In Chapter 17, Hester meets Dimmesdale in the forest to reveal the truth about her former relationship with Roger Chillingworth, the fact that they were once married. Hawthorne writes:
"She [Hester] doubted not, that the continual presence of Roger Chillingworth,--the secret poison of his malignity, infecting all the air about him,--and his authorized interference, as a physician, with the minister's physical and spiritual infirmities,--that these bad opportunities had been turned to a cruel purpose."
Thus, "The secret poison of his malignity" is Roger Chillingworth. He is the one who, although he seems like a kindly physician, he is actually secretly torturing Dimmesdale and keeping Dimmedale's conscience " in an irritated state" in order to " to disorganize and corrupt his spiritual being."
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