"In a short time it became evident that I possessed merely the essence of a husband, and one day, as he wafted--that's the word, for his step seemed to be almost devoid of specific gravity--so I repeat, one day, as he wafted to the room in which he usually experimented with his floral attenuations, I happened to be engaged in the dwelling adjoining the conservatory and into which it opened.
"Presently, my duties concluded, I proceeded in the direction taken by my husband.
"As I advanced I grew momently conscious of a ravishing fragrance which seemed to pervade and invite the consciousness to all varieties of agreeable surrender.
"Ah!--in a moment I recognized this pungent delight: Cape Jessamine!
"Aware of the consequences to him should he inhale anything so transporting, I hastened forward.
"The fragrance grew stronger as I hurried on. It seemed to envelop every delicate, fainting scent in the conservatory, and as I placed my hand upon the door-latch leading to the section where I was positive my husband would be found, I knew that I had traced the occasion to its source.
"In another second I had opened the door, and there, a few feet away, lay my unfortunate husband.
"His countenance, which exhibited that singular placidity which sometimes comes with death, was as serene as a lily, and gave no evidence of the convulsion that must have ensued.
"All about him, distributed with devilish malignity and criminal intent, were various clusters of the flowers that had transported him, literally."
"My God!" exclaimed Dennis. "What a situation!"
"Wasn't it?" exclaimed the widow. "It almost equals the story on the dickeys."
"Equals!" exclaimed Dennis with profound conviction. "I don't know that I care to read the balance of the story after this. Do you know the guilty party?"
"I think so," answered the widow; "but you can judge for yourself as I proceed.
There was no need of this advice, for Dennis would not have missed a word for the world, and gazed upon the sweet-faced narrator with a sort of superstitious admiration as she continued:
"Since his death the patronage is larger than ever.
"I now find myself confronted with what is equivalent to an embarrassment of riches on the one hand, and a famine of intelligent help on the other."