and after a few minutes he noticed distinctly a white sediment at the
bottom of the tumbler. When he called for the Indian butler, the man had
disappeared, and has not been found yet. That increased our suspicion
that an attempt at poisoning had been made. A small quantity of the
fluid had been put into a dish which contained the food for the dogs.
It was then placed into a rat-trap which contained five or six of these
ravenous beasts. Ten minutes later they were dead. The remains of the
water have been given to Doctor Hopkins. He is going to make a chemical
analysis, and to tell us about it at dinner-time."

Before Heideck could find the time again to resume the discussion of
Edith's personal affairs, Mrs. Baird came in, accompanied by the Colonel
and his adjutant. They all shook hands with him in the most charming
way, and after Doctor Hopkins had also arrived, a small man with a very
vivacious manner, they went in to dinner.

Perhaps the Colonel would have preferred that nothing should be said in
Heideck's presence about the poisoning attempt. His wife's impatience
and excitement, however, could not be restrained.

"Well, Doctor Hopkins," she asked, "and what have you found?"

The Doctor evidently had been waiting for this.

"One of the most deadly poisons the Indians know," he answered. "The
diamond powder. There is no antidote for it, and it is impossible to
trace it in the body of the poisoned person, because it is of vegetable
nature, and gets absorbed in the tissues."

A cry of horror escaped Mrs. Baird. She covered her eyes with her hand.