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IV
Then,ofcourse,IrememberedwhereIwas.ItwasAgatha’sboudoir.ButhowcameIthere,andwhatdidIwant?Ahorriblesinkingcametomyheart.HadIbeensenthereonsomedevilisherrand?Hadthaterrandalreadybeendone?Surelyitmust;otherwise,whyshouldIbeallowedtocomebacktoconsciousness?Oh,theagonyofthatmoment!WhathadIdone?Isprangtomyfeetinmydespair,andasIdidsoasmallglassbottlefellfrommykneesontothecarpet.Itwasunbroken,andIpickeditup.Outsidewaswritten"SulphuricAcid.Fort."WhenIdrewtheroundglassstopper,athickfumeroseslowlyup,andapungent,chokingsmellpervadedtheroom.IrecognizeditasonewhichIkeptforchemicaltestinginmychambers.ButwhyhadIbroughtabottleofvitriolintoAgatha’schamber?Wasitnotthisthick,reekingliquidwithwhichjealouswomenhadbeenknowntomarthebeautyoftheirrivals?MyheartstoodstillasIheldthebottletothelight.ThankGod,itwasfull!Nomischiefhadbeendoneasyet.ButhadAgathacomeinaminutesooner,wasitnotcertainthatthehellishparasitewithinmewouldhavedashedthestuffintoher——Ah,itwillnotbeartobethoughtof!Butitmusthavebeenforthat.WhyelseshouldIhavebroughtit?AtthethoughtofwhatImighthavedonemywornnervesbrokedown,andIsatshiveringandtwitching,thepitiablewreckofaman.ItwasthesoundofAgatha’svoiceandtherustleofherdresswhichrestoredme.Ilookedup,andsawherblueeyes,sofulloftendernessandpity,gazingdownatme."Wemusttakeyouawaytothecountry,Austin,"shesaid.