She measured her from head to foot, noted every fold of her white
robe, every flexure of her graceful form, and drank in the whole
beauty and innocence of her aspect with a feeling of innate spite at
aught so fair and good. On her thin, cruel lips there played a
smile as the secret thought hovered over them in an unspoken
whisper,--"She will make a pretty corpse! Brinvilliers and La
Voisin never mingled drink for a fairer victim than I will crown
with roses to-night!"
Caroline retreated a few steps, frightened and trembling, as she
encountered the glittering eyes and sinister smile of La Corriveau.
The woman observed it, and instantly changed her mien to one more
natural and sympathetic; for she comprehended fully the need of
disarming suspicion and of winning the confidence of her victim to
enable her more surely to destroy her.
Caroline, reassured by a second glance at her visitor, thought she
had been mistaken in her first impression. The peasant's dress, the
harmless basket, the quiet manner assumed by La Corriveau as she
stood in a respectful attitude as if waiting to be spoken to,
banished all fears from the mind of Caroline, and left her only
curious to know the issue of this mysterious visit.
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