Pauline hesitated. She was white as chalk, and her lips quivered.
“Of course she did!” screamed Anita, greatly excited; “she did, and she was in there talking to Miss Carrington, just as I said! And she put that thing round her neck to frighten her! And then she gave her the poison, and then she came away and left her to die! All alone by herself! The fiend!”
“There, there, Anita, hush,” and Haviland tried to soothe the frantic exclamation of the girl.
Pauline stood waiting, in silence. At last she said, “When you remove that ranting woman, I will answer your question, Mr. Stone.”
“You’ll answer it now!” cried Anita. “In my presence, and at once.”
[“I think you must answer, Miss Stuart,” said Stone, gently.] “Did you buy a paper snake?”
“I did,” said Pauline, and added in a low tone, “A long time ago,—this can’t be the same one.”
“The date of the sale is about a week before the death of Miss Carrington,” went on Hardy, merciless in his statements.
“For what purpose did you purchase it?” asked Stone, a little sternly.
Pauline now drew herself up, proudly. “I bought it,” she said, in clear, distinct tones, “because my aunt instructed me to get it for her.”