"Ha!" said the young countess; "thank God! I now know what they are."
"I thank God too, Madonna," answered the girl; "how can any one be so cruel?"
"Cruel or kind, as the case may be, Giovanetta," replied her mistress, "when life is a burden, he is kind who takes it off our shoulders."
"But oh! Madonna, for a husband to----!" said the girl.
But Eloise waved her away, saying, "Go, girl, go; you know not what you talk of. Leave me!"
The girl went unwillingly, for she liked not the change from light-hearted mirth to stern sadness in her gay mistress; and she would fain have taken the other powder with her, but she dared not disobey.
"What means this deep gloom that is upon me?" said Eloise to herself, as soon as the girl was gone. "It must be the approach of the attack the friar mentioned. It is time to take the medicine--nay, more than time, I fear. I will swallow it at once, though I love not drugs. This at least has life in it--not death;" and, with that conviction, she mixed the powder Mardocchi had left with some water, and drank it.
"It is very sweet," she said, "but it burns my throat;" and, seating herself, she took up a book of prayers and began to read.
Ten minutes after the silver bell rang violently once and again, for the maids heard not the first summons. At the second, Giovenetta started up and ran to the chamber of her mistress; but, as she approached, she heard the sound of a heavy fall, and when the door was opened, she and another who followed found Eloise upon the floor in strong convulsions.
"Oh, she is poisoned!" cried Giovanetta, wringing her hands.