a sparing and a quiet laugher.

"Now, Frank," said he, when his mirth was somewhat appeased, "it's your
turn. Here's my hand. Good-bye; farewell!" Then, seeing me stand rigid
and indignant, and holding Clara to my side--"Man!" he broke out, "are
you angry? Did you think we were going to die with all the airs and
graces of society? I took a kiss; I'm glad I had it; and now you can
take another if you like, and square accounts."

I turned from him with a feeling of contempt which I did not seek to
dissemble.

"As you please," said he. "You've been a prig in life; a prig you'll
die."

And with that he sat down on a chair, a rifle over his knee, and amused
himself with snapping the lock; but I could see that his ebullition of
light spirits (the only one I ever knew him to display) had already come
to an end, and was succeeded by a sullen, scowling humour.

All this time our assailants might have been entering the house, and we
been none the wiser; we had in truth almost forgotten the danger that so
imminently overhung our days. But just then Mr. Huddlestone uttered a
cry, and leaped from the bed.

I asked him what was wrong.

"Fire!" he cried. "They have set the house on fire!"

Northmour was on his feet in an instant, and he and I ran through the
door of communication with the study. The room was illuminated by a red
and angry light. Almost at the moment of our entrance, a tower of flame
arose in front of the window, and, with a tingling report, a pane fell
inwards on the carpet. They had set fire to the lean-to outhouse, where
Northmour used to nurse his negatives.

"Hot work," said Northmour. "Let us try in your old room."

We ran thither in a breath, threw up the casement, and looked forth.
Along the whole back wall of the pavilion piles of fuel had been
arranged and kindled; and it is probable they had been drenched with
mineral oil, for, in spite of the morning's rain, they all burned
bravely. The fire had taken a firm hold already on the outhouse, which
blazed higher and higher every moment; the back-door was in the centre
of a red-hot bonfire; the eaves, we could see, as we looked upward, were
already smouldering, for the roof overhung, and was supported by
considerable beams of wood. At the same time, hot, pungent, and choking
volumes of smoke began to fill the house. There was not a human being to
be seen to right or left.

"Ah, well!" said Northmour, "here's the end, thank God."

And we returned t