but me," and as if to seal her words she poured down a good, round bumper. "What dost mean, Constance? Thou art too subtle for me!" "Too subtle? Hast thou lost the art of penetration? Then I'll tell thee, thou--the 'Ranter,' as they call thee. Thou who hast become Bunyan's squire. I am going to poison my lady or give her a dagger thrust. She must die." "Thou art the devil, Constance; but there is one who can outwit the devil, and he will do it, too." "What hast thou to say about it?" "Thou shalt not do it." "What wilt thou do to prevent it?" "I will put the house of Ellswold on their guard." "Thou wilt not help me to escape, and thou wilt run with tales to Ellswold. Thou wouldst keep me here, that I might soon die, so thou couldst have my estates. Poor, puny thing, that art upon death's threshold now. Thou wouldst have me die, so thou couldst live luxuriously and use as much of my wealth as thou couldst, leaving behind a paltry residue for the Crown. Thou wouldst indeed!" said Constance, scornfully, as she fumbled in the folds of her dress for the small bottle hidden there. "Constance," said Cantemir, under his breath, as he lifted one of the mixtures before him, "thou must not kill. Let me awaken thy better nature--" "Nay; she must die!" "I will not remain longer with thee, if thou dost hold such foul intent. Take back thy words. I will give thee no rest until thou dost. There is a God who will sweeten thy ill feeling for Katherine--" "Shut thy mouth, fool!" and she spoke with such fury Adrian's heart sank within him, and his head fell upon his arms upon the table. "Thou wilt have a season of prayer, then; so be it. Maybe, if thou prayest with thy whole heart for sixty seconds, mine will change," and as she said the words, she dropped some deadly thing into his glass. The wine was not moved nor discoloured, and as Cantemir raised his head, took hold upon it, and lifted and drank it nearly half. "I love thee, cousin, with a Christian spirit, and I cannot see thee lose thy--soul." A shiver passed through his thin frame, and when he again began to speak, he drooled sick'ningly. "I say thou shalt not--kill her--and some one--else says it--I will watch thee in spirit--"