The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 151: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. 147 ‘Kill him! no. He is the devil.” Elise had told these stories with all the animation of an exasperated woman, and then had sunk despairingly back in her chair. f Alphonse was deeply impressed. The mysterious confidence and extraordinary power and knowledge of Clinton augmented his fear, but only made him the more anxious to put his enemy out of the way. He knew he was only being saved for a purpose, and that either he must kill Clinton or look forward to some terrible punishment, all the more to be dreaded that it was hidden In mystery. He saw that he had been entangling himself in a mesh of Clinton’s weaving, and he swore to himself that he would accomplish his enemy’s destruction. Not one thought of Grace entered his selfish mind, al- though he must have known that she, too, would some time be a victim. ‘‘ Well,” said Elise, after Alphonse had remained silent . several minutes, ‘* will you kill him?” ‘‘ Suppose I were to hire two men to do ibe” ‘Ten men would be like children to him.” ‘Wait! Ihave it! Do the people of the house Rbow that you and he are acquainted?” ‘*No. He was furious when he saw you in the studio with me. I could see it in hiseyes. I thought he would strike me. Nobody knows.” coat if he should die of poison, nobody would suspect ‘*No. But he won’t die of poison.” ‘e Whye” ‘*Who will give it to him?” ‘1 will,” ‘¢ How can you?” ‘“Tell me his habits. Does he drink chocolate?” ‘“No; coffee. I prepare it for him every morning.” «Then I will be here some morning and put arsenic in his coffee.” ** And I will carry it to him?” * Yes.” | ““No, monsieur. He would look into my eyes and read poison there.” GEomicbooks (Ef)