temper, was triangular; its point, as sharp as a needle, had pierced a
dollar without blunting it.

Impregnated with a subtle and quick poison, the least wound from this
poniard was mortal.

Jacques Ferrand, having one day doubted the dangerous properties of this
weapon, the Creole made before him an experiment _in anima vita_, that
is to say, on the unfortunate house dog, who, slightly pricked in the nose,
fell dead in horrible convulsions.

The dirk placed on the chimney, Cecily taking off her spencer of black
cloth, exposed her shoulders, bosom, and arms, naked like a lady in ball
costume.

According to the custom of most girls of color, she wore, instead of a
corset, a second corsage of double linen, which was closely bound around
her waist; her orange petticoat, remaining fastened under her white inner
waist with short sleeves, composed thus a costume much less severe than the
first, and harmonized wonderfully with the scarlet stockings, and the
Madras scarf so capriciously twisted around the head of the Creole. Nothing
could be more pure, more beautiful, than the contour of her arms and
shoulders, to which little dimples gave a charm the more.

A profound sigh attracted the attention of Cecily. She smiled, while
roiling around one of her ivory fingers some stray curls which escaped from
the folds of the bandana.

"Cecily! Cecily!" murmured a voice, at once harsh and plaintive.