“Madame does not know that I had just emptied the bottle into that china bowl,” I added carelessly.
“It is useless to try to serve Monsieur; he does everything himself,” murmured the poor girl, mortified.
“Nonsense, Fauchette, I have just praised you. It is always possible that I may overlook something.”
Fauchette shook her head with an incredulous air.
I have found it good policy to maintain this character for infallibility with my staff. It is true, perhaps, that I do not very often blunder.
“And now,” I went on, “it is time for the poison to take effect! As soon as I am dead, you will awake Madame.”
I lay down on another couch, and composed myself in a rigid attitude with my eyes closed. I did not believe, of course, that it would be possible to deceive a close observer, but I trusted to the wild emotions of the Princess to blind her to any signs of life.
I heard Fauchette dart on her mistress with a well-acted scream, and sprinkle her face and neck with cold water.
Sophia seemed to revive quickly.
“Andreas!” I heard her gasp. “Where? What has become of him?”