"You would have done better to give her some of this wine, my friend.

She would certainly be alive to-day." But Nino was dark and thoughtful.

He must have been pained and terribly shocked at the sudden news, of course, but he did not admire her as I did.
"Of course this thing will soon be over," he said at last.

"I am very much grieved to hear of the lady's death, but it is absurd to suppose that I was concerned in it, however it happened.

She fainted suddenly in the morning when I was there, and I gave her some water to drink, but there was nothing in it." He clasped his hands on his knee, and looked much distressed.
"It is quite possible that you poisoned her," remarked the fat man, with annoying indifference.