“And might not that woman have put the poison into your drawers? And may we not in that way account for its presence there?”
Eudora started violently, and turned deadly pale. The idea of such a depth of wickedness never before had been presented to her mind; and now it seemed to crush the very soul from her body.
“Because my theory of the case is, that the secret poisoner took measures effectually to conceal her own crime and to fix it upon you. And that is also the scheme of our defence.”
“Oh, Heaven of heavens! can a human being—can a demon be so atrociously wicked!” gasped Eudora, in a suffocating voice.
“Yes; a woman can be so. But reflect, and tell me, have you no possible suspicion as to who this woman might have been?”
“No; I have not the remotest idea.”
“Well; in the first place, it must have been the same woman whose shadow was seen by Lady Leaton on the wall of Lord Leaton’s chamber on the night of his sudden death.”
“You think, then, that Lady Leaton’s impression of having seen such a figure was correct?”
“I think so. Now, reflect once more, and tell me if you have no clue to the identity of this woman?”
“Can nothing be done to ascertain who that woman is, if really guilty, and fix the guilt upon her?” inquired Malcolm.