The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

A Strange Reve^ige. 527
kind of you, but I would rather have my answer down-
right."
" Your case is not hopeless ;
present."
" Thank j^ou, sir."
" But there are conditions."
that is all I can say at
" Name them," was Richard's eager request.
The Professor here got up and began to pace the room,
his manner indicating that a crisis in his plans had come,
and that a miscalculated contrcteuips might irretrievably
ruin them.
" As I have explained," he proceeded, " my daughter
and I are extremely sensitive in the matter of injuring the
feelings of others—most sensitive. We would rather suffer
You might naturally ask what about
ourselv-es. Ahem !
)-our own feelings? But you are a man, and, consequently,
only come second, in matters of the heart, to a woman.
Miss Flora, as you call her, must not suffer through my
accepting you as a son-in-law, assuming that I do so."
" No human being could guarantee that," said Richard,
starting up from his chair.
" I can."
The Professor had stopped in his walk, and confronted
Richard with folded arms, his e}"cs fixed upon his victim
\\\\\\ hypnotic intensity.
" You wish to try an experiment. Professor."
" No, you must be the experimenter."
" I ?"
" Yes, sir—upon that depends the hand of my daughter."
" It's my turn now to ask for time to consider. Professor
Somerton— you are a man of surprises."
At this remark the Professor gave Richard a keen look,
as if he mentally assured himself that there were more
shrewdness in the young man he had to deal with, when it
came to a pinch, than he anticipated.
" That is sensibly said," he observed carelessly, at the
same time opening a drawer in his desk, " of course I