The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 350: what you’re looking at

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

THE DISSECTING - ROOM 333 the perils which threatened him, and which involved the hideous punishment of branding with a red-hot iron, to be followed by a long term of imprisonment. But how was he to accomplish his murderous purpose? He thought of a thousand different plans. One was to mix some agreeable drink, infuse the poison therein, and take it up to his intended victims, as if 1t were an act ef a host's courtesy that he was performing. But no, this would not do. They might suspect, or they might refuse to drink at all, or the draughts might be partaken of by others beneath the roof. Moreover, as Lady Prescott was not alone, but had the other lady lodger with her in the drawing-room, such a plan could not be carried out now, and the doctor felt that he could not visit her with a draught in her bedroom, after she had retired to rest, without exciting suspicion by the very impropriety of the act itself. Much less dared he send her up a draught by his housekeeper, whom he would not trust in these dark schemes which he was now contemplating. Then how was he to proceed? To wait till the morning and poison the coffee which Loftus and Lady Prescott would partake of at breakfast! No, this plan was not feasible. Opportunity might not serve, and, moreover, it would be dangerous to delay the deed and let the night pass without consummating it. Then how was he to act? He knew of no better, safer, or surer course than to enter their rooms re- spectively when they slept, and pour the poison between their lips, for it was of so fatal a nature that a single drop reach- ing the tongue would be followed by instantaneous death. Yes, this must be the plan which he would adopt, and, having resolved upon it, he was about to secure the bottle in a cupboard, when a somewhat violent ring at the bell startled him. So often, at about the same period of the night, had just.such a sharp, hasty ring been given before, that its meaning instantaneously struck him, and as he always made it a point to answer in person all summonses after a certain hour, he sped forth from his parlour and opened the front door. As he had anticipated, he beheld the three figures of the fishers of men, with their cart, in the narrow street. “ Ah!’ he said, in a hasty whisper, “it is unfortunate you should come hither to-night, for I am particularly engaged.” CORnnICLOOKS (C(O)