第54章 PART I(53)

"Let me also tell you that I found a vegetable diet of use in perfecting the effect of the treatment.That mean dread of discovery,which I have already acknowledged,induced me to avail myself of my wife's help in nursing the man.When he began to talk of what had happened to him,Icould trust Madame Fontaine to keep the secret.When he was well enough to get up,the poor harmless creature disappeared.He was probably terrified at the prospect of entering the laboratory again.In any case,I have never seen him or heard of him since.

"If you have had patience to read as far as this,you will understand that I am not sure enough yet of my own discoveries to risk communicating them to any other person than yourself.Favor me with any chemical suggestions which may strike you--and then,in case of accidents,destroy the cipher.For the present farewell."_Note to Doctor Fontaine's Letter.

"Alexander's Wine"refers to the infamous Roderic Borgia,historically celebrated as Pope Alexander the Sixth.He was accidentally,and most deservedly,killed by drinking one of the Borgia poisons,in a bowl of wine which he had prepared for another person.

The formula for "The Looking-Glass Drops"is supposed to have been found hidden on removing the wooden lining at the back of a looking-glass,which had been used by Lucrezia Borgia.Hence the name.

The third and last letter which I present is written by me,and was addressed to Mrs.Wagner during her stay at Frankfort:--"I exaggerate nothing,my dear aunt,when I say that I write in great distress.Let me beg you to prepare yourself for very sad news.

"It was late yesterday evening before I arrived at Bingen.A servant was waiting to take my portmanteau,when I got out of the coach.After first asking my name,he communicated to me the melancholy tidings of dear Mr.

Engelman's death.He had sunk under a fit of apoplexy,at an early hour that morning.

"Medical help was close at hand,and was (so far as I can hear)carefully and intelligently exercised.But he never rallied in the least.The fit appears to have killed him,as a bullet might have killed him.

"He had been very dull and heavy on the previous day.In the few words that he spoke before retiring to rest,my name was on his lips.He said,"If I get better I should like to have David here,and to go on with him to our house of business in London."He was very much flushed,and complained of feeling giddy;but he would not allow the doctor to be sent for.His brother assisted him to ascend the stairs to his room,and asked him some questions about his affairs.He replied impatiently,'Keller knows all about it--leave it to Keller.'

"When I think of the good old man's benevolent and happy life,and when Iremember that it was accidentally through me that he first met Madame Fontaine,I feel a bitterness of spirit which makes my sense of the loss of him more painful than I can describe.I call to mind a hundred little instances of his kindness to me--and (don't be offended)I wish you had sent some other person than myself to represent you at Frankfort.

"He is to be buried here,in two days'time.I hope you will not consider me negligent of your interest in accepting his brother's invitation to follow him to the grave.I think it will put me in a better frame of mind,if I can pay the last tribute of affection and respect to my old friend.When all is over,I will continue the journey to London,without stopping on the road night or day.

"Write to me at London,dear aunt;and give my love to Minna and Fritz--and ask them to write to me also.I beg my best respects to Mr.

Keller.Please assure him of my true sympathy;I know,poor man,how deeply he will be grieved."