She took the box in one hand, and with the other touched the tip of her finger to the rose paste, which she was about to raise to her lips.
Réné gave a start.
The baroness smilingly lifted the opiate to her mouth.
Réné turned pale.
Still in the shadow, but with fixed and glowing eyes, Henry lost neither the action of the one nor the shudder of the other.
Charlotte's hand had but a short distance to go before it would touch her lips when Réné seized her arm, just as Henry rose to do so.
Henry fell back noiselessly on the couch.
"One moment, madame," said Réné, with a constrained smile, "you must not use this opiate without special directions."
"Who will give me these directions?"
"I."