"This explanation quieted me, and I was soon asleep. For how long I cannot say, for suddenly I found myself sitting up in bed, wide awake, listening to the wind, which was shaking the house to its foundations. And yet the impression was so strong upon me that it was not the storm that had frightened me, that I went to the window and looked out, expecting to see Heaven only knows what. Nothing was to be seen, and presently I reasoned myself out of my fears, and was not again disturbed during the night.
"In the morning a strange discovery was made. A servant came running to me before I was dressed, with the information that our two dogs were dead. I hurried to the kennel and saw their bodies stretched out, cold and stiff.
"Mr. Almer was very fond of these dogs, and I went to him and told him what had occurred. There was a strange, wild look in his eyes which I attributed to want of sleep. But stranger than this weary, wild expression was the smile on his lips when he heard the news.
"He followed me to the kennel, and stooped down.
"'They are quite dead, Denise,' he said.
"'Yes, sir,' I said, 'but who could have done such a cruel thing?'
"'The dogs have been poisoned,' he said, 'here is the meat that was thrown to them. There is still some white powder upon it.'
"'Poisoned!' I cried. 'The wretches.'
"'Whoever did this deed,' said my master, 'deserved to die. It is as bad as killing a human creature in cold blood.'
"'Are you sure, sir,' I said, 'there has been nothing stolen from the house?'