The Star-Chamber, Volume 2 | Page 3

your
devotion shall be adequately requited. As to Luke Hatton, he seems to
have no fear of it."
"He has no reason to be afraid," replied Sarah, significantly. "This is no
fever, my lady."
"How!" cried Lady Lake. "Would you set up your ignorance against the
skill and science of Luke Hatton? Or do you mean to insinuate--"
"I insinuate nothing, my lady," interrupted Sarah; "but I beseech you to
bear with fortitude the disclosure I am about to make to you. In a word,
my lady, I am as certain as I am of standing here, that poison has been
administered both to you and to my Lady Roos."
At this terrible communication, a mortal sickness came over Lady Lake.
Thick damps gathered upon her brow, and she fixed her haggard eyes
upon Sarah.
"Poisoned!" she muttered; "poisoned! If so, there is but one person who
can have done it--but one--except yourself, Sarah!"
"If I had committed the crime, should I have come hither to warn you,
my lady?" rejoined Sarah.

"Then it must be Luke Hatton."
"Ay," replied Sarah, looking round anxiously. "It is he. When he did
not think I noticed him, I chanced to see him pour a few drops from a
phial into the drink he prepares for your ladyship and my Lady Roos;
and my suspicions being aroused by his manner as much as by the
circumstance, I watched him narrowly, and found that this proceeding
was repeated with every draught; with this difference merely, that the
dose was increased in strength by one additional drop; the potion
administered to your ladyship being some degrees less powerful than
that given to my dear lady, and no doubt being intended to be slower in
its effects. That it was poison, I am certain, since I have tested it upon
myself, by sipping a small quantity of the liquid; and I had reason to
repent my rashness, for I soon perceived I had the same symptoms of
illness as those which distress your ladyship."
"Why did you not caution me sooner, Sarah?" said Lady Lake,
horror-stricken by this narration.
"I could not do so, my lady," she replied. "It was only yesterday that I
arrived at a positive certainty in the matter, and after my imprudence in
tasting the drink, I was very ill--indeed I am scarcely well yet; and, to
tell truth, I was afraid of Luke Hatton, as I am sure he would make
away with me, without a moment's hesitation, if he fancied I had
discovered his secret. Oh, I hope he will not come back and find me
here."
"Who can have prompted him to the deed?" muttered Lady Lake. "But
why ask, since I know my enemies, and therefore know his employers!
Not a moment must be lost, Sarah. Let Sir Thomas Lake be summoned
to me immediately. If he be at Theobalds, at Greenwich, or Windsor,
let messengers be sent after him, praying him to use all possible
dispatch in coming to me. I cannot yet decide what I will do, but it shall
be something terrible. Oh, that I could once more confront the guilty
pair! And I will do it--I will do it! Revenge will give me strength."
"I cannot undertake to bring the Countess hither, my lady," said Sarah.
"But I may now venture to inform you that I am charged with a

message from my dear lady to her cruel husband, with which I am
persuaded he will comply, and come to her."
"Lure him hither, and speedily, by any means you can, Sarah," rejoined
Lady Lake. "Before you go, help to raise me from my couch, and place
me in that chair. It is well," she cried, as her wishes were complied with.
"I do not feel so feeble as I expected. I was sure revenge would give me
strength. Now give me my black velvet robe, and my coif. Even in this
extremity I would only appear as beseems me. And hark ye, Sarah,
open that drawer, and take out the weapon you will find within it. Do as
I bid you quickly, wench. I may need it."
"Here it is, my lady," replied Sarah, taking out a dagger, and giving it
to Lady Lake, who immediately concealed it in the folds of her robe.
"Now go," pursued the lady; "I am fully prepared. Let not a moment be
lost in what you have to do. Do not give any alarm. But bid two of the
trustiest of the household hold themselves in readiness without, and if I
strike upon the bell to rush in upon the instant. Or if Luke Hatton
should come forth, let him be detained. You understand?"
"Perfectly, my lady," replied Sarah, "and I make no doubt they will
obey. I am