The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

450 ^-^^ Highland Monthly.
average of his fellow mortals ; and, in the years that had
now overtaken him, his frame had become the victim of
hulking stoutness. This liberality of form had rendered
the fact all the more conspicuous that his face and head
were out of proportion in their smallness. He had Irish
features, as far as a thick, mediumly trimmed beard, which
had crept dangerously near to his eyes, permitted these to
become visible. A private detective might have envied
his eyes, they were so thoroughly controlled and leisurely,
so keen when sleep seemed to be playing hide and seek
round the corners. The Professor had onl}' one other
characteristic it is necessary to mention ; it was the
disagreeable habit of a dry expectoration when his mental
calm was disturbed—but, then, he had the excuse of being
an American. At the ' present moment this peculiar
barometer indicated the old gentleman's thoughts had
reached a consummation, or at least marked a crisis.
" Yes, a very ingenious and complete revenge," he added
after a reflective pause, " provided my plans work smoothly^
and I think my knowledge of human nature—as far as I
have to deal with it in this matter— is a guarantee of that."
" Stuart, the old ruralised fool, never suspects my
identity ; why
should he ? It's half a lifetime ago—verily,
half a lifetime. How old I am, to be sure ; yet how rank
and strong is this craving to wipe out the insult he inflicted
upon my manhood !
" Most likely, after so many years, he has forgotten the
little episode—has but a casual remembrance of me and
that blood-traced letter. The average memory is happily
short— mine, he will see, is long, and, when it concerns a
grudge, grows keener with age.
" Aye, it's curious. There was Prairie Bob, he little
thought I would keep my powder dry for ten long years ;
I fixed him then, and had to remind him, poor devil, of
what the bullet was for as he died. H'm. It was a
satisfaction for him to know, and I could not grudge the
information as a dying request."