“‘The old bird man comes this evening,’ Mara flung back. ‘He will look at the bird and know that Gavrilo has poisoned it with henbane.’
“‘But, Maro,’ I returned, ‘Gavrilo has said that he did not. You know that he is truthful.’
“‘His words mean nothing!’ she cried. ‘Am I not a Serb? Do I not read the meanings in events? Gavrilo lies. Gavrilo killed the kos. He is a murderer. I hate him!’
“‘Ah!’ he exclaimed. ‘You give me the truth at last!’
“‘Yes, the truth!’
“‘So much the better that I know in time!’ cried Gavrilo, and without another word he ran frantically from the garden.
“As for Mara, she seemed almost on the brink of madness. I do not know how long I remained there trying to reason with her, calm her, make her see the folly and danger of what she had done. By the time her passion had abated the late June twilight had settled over the town. Presently I heard the garden gate open, and a moment later a venerable Serb appeared.
“‘Wait!’ Mara said to me. ‘Now you shall learn that I was right!’
“Then, to the old man, she said: ‘You are too late to cure my bird, but you are not too late to tell me from what cause came its death. Look at this leaf that was placed in its cage. Is not that the henbane?’
“The old man took the leaf, inspected it, and shook his head.