The Star-Chamber, Volume 2 | Page 4

sure it has only been Luke Hatton who, by his false
representations, has kept them away, and I will remove the impression
he has produced."
"Do not explain more than is needful at present," said Lady Lake. "We
know not precisely how this plot may have been laid, and must take its
authors by surprise. You were once more intimate than I liked with that
Spanish knave, Diego. Breathe not a word to him, or all will be
repeated to his master."
"Rest assured I will be careful, my lady. I have seen nothing whatever
of Diego of late, and care not if I never behold him again. But what is
to happen to my dear lady?"
"Leave her to me," replied Lady Lake. "I hope yet to be able to save her.
Ha! here comes the villain. Away with you, Sarah, and see that my

orders are obeyed."
The handmaiden did not require the command to be repeated, but
hastily quitted the room, casting a terrified look at the apothecary, who
entered it at the same moment.
Luke Hatton appeared greatly surprised on finding Lady Lake risen
from her couch, and could not help exclaiming, as he quickly advanced
towards her--"You up, my lady! This is very imprudent, and may defeat
my plans."
"No doubt you think so," rejoined Lady Lake; "but knowing you would
oppose my inclination, I got Sarah to lift me from the couch, and tire
me during your absence. Have you prepared the mixture?"
"I have, my lady," he replied, producing a small phial.
"Give it me," she cried, taking it from him.
After examining the pale yellow fluid it contained for a moment, she
took out the glass stopper, and, smelling at it, perceived it to be a very
subtle and volatile spirit.
"Is this poison?" she demanded, fixing her eyes keenly upon Luke
Hatton.
"On the contrary, my lady," he replied, without expressing any
astonishment at the question, "it would be an antidote to almost any
poison. It is the rarest cordial that can be prepared, and the secret of its
composition is only known to myself. When I said your ladyship would
incur great risk in taking it, I meant that the reaction from so powerful a
stimulant would be highly dangerous. But you declared you did not
heed the consequences."
"Nor do I," she rejoined. "Yet I would see it tasted."
"Your mind shall be made easy on that score in a moment, my lady,"
said Luke Hatton.

And taking a small wine-glass that stood by, he rinsed it with water and
carefully wiped it; after which he poured a few drops of the liquid into
it and swallowed them.
During this proceeding Lady Lake's gaze never quitted him for a
second. Apparently satisfied with the test, she bade him return the phial
to her.
"You had better let me pour it out for you, my lady," he replied,
cleansing the glass as before. "The quantity must be exactly observed.
Twenty drops, and no more."
"My hand is as steady as your own, and I can count the drops as
accurately," she rejoined, taking the phial from him. "Twenty, you
say?"
"Twenty, my lady," rejoined Hatton, evidently displeased; "but perhaps
you had better confine yourself to fifteen, or even ten. 'T will be safer."
"You think the larger dose might give me too much strength--ha! What
say you to fifty, or a hundred?"
"It must not be, my lady--it must not be. You will destroy yourself. It is
my duty to prevent you. I must insist upon your giving me back the
phial, unless you will consent to obey my orders."
"But I tell you, man, I will have a hundred drops of the cordial," she
cried pertinaciously.
"And I say you shall not, my lady," he rejoined, unable in his anger to
maintain the semblance of respect he had hitherto preserved, and
endeavouring to obtain forcible possession of the phial.
But she was too quick for him. And as he stretched out his hand for the
purpose, the dagger gleamed before his eyes.
"Back, miscreant!" she cried; "your over-eagerness has betrayed you. I
now fully believe what I have hitherto doubted, that this is a

counter-poison, and that I may safely use it. It is time to unmask you,
and to let you know that your villanies are discovered. I am aware of
the malignant practices you have resorted to, and that my daughter and
myself would have been destroyed by your poisonous preparations. But
I now feel some security in the antidote I have obtained; and if I do
perish I have the satisfaction of knowing that I shall not die unavenged,
but that certain punishment awaits you and your employers."
On this she poured out half the contents of the phial