"Mme. d'Imrahil was of advanced age, no doubt, but she enjoyed an excellent health," continued Dr. Tolliers.
"Grief has slain her, monsieur!" cried Villefaramir.
"Nay," said the physician. "Grief kills, certainly; but not in ten minutes. The symptoms she exhibited in her agony were manifestly those caused by sunni-délit. Did anyone make an order of the pharmacist without my consent?"
"None."
"Did Mme. d'Imrahil have enemies?"
"Not that I know of."
"Is anyone interested in her death?"
"Mais non, mais non; Valartine is her sole heir, but if such a thought came to my heart I would stab it rather than suffer such a thought!"
"My counsel, then, is to watch your enemies, whereof you have many."
"Very well, but I beg of you, do not reveal these suspicions to soul, let them be buried ever between us like the imitation silmaril of Thingolaud, for the scandal is beyond endurance!"
