Well,' with a shrug of the shoulders as he put the flowers back in
his coat, 'it is always something to have in reserve; I did not know
that I could get this plant here, my friend. But now that I have I
will prepare a little of this poison,--it will always be useful in
emergencies.'

Pierre looked steadily at the young man, and then slipping his hand
behind his back he drew forth from the waistband of his trousers a
long, sharp, cruel-looking knife, which for safety had a leather
sheath. Drawing this off, the dumb man ran his thumb along the keen
edge, and held the knife out towards Vandeloup, who refused it with
a cynical smile.

'You don't believe in this, I can see,' he said, touching the dainty
bunch of flowers as Pierre put the knife in its sheath again and
returned it to its hiding-place. 'I'm afraid your ideas are still
crude--you believe in the good old-fashioned style of blood-letting.
Quite a mistake, I assure you; poison is much more artistic and neat
in its work, and to my mind involves less risk. You see, my Pierre,'
he continued, lazily watching the blue wreaths of smoke from his
cigarette curl round his head, 'crime must improve with
civilization; and since the Cain and Abel epoch we have refined the
art of murder in a most wonderful manner--decidedly we are becoming
more civilized; and now, my friend,' in a kind tone, laying his
slender white hand on the shoulder of the dumb man, 'you must really
take a little rest, for I have no doubt but what you will need all
your strength tonight should M. Villiers prove obstinate. Of
course,' with a shrug, 'if he does not succeed in getting the
nugget, our time will be simply wasted, and then,' with a gay smile,
touching the flowers, 'I will see what I can do in the artistic