The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

666 The Hiohland Montkly.
" J-'rofessor Somcrton," he said calmly, " there is another
and it is yours. I go home.
funeral I will jixe to be at ;
If I find thcclrui;- has fulfilled its mission, and I have played
the part of the second miu'dcrer, )'ou, murderer number one,
will perish by m)- hand, though I should track you over the
whole world to do the deec' !"
There was, in Richard's look and attitude, such an
impressive meaning, that the Professor winced. Then his
foot made three stamps upon the floor. In a moment the
landlord burst into the room.
" Remove that fellow," said the Professor.
" Not a hand upon me."
The bull}', for such he was in rcahty as well as in ap-
pearance, stepped back, as he caught sight of Richard's
face. He scarcely resembled the health)- \-oung man who
had entered the room half-an-hour ago.
'• Villain I" said Richard, addressing the Professor, " you
have made me- -I who had no concern in the miserable
affairs of your life— )-our \ictim in a diabolical and
unnatural crime, which )^ou call revenge. You have
played the part well. You deceived me, country-bred as I
you
me
am, and not used to the world's wickedness, as j-ou are ;
have succeeded in wrecking a happy home ; branding
with a repulsi\'e crime—— -"
" Remove him—the fellow is mad," cried the Professor ;.
" do your dut}', landlord."
As he w-as being hustled from the room, his last words
ringing with curses and threats, there was a shriek, shrill
and piercing, from the neighbouring apartment, and a heavy
fall.
The Professor rushed in, and started back at the sight
which met him. Julia lay prostrate on the floor in a dead
faint ! What if she had heard all ? The thought alarmed
him exceedingly ; he had hoped to carry through his
\illainous scheme without even exciting the suspicions of
his daughter that anything but the rejection of Richard's
suit was intended.