“Quite sure! and, what is worse, I am certain he took his own life! O! I blame myself so much for leaving him, after the conversation we held this morning. I should have watched over him better. But I did not think he was really in earnest. My poor Ricardo! I think his work and these séances have been too much for him, and over-taxed his brain. He was the last man that I thought would have contemplated suicide! But it is too evident! The glass on his table contains the remains of arsenic--I could tell it at a glance!” “Arsenic!” echoed Hannah, “but where can he have got arsenic?” “Anywhere! It is used for so many things. Doubtless he bought it to-day whilst he was out. How did he appear on his return home?” “Very queer!” replied Hannah, “he wouldn’t speak to Charlotte or me, but went straight up to his room and locked the door. I went out and got him a nice little supper, as you told me----” “Good girl!” interpolated the Baron---- “But he wouldn’t touch it, though I took it up to him myself, but I thought he would like some whiskey and water. So Charlotte and me, we mixed it for him--didn’t we, Charlotte?--and she carried it up, but even then he wouldn’t open his door, until she told him that _you_ had ordered him to take it! And then I suppose he--he----” “Yes! there is no question about it. He mixed the poison he had purchased, with the whiskey, and drank it off. My poor friend! Little did I think he would come to so sad an end! Well! I suppose the hankering to rejoin his Leonora was too strong for him. I only hope he is happy with her now!” “I fancy she has had enough of him,” remarked Hannah. “Anyway we shall hear the truth from him when he comes back to us! I should think he was sure to come back through you, Hannah!” Hannah gave a visible shudder. “O! don’t speak of such a thing, pray! I shouldn’t like him to come back. I don’t think he behaved well to me at the last! I don’t never want to see him again.” “Don’t say that! You will think differently after a time. You mustn’t blame him, Hannah! The very fact that he has taken his own life should convince you that he was not completely in his right mind. Poor Ricardo! He suffered much in his lifetime, and endured many losses. We must think as kindly of him now, as we can.” She seemed so visibly affected, and displayed such a horror of going upstairs, that the Baron took all the arrangements that were necessary in his own hands. Before nightfall, everything was settled regarding the inquest, which was to take place on the following day--the remains of the poor Professor were placed in a coffin--and the ground was purchased wherein he was to be laid. Von Steinberg had sufficient influence to prevent a verdict of _felo de se_, being brought in, and his friend was allowed to be buried with the rites of the Church.