He raised the phial to his lips, and swallowed the contents—greedy of every drop.
In a few seconds he fell from his chair—a heavy, lifeless mass—upon the floor of the dungeon.
CHAPTER CLXI.
LADY CECILIA HARBOROUGH.
Cecilia passed a sleepless and agitated night.
Wild hopes and undefined fears had banished repose from her pillow.
She thought the morning would never come.
At length the first gleam of dawn struggled through the windows of her bed-room; and she instantly arose.
She was pale—yet fearfully excited; and there was a wildness in her eyes which denoted the most cruel suspense.
The minutes seemed to be hours; for she was now anxiously awaiting the arrival of the morning paper.
She descended to the breakfast parlour; but the repast remained untouched.