The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Strange Revenge. 525
me to say, by Jove, that I am greatly astonished. A man's
temper sometimes depends upon a good or a bad dinner,
but I never heard tell of anybody loving or hating accord-
ing to the quality of his victuals."
" Pray confine your remarks to medicine," interrupted
the Professor a little testily. " You get medicines which
affect the ner\-es, the stomach, the liver, the kidneys—in
fact there are medicines specially applicable to nearly every
organ of the body—of the body. What I have been seek-
ing, and hav^e found— I am convinced— is an agent which
will so affect the nerve centre controlling the emotion of
love, that the direction of its action, so to speak, will be
changed, while its energy remains unimpaired, in fact
quickened—in fact quickened."
" Very interesting, Professor ;
" Exactly ;
but
' but,' you were about to remark, you came
here to discuss another subject of more personal im|x:)rt ?
I will, with your permission, show you, Mr Stuart, that this
subject has a direct relation to your case," said the
Professor, rising and placing his back to the fire, the habit
of dry expectoration making itself evident in the growing
excitement of the conversation,
" Yes ?"
" Yes."
" You'll find me a good listener. Professor, but if it comes
to argument, I'm afraid I am not in it, simply."
•' Well, to discuss that is not necessary," replied the
Professor, settling down into his usual drawl, and at the
same time resuming his seat. " Supposing I ask you a
question or two, eh ?"
" Very glad."
" You are eldest son. and heir of the estate. I presume
your father loves \'ou, because fathers usually prefer their
eldest sons ;
still it sometimes happens that a father cleaves
to some younger member of the family—how stands the
case with }'ou ? a delicate question, young sir, but one I
would like to have answered, so much depends upon it
upon it."
"
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