Tales of Terror and Mystery

           "

           "Whatarethesymptoms?"

           "Deepsleep,anddeathinthirtyhours."

           "Andyousaythereisnocure.Whythenshouldyoupaymethisconsiderablefee?"

           "Nodrugcancure,buttheknifemay."

           "Andhow?"

           "Thepoisonisslowofabsorption.Itremainsforhoursinthewound."

           "Washing,then,mightcleanseit?"

           "Nomorethaninasnakebite.Itistoosubtleandtoodeadly."

           "Excisionofthewound,then?"

           "Thatisit.Ifitbeonthefinger,takethefingeroff.Sosaidmyfatheralways.Butthinkofwherethiswoundis,andthatitismywife.Itisdreadful!"

           Butfamiliaritywithsuchgrimmattersmaytakethefineredgefromaman’ssympathy.ToDouglasStonethiswasalreadyaninterestingcase,andhebrushedasideasirrelevantthefeebleobjectionsofthehusband.

           "Itappearstobethatornothing,"saidhebrusquely."Itisbettertolosealipthanalife."

           "Ah,yes,Iknowthatyouareright.Well,well,itiskismet,anditmustbefaced.Ihavethecab,andyouwillcomewithmeanddothisthing."

           DouglasStonetookhiscaseofbistouriesfromadrawer,andplaceditwitharollofbandageandacompressoflintinhispocket.HemustwastenomoretimeifheweretoseeLadySannox.

           "Iamready,"saidhe,pullingonhisovercoat."Willyoutakeaglassofwinebeforeyougooutintothiscoldair?"

           Hisvisitorshrankaway,withaprotestinghandupraised.

           "YouforgetthatIamaMussulman,andatruefolloweroftheProphet,"saidhe."Buttellmewhatisthebottleofgreenglasswhichyouhaveplacedinyourpocket?"

           "Itischloroform."

           "Ah,thatalsoisforbiddentous.