III + 

A few days elapsed. + 

Saranin beamed with joy. He smiled mysteriously. + 

He was waiting for an opportunity. + 

He was biding his time. + 

Aglaya complained of a headache. + 

“I have a remedy,” said Saranin. “It acts wonderfully.” + 

“No remedies are any good,” said Aglaya, with a sour grimace. + 

“No, but this one will be. I got it from an Armenian.” + 

He spoke so confidently that Aglaya had faith in the efficacy of the Armenian’s medicine. + 

“Oh, all right then; give it me.” + 

He produced the phial. + 

“Is it nasty?” asked Aglaya. + 

“It’s delightful stuff to taste, and it acts wonderfully. Only it will cause you a little inconvenience.” + 

Aglaya made a wry face. + 

“Drink, drink.” + 

“Can it be taken in Madeira?” + 

“Yes.” + 

“Then you drink the Madeira with me,” said Aglaya, prompted by caprice. + 

Saranin poured out two glasses of Madeira, and into his wife’s glass he poured the admixture. + 

“I feel a bit cold,” said Aglaya softly and sluggishly. “I should like my wrap.” + 

Saranin ran to fetch the wrap. When he returned, the glasses stood as before. Aglaya sat down and smiled. + 

He laid the wrap round her. + 

“I feel as if I were better,” said she. “Am I to drink?” + 

“Drink, drink,” cried Saranin. “Your health!” + 

He seized his glass. They drank. + 

She burst out laughing. + 

“What is it?” asked Saranin. + 

“I changed the glasses. You’ll have the inconvenience, not me.” + 

He shuddered. He grew pale. + 

“What have you done?” he shouted in desperation. + 

Aglaya laughed. To Saranin her laughter seemed loathsome and cruel. + 

Suddenly he remembered that the Armenian had an antidote. + 

He ran to find the Armenian. + 

“He’ll make me pay dearly for it,” he thought, gingerly. “But what of the money! Let him take all, if only he saves me from the horrible effects of this nostrum.” + 