eh;
Louis?" he added with unnamable insolence. The Seigneur inclined his
head. "V'la! they followed me, overtook me, and Havel shot me in the
wrist. See there!"--he held out his wrist. The Seigneur nodded. "But I
got to Fournel's first. I put the will into his hands.

"I told him Madame Madelinette was following. Then I went to bring the
constables to his house to arrest her when he had finished with her."
He laughed a brutal laugh, which deepened the strange glittering look
in Louis' eyes. "When I came an hour later, she was there. But--now you
shall see what stuff they are both made of! He laughed at me, said I had
lied; that there was no will; that I was a thief; and had me locked up
in gaol. For a month I was in gaol without trial. Then one day I was let
out without trial. His servant met me and brought me to his house. He
gave me money and told me to leave the country. If I didn't, I would be
arrested again for trying to shoot Havel, and for blackmail. They could
all swear me off my feet and into prison--what was I to do! I took the
money and went. But I came back to have my revenge. I could cut their
hearts out and eat them."

"You are drunk," said the Seigneur quietly. "You don't know what you're
saying."

"I'm not drunk. I'm always trying to get drunk now. I couldn't have come
here if I hadn't been drinking. I couldn't have told you the truth, if
I hadn't been drinking. But I'm sober enough to know that I've done for
him and for her! And I'm even with you too--bah! Did you think she cared
a fig for you? She's only waiting till you die. Then she'll go to her
lover. He's a man of life and limb. Youpish! a hunchback, that all
the world laughs at, a worm--" he turned towards the door laughing
hideously, his evil face gloating. "You've not got a stick or stone.
She"--jerking a finger towards the house--"she earns what you eat,
she--"

It was the last word he ever spoke, for, with a low terrible cry,
the Seigneur snatched up a knife from the table and sprang upon him,
catching him by the throat. Once, twice, thrice, the knife went home,
and the ruffian collapsed under it with one loud cry. Not letting go
his grasp of the dying man's collar, the Seigneur dragged him across the
floor, and, opening the door of the small inner room, pulled him inside.
For a moment he stood beside the body, panting, then he went to the
other room and, bringing a candle, looked at the dead thing in silence.
Presently he stooped, held