nning from his heart, as one does in moments of prolonged
suspense. There was a singing in his ears. Without, he could hear the
roar and howl of the tempest, and through it, swept on the storm, came
the striking of midnight by the great chimes in the market place. He
stood for a space of time that seemed to him endless still as a
statue, and with wide-open, horror-struck eyes, breathless. As the
clock struck, so the smile of triumph on the Judge's face intensified,
and at the last stroke of midnight he placed the black cap on his
head.

Slowly and deliberately the Judge rose from his chair and picked up
the piece of the rope of the alarm bell which lay on the floor, drew
it through his hands as if he enjoyed its touch, and then deliberately
began to knot one end of it, fashioning it into a noose. This he
tightened and tested with his foot, pulling hard at it till he was
satisfied and then making a running noose of it, which he held in his
hand. Then he began to move along the table on the opposite side to
Malcolmson keeping his eyes on him until he had passed him, when with
a quick movement he stood in front of the door. Malcolmson then began
to feel that he was trapped, and tried to think of what he should do.
There was some fascination in the Judge's eyes, which he never took
off him, and he had, perforce, to look. He saw the Judge
approach--still keeping between him and the door--and raise the noose
and throw it towards him as if to entangle him. With a great effort he
made a quick movement to one side, and saw the rope fall beside him,
and heard it strike the oaken floor. Again the Judge raised the noose
and tried to ensnare him, ever keeping his baleful eyes fixed on him,
and each time by a mighty effort the student just managed to evade it.
So this went on for many times, the Judge seeming never discouraged
nor discomposed at failure, but playing as a cat does with a mouse. At
last in despair, which had reached its climax, Malcolmson cast a quick
glance round him. The lamp seemed to have blazed up, and there was a
fairly good light in the room. At the many rat-holes and in the chinks
and crannies of the wainscot he saw the rats' eyes; and this aspect,
that was purely physical, gave him a gleam of comfort. He looked
around and saw that the rope of the great alarm bell was laden with
rats. Every inch of it was covered with them, and more and more were
pouring through the small circular hole in the ceiling whence it