The king in his palace,
the lady in her tapestried chamber, the nun in her cell, the very
beggar on the street, would stand on a pavement of fire to read the
tablets which record the secret of the aqua tofana. Let me see your
hand," added she abruptly, speaking to Angelique.
Angelique held out her hand; La Corriveau seized it. She looked
intently upon the slender fingers and oval palm. "There is evil
enough in these long, sharp spatulae of yours," said she, "to ruin
the world. You are worthy to be the inheritrix of all I know.
These fingers would pick fruit off the forbidden tree for men to eat
and die! The tempter only is needed, and he is never far off!
Angelique des Meloises, I may one day teach you the grand secret;
meantime I will show you that I possess it."
CHAPTER XXXV.
"FLASKETS OF DRUGS, FULL TO THEIR WICKED LIPS."
La Corriveau took the ebony casket from her bosom and laid it
solemnly on the table. "Do not cross yourself," she exclaimed
angrily as she saw Angelique mechanically make the sacred sign.
"There can come no blessings here.
Pages:
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714