Without directly replying to her question, the man in the cloak with many capes replied-- "We did not meet three weeks ago for the first time," he said. "Our first meeting was long before that period." "What mean you?" said Frank raising her eyes and endeavoring, although vainly, to pierce the gloom which enshrouded the stranger. "O, it is getting dark. I will ring for lights." "Before you ring for lights, a word,--" the stranger's voice sank but Frank heard every word,--"we met for the first time at a _funeral_--" "At a funeral!" "At a funeral; and after the funeral I had _the body_ taken up privately and ordered a _post mortem_ examination to be made. Upon that body, madam,--" he paused. "Well, sir?" Frank's voice was tremulous. "Upon that body I discovered traces of a fatal although subtle poison." Again he paused. Frank made no reply. Even in the dim light it might be seen that her head sank slowly on her breast. Did the words of the stranger produce a strong impression? We cannot see her face, for the room is vailed in twilight. "This darkness grows embarrassing," he said, "will you ring for lights?" She replied with a monosyllable, uttered in a faint voice,--"No!" she said, then a dead stillness once more ensued, which continued until the stranger again spoke. "In regard to the lease, madam. Do you agree to sell, and upon the terms which I proposed when I was here last?" Again Frank replied with a monosyllable. "Yes!" she faintly said. "And the other proposition: to-night you hold some sort of festival in this place. I desire to know the names of all your guests; to introduce such guests as I choose within these walls; to have, for one night only, a certain control over the internal economy of this place. In case you consent to this proposition, I will pay you for the lease double the amount which I have already offered, and promise, on my honor, to do nothing within these walls to-night, which can in the slightest degree harm or compromise you." He stated his proposition slowly and deliberately. Frank took full time to ponder upon every word. Simple as the proposition looked, well she knew, that it might embrace results of the most important nature. "Must I consent?" she said, and her voice faltered. "It is hard--" "'Must' is no word in the case, madam," answered that stern even voice. "Use your own will and pleasure." "But the request is so strange," said Frank, "and suppose I grant it? Who can tell the consequences?" "It is singular," said the stranger as though thinking aloud, "to what an extent the art of poisoning was carried in the middle ages! The art has long been lost,--people poison each other bunglingly now-a-days,--although it is said, that the secret of a certain poison, which puts its victims quietly to sleep, leaving not the slighted tell-tale trace or mark, has survived even to the present day." Certainly the stranger had a most remarkable manner of thinking aloud.