"For you--nothing," Kelson said gallantly. "Only tell no one. May I
kiss your hand."
The firm's sale of spells for getting rid of husbands having risen one
day to five hundred--and the sale of their spells for putting old
people out of the way to fifteen hundred--even Hamar, who was no
believer in the perfection of human nature, was astonished.
"My word!" he remarked. "Isn't this a revelation? Who would have
thought how many people have murder in their hearts? At least half
Society would, I believe, become homicides if only there were no
chance of their being found out and punished. Anyhow, if we go on at
this rate there will be no old people left."
And it did indeed seem as if such would be the case. For the moment
the idea got abroad that old people could be thrust out of existence
with absolute safety and ease, there was a perfect mania amongst men,
women, and even children, to get rid of them, and the deaths of people
over sixty recorded in the papers multiplied every day. The following
is an extract from the _Planet_ of July 28--
BOLT.--On July 27, at No. ---- Elgin Avenue, S.W., Emily Jane,
loved and venerated mother of Mary Bolt, M.D., in her 69th year.
Drowned in her bath. And all the Angels wept!
CUSHMAN.--On July 27, at No. ---- Sheep Street, Northampton, Sarah
Elizabeth, adored mother of Josiah Cushman, Plymouth Brother, in
her 88th year. Run over by a taxi.
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