Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Leather Funnel
InavaguewayIrememberedsomedetailsofthewoman’scareer,herunbridleddebauchery,thecold-bloodedandprotractedtortureofhersickfather,themurderofherbrothersformotivesofpettygain.Irecollectedalsothatthebraveryofherendhaddonesomethingtoatoneforthehorrorofherlife,andthatallParishadsympathizedwithherlastmoments,andblessedherasamartyrwithinafewdaysofthetimewhentheyhadcursedherasamurderess.Oneobjection,andoneonly,occurredtomymind.
"Howcameherinitialsandherbadgeofrankuponthefiller?Surelytheydidnotcarrytheirmediaevalhomagetothenobilitytothepointofdecoratinginstrumentsoftorturewiththeirtitles?"
"Iwaspuzzledwiththesamepoint,"saidDacre,"butitadmitsofasimpleexplanation.Thecaseexcitedextraordinaryinterestatthetime,andnothingcouldbemorenaturalthanthatLaReynie,theheadofthepolice,shouldretainthisfillerasagrimsouvenir.ItwasnotoftenthatamarchionessofFranceunderwenttheextraordinaryquestion.Thatheshouldengraveherinitialsuponitfortheinformationofotherswassurelyaveryordinaryproceedinguponhispart."
"Andthis?"Iasked,pointingtothemarksupontheleathernneck.
"Shewasacrueltigress,"saidDacre,asheturnedaway."Ithinkitisevidentthatlikeothertigressesherteethwerebothstrongandsharp."
