"Yes," faintly.
"Your husband has attempted to murder you; do you realize it?"
"Yes."
"I am afraid you may never be any better, and unless you tell us what you know, an innocent man may suffer for murder that I believe he committed. Do you comprehend?"
"Yes, I believe so," answered Mrs. Barkswell in a stronger voice.
The doctor administered a second dose in brandy, of the antidote, and then the sick woman seemed quite revived for the time.
"There is a plot to ruin one of the most exemplary young men in Grandon," proceeded Shanks in a low tone. "The man who has plotted his destruction is the man who left you but a few minutes since after believing that you were removed from his path forever. Surely you can have no love for that evil man."
"No, no, that is all dead now."
"Then it is needless to tell you that he is an outlaw of the deepest dye. I want you to tell me what you know of the murder at Ridgewood. He confessed to you that he robbed the house, and it may be that you know if it was his hand that used this!"
And then Shanks held up a gleaming dagger, the design of the hilt being a serpent's head.