Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Case of Lady Sannox
"
"Whatarethesymptoms?"
"Deepsleep,anddeathinthirtyhours."
"Andyousaythereisnocure.Whythenshouldyoupaymethisconsiderablefee?"
"Nodrugcancure,buttheknifemay."
"Andhow?"
"Thepoisonisslowofabsorption.Itremainsforhoursinthewound."
"Washing,then,mightcleanseit?"
"Nomorethaninasnakebite.Itistoosubtleandtoodeadly."
"Excisionofthewound,then?"
"Thatisit.Ifitbeonthefinger,takethefingeroff.Sosaidmyfatheralways.Butthinkofwherethiswoundis,andthatitismywife.Itisdreadful!"
Butfamiliaritywithsuchgrimmattersmaytakethefineredgefromaman’ssympathy.ToDouglasStonethiswasalreadyaninterestingcase,andhebrushedasideasirrelevantthefeebleobjectionsofthehusband.
"Itappearstobethatornothing,"saidhebrusquely."Itisbettertolosealipthanalife."
"Ah,yes,Iknowthatyouareright.Well,well,itiskismet,anditmustbefaced.Ihavethecab,andyouwillcomewithmeanddothisthing."
DouglasStonetookhiscaseofbistouriesfromadrawer,andplaceditwitharollofbandageandacompressoflintinhispocket.HemustwastenomoretimeifheweretoseeLadySannox.
"Iamready,"saidhe,pullingonhisovercoat."Willyoutakeaglassofwinebeforeyougooutintothiscoldair?"
Hisvisitorshrankaway,withaprotestinghandupraised.
"YouforgetthatIamaMussulman,andatruefolloweroftheProphet,"saidhe."Buttellmewhatisthebottleofgreenglasswhichyouhaveplacedinyourpocket?"
"Itischloroform."
"Ah,thatalsoisforbiddentous.
