"
Angelique with a strong effort tried to master her fear, but could
not. She would not again handle the casket.
La Corriveau looked at her as if suspecting this display of
weakness. She then drew the casket to herself and took out a vial,
gilt and chased with strange symbols. It was not larger than the
little finger of a delicate girl. Its contents glittered like a
diamond in the sunshine.
La Corriveau shook it up, and immediately the liquid was filled with
a million sparks of fire. It was the aqua tofana undiluted by
mercy, instantaneous in its effect, and not medicable by any
antidote. Once administered, there was no more hope for its victim
than for the souls of the damned who have received the final
judgment. One drop of that bright water upon the tongue of a Titan
would blast him like Jove's thunderbolt, would shrivel him up to a
black, unsightly cinder!
This was the poison of anger and revenge that would not wait for
time, and braved the world's justice. With that vial La Borgia
killed her guests at the fatal banquet in her palace, and Beatrice
Spara in her fury destroyed the fair Milanese who had stolen from
her the heart of Antonio Exili.
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