The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

664 T^^^ Highlana Moiithly.
came ; fortune which had eluded my grasp like a Will-o'-
tlie-Wisp, came at last, I say, and, like other men so
favoured, I sought that which would yield me greatest
pleasure—revenge on my old enemy, your father."
" And have you made his son the victim of a horrible
crime?" broke in Richard, with dilated eyes. "For
Heaven's sake, say that is not true !—say what you will,
that you intend to refuse me your daughter, and I will sub-
mit cheerfully ; but
spare me from—that." As he made
the appeal, the cold sweat stood upon his brow in drops
which glistened like dew in the sunbeams which glinted
across the room.
The Professor contemplated his victim with satisfaction,
and proceeded:—
" You have been the necessary implement in my plan of
revenge—a plan which, as you will admit, on reflection, is
unique and rather clever in its character—unique and
clever."
" Fool that I have been— I see it all now ; tell me the
worst, you vagabond ! Fiend ! 1 say, tell me—and
then
"
He made a lunge forward, as if he would grapple the
Professor by the throat, but the latter again put the breadth
of the table between them. He, at the same time, whipped
a pistol out of his hip-pocket, and laid it quietly on the
table in front of him.
" You see," he remarked with a sneer, " I anticipated
having to deal with a
admit, a fool—a fool !
hot-blooded youth, though, as you
Any more nonsense, and I'll scatter
the little brains you possess with as little compunction as I
"
have made you a
He paused, and stared into Richard a look which could
not be misunderstood. Richard staggered, reeled like a
drunken man, and finally sank upon a chair, breathing
heavily.
" You love my daughter," continued the Professor, after
a pause.