AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY.
The next day Ralph Raymond's unfavorable symptoms had returned, and he
was pronounced worse by the physician. Yet the change was not
sufficiently marked to excite suspicion. It was supposed that his
constitution had not vitality enough to rally against the steady
approaches of the disease under which he was laboring.
Paul Morton read from the old medical book which he had picked up in
Nassau Street, and which, as we know, had given him the first suggestion
of the horrible crime which he had determined upon, the following words:
"The patient has been known to recover where but one dose of this poison
has been administered, but should it have been given on two successive
days, there is little or no chance that he will survive. Yet, so slow is
its operation, that after the second time of administering, it is not
impossible that he may survive several days. Cases have been known
where the period has extended to a week, but of the final fatal result
there can be no question."
"I must go through it again," muttered Paul Morton to himself. "It will
not do to fail. While I am about it, I must make a sure thing of it."
He accordingly sought the bedside of the sick man on the next day, about
the same time as before. He had watched till he saw the nurse go down to
prepare the patient's dinner.
"How are you feeling, to-day?" he inquired, in apparent anxiety.
"Worse, my friend," said the sick man, feebly.
"But yesterday you said you were better, did you not?"
"Yes, I felt better then, but to-day I have a dull throbbing pain here,"
and he pointed to his breast.
"Did you not sleep well?"
"Yes, better than usual."
Paul Morton knew that this was the effect of the poison, for it had been
referred to in the book.
"I wonder, then, you do not feel better," he said. "I supposed sleep
always had a salutary effect."
"It has not had in my case. No, my friend, I feel convinced that I have
not many days to live."
"I hope you are wrong. What can I do for you? Shall I not give you your
cordial as I did yesterday?"
"Yes, if you like."
Again Paul Morton poured out the cordial, and again, as on the day
previous, he filliped into the glass a minute portion of the powder.
The sick man drank it.
"I don't know what it is," he said, "but it does not taste as it used
to."
Paul Morton turned pale, but he rallied at once.
"Your sickness, doubtless, affects your sense of taste," he said. "It is
very often the case in sickness, even of a lighter character than
yours."
"Very likely you are right."
"Can I do anything more for you?" asked Paul Morton, who was now anxious
to get away from the presence of his victim. Strange thoughts came over
him when he felt that he had taken a decisive step, which now could not
be recalled. He had administered the poisonous powder for the second
time, and, according to the medical authority which we have already
quoted, there was no longer any help for the sick man, his victim. He
might live two, three or four days, possibly a week, though this was not
probable in the case of one whose constitution was enfeebled by a
lingering malady, but his doom was sure.
But he was as truly a murderer as if he had approached him with a loaded
pistol, and discharged it full at his temple. Twenty-four hours had made
him such. But he did not realize this. He said to himself, "He was sure
to die; this act of mine has only hastened the event a little. After
all, it may be merciful, for it can hardly be desirable for him to
linger in his present condition."
With this miserable casuistry he strove to palliate the treachery and
crime which he had just committed, not against a foe who had done him
harm, but against his early friend, for whom he had always professed the
strongest affection. And all this for the sake of a little dross!
"There is something I want to tell you, Paul," said the sick man,
turning his head on the pillow by an effort, "something which will,
perhaps, surprise you, and after that I shall have a favor to ask of
you. Will you grant it?"
"Yes," said Paul Morton, "I will grant it. Speak on."
His curiosity was not a little excited by what he had heard. He drew a
chair to the bedside, and sat down.
"I am ready to hear what you have to say, Ralph," he said.
"You suppose, and the world supposes that I have never married," the
sick man commenced.
Paul Morton started, and he awaited nervously what was to follow.
"The world is right, is it not?" he said hastily.
"No, the world is wrong. Sixteen years ago I married a portionless girl.
For reasons which it is unnecessary now to mention, my marriage was not
made public, but it was strictly legal. My young wife lived less than
two years, but ere she died she gave me a son."
"Is he still living?" asked Paul Morton, in a hoarse voice.
"Yes, he still lives."
"Then," thought Paul, with a sense of bitter disappointment, "all my
labor has been for naught. This boy will inherit Raymond's fortune, and
his death will be of no benefit to me."
"Where is the boy now?" he asked.
"He is at a boarding-school on the Hudson. He was early educated abroad,
but for two years he has been at Dr Tower's boarding-school, about
forty miles from New York."
"Does he know anything of his parentage?"
"Yes, I went to see him before I came last to your house. Besides, I
have thought it well to communicate all the facts in the case to Dr.
Tower as it was possible, that I might die suddenly, and his testimony
might be required to substantiate my son's claims to my estates."
"What is your son's name?" asked Paul Morton, rousing a little from the
stupor into which the information had thrown him.
"Robert Raymond. It was the name of my wife's only brother, who had died
young, and as I had no particular preference, I allowed her to name
him."
"Is he in good health?"
"Yes; happily he has not inherited my constitution. He seems healthy and
likely to live long. But I am sorry that he will be left so alone in the
world, as he must be by my death. This brings me to the favor I was
about to ask of you. In my will I have appointed you the guardian of my
boy, who is now between fourteen and fifteen. I think it will not
occasion you much trouble. My property, which I have put into solid
securities, will amount to one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Of
course, therefore, there will be no occasion for stinting him. I desire
him to have the best advantages. As for you, my old friend, as a slight
compensation for the trouble you will take, and as a proof of my
affection, I authorize you to appropriate to your own use, during my
son's minority, one-half of the income of the property and pay his
expenses out of the other half. What there may be over can be added to
the principal."
"But suppose--though, if the boy is as healthy as you say, there is
little fear of that--suppose Robert should die before attaining his
majority."
"Should that event happen, and, as you say, it is possible, I desire
that the property should go without reserve to you. I have so provided
in my will."
A flush of gratification mantled the cheek of Paul Morton, as he heard
this statement. "All is not lost," he thought. "The boy _may_ die and
then----"
This is what he thought, but he said:
"Ralph, you are too kind and generous. It is my earnest hope that such a
contingency may never occur."
"I am sure of that. I have perfect confidence in you, and I know you
will be kind to my boy. He may be here to-morrow morning."
"Here to-morrow morning!" ejaculated Paul Morton, in surprise.
"Yes. I requested the nurse to write to him yesterday afternoon, in my
name, to come at once. As I have but a short time to live, I wish to
have him with me during the short remainder of my life--that is, if it
will not be inconvenient to you to have him in the house."
"Certainly not, I shall be glad to have him come," said Paul Morton,
absently.
"I begin to feel drowsy. I will try to sleep," said the sick man.
"Then I will leave you. I hope you may awake refreshed."
Paul Morton walked out of the sick-room with his eyes bent upon the
floor. He wanted to think over this new and unexpected turn of affairs.