The Fire Within Read Online Free PDF Page A

later. But it did n't kill him. It did
n't have a chance. He died of poisoning—arsenic poisoning.”
    One of Edward's hands was lying on the table. His whole arm
twitched, and the hand fell over, palm upwards. The fingers opened and
closed slowly. David found himself staring at that slowly moving hand.
    “Impossible,” said Edward, and his breath caught in his throat as he
said it.
    “I 'm afraid not.”
    Edward leaned forward a little.
    “But, David,” he said, “it 's not possible. Who—who do you
think—who would do such a thing. Or—suicide—do you think he
committed suicide?”
    David drew himself suddenly away from the table. All at once the
feeling had come to him that he could no longer touch what Edward
touched.
    “No, I don't think it was suicide,” he said. “But of course it 's
not my business to think at all. I shall give my evidence, and there,
as far as I am concerned, the matter ends.”
    Edward looked helplessly at David.
    “Evidence?” he repeated.
    “At the inquest,” said David Blake.
    “I don't understand,” said Edward again. He put his head in his
hands, and seemed to be thinking.
    “Are you sure?” he said at last. “I don't see how—it was an
attack—just like his other attacks—and then he died—you always said
he might die in one of those attacks.”
    There was a sort of trembling eagerness in Edward's tone. A feeling
of nausea swept over David. The scene had become intolerable.
    “Mr. Mottisfont died because he drank a cup of tea which contained
enough arsenic to kill a man in robust health,” he said sharply.
    He looked once at Edward, saw him start, and added, “and I think
that you brought him that tea.”
    “Yes,” said Edward. “He asked me for it, how could there be arsenic
in it?”
    “There was,” said David Blake.
    “Arsenic? But I brought him the tea—”
    “Yes, you brought him the tea.”
    Edward lifted his head. His eyes behind his glasses had a misty and
bewildered look. His voice shook a little.
    “But—if there 's an inquest—they might say—they might think—”
    He pushed his chair back a little way, and half rose from it,
resting his hands on the table, and peering across it.
    “David, why do you look at me like that?”
    David Blake turned away.
    “It 's none of my business,” he said, “I 've got to give my
evidence, and for God's sake, Edward, pull yourself together before the
inquest, and get decent legal advice, for you 'll need it.”
    Edward was shockingly pale.
    “You mean—what do you mean? That people will think—it 's
impossible.”
    David went towards the door. His face was like a flint.
    “I mean this,” he said. “Mr. Mottisfont died of arsenic poisoning.
The arsenic was in a cup of tea which he drank. You brought him the
tea. You are undoubtedly in a very serious position. There will have to
be an inquest.”
    Edward had risen completely. He made a step towards David.
    “But if you were to sign the certificate—there would n't need to be
an inquest—David—”
    “But I 'm damned if I 'll sign the certificate,” said David Blake.
    He went out and shut the door sharply behind him.
    CHAPTER IV. A MAN'S HONOUR
    “Will you give me your heart?” she said.
    “Oh, I gave it you long ago,” said he.
    “Why, then, I threw it away,” said she.
    “And what will you give me instead?
    Will you give me your honour?” she said.
    “ELIZABETH!”
    There was a pause.
    “Elizabeth—open your door!”
    Elizabeth Chantrey came back from a long way off. Mary was calling
her. Mary was knocking at her door. She got up rather wearily, turned
the key, and with a little gasp, Mary was in the room, shutting the
door, and standing with her back against it. The lamp burned low, but
Elizabeth's eyes were accustomed to the gloom. Mary Mottisfont's
bright, clear colour was one of her great attractions. It was all gone
and her dark eyes looked darker and larger than they should have done.
    “Why,