rse, loud,
and rasping. His eyes, bloodshot, started from their sockets. His whole
frame twitched, and his fingers writhed. But he was in the presence of
a man infinitely his superior. Two eyes, like those of a snake, burned
two holes through him. An overmastering, inflexible presence confronted
one weak and passionate. The result came.

"Sit down," commanded the stern voice of the surgeon.

It was the voice of father to child, of master to slave. The fury left
the visitor, who, weak and overcome, fell upon a chair.

Meanwhile, a peculiar light had appeared in the old surgeon's face, the
dawn of a strange idea; a gloomy ray, strayed from the fires of the
bottomless pit; the baleful light that illumines the way of the
enthusiast. The old man remained a moment in profound abstraction,
gleams of eager intelligence bursting momentarily through the cloud of
sombre meditation that covered his face. Then broke the broad light of
a deep, impenetrable determination. There was something sinister in it,
suggesting the sacrifice of something held sacred. After a struggle,
mind had vanquished conscience.

Taking a piece of paper and a pencil, the surgeon carefully wrote
answers to questions which he peremptorily addressed to his visitor,
such as his name, age, place of residence, occupation, and the like,
and the same inquiries concerning his parents, together with other
particular matters.

"Does any one know you came to this house?" he asked.

"No."

"You swear it?"

"Yes."

"But your prolonged absence will cause alarm and lead to search."

"I have provided against that."

"How?"

"By depositing a note in the post, as I came along, announcing my
intention to drown myself."

"The river will be dragged."

"What then?" asked the young man, shrugging his shoulders with careless
indifference. "Rapid undercurrent, you know. A good many are never
found."

There was a pause.

"Are you ready?" finally asked the surgeon.

"Perfectly." The answer was cool and determined.

The manner of the surgeon, however, showed much perturbation. The
pallor that had come into his face at the moment his decision was
formed became intense. A nervous tremulousness came over his frame.
Above it all shone the light of enthusiasm.

"Have you a choice in the method?" he asked.

"Yes; extreme anaesthesia."

"With what agent?"

"The surest and quickest."

"Do you desire any--any subsequent disposition?"

"No; only nullification;