'Good day, Monsieur le Medecin,' said Vandeloup, gaily, as he came
up to the old man; 'are you going to see our mutual friend?'
Gollipeck, ever sparing of words, nodded in reply, and trudged on in
silence, but the Frenchmen, being used to the eccentricities of his
companion, was in nowise offended at his silence, but went on
talking in an animated manner.
'Ah, my dear friend,' he said, pushing his straw hat back on his
fair head; 'how goes on the great work?'
'Capitally,' returned the doctor, with a complacent smile; 'just
finished "Catherine de Medici"--wonderful woman, sir--quite a
mistress of the art of poisoning.'
'Humph,' returned Vandeloup, thoughtfully, lighting a cigarette, 'I
do not agree with you there; it was her so-called astrologer,
Ruggieri, who prepared all her potions. Catherine certainly had the
power, but Ruggieri possessed the science--a very fair division of
labour for getting rid of people, I must say--but what have you got
there?' nodding towards a large book which Gollipeck carried under
his arm.
'For you,' answered the other, taking the book slowly from under his
arm, and thereby causing another button to fly off, 'quite new,--
work on toxicology.'
'Thank you,' said Vandeloup, taking the heavy volume and looking at
the title; 'French, I see! I'm sure it will be pleasant reading.'
The title of the book was 'Les Empoisonneurs d'Aujourd'hui, par MM.
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