Tumblety pulled another vial of arsenic from the hidden compartment of his valise. He had yet another vial hidden in his locked nightstand. At first he had wondered if Mary would snoop. But now he knew she"d never stoop to such an impure act. The devout and trusting lady took everyone at their word, and he feared that would be her downfall. Of course they both loved Wilkes in their own way, but he wasn"t willing to die for him the way she was.
The poor widow fancied Wilkes coming to her some day with romantic intentions. Tumblety was realistic enough to know he could only have Wilkes in his nocturnal fantasies. He had a mind to tell the deluded Mary that Wilkes would never pursue her, but he couldn"t bear causing her pain. After all, he had some heart.
* * *
Alice knocked on John T. For
