1831.] The Tutor-Fiend ayid his Three Pupils. 259 



He staggered half blinded from the spot, and the low roof echoed the 

 rejoicing of the demon. A blaze of gold and jewels shone upon him. 

 At this moment the door opened, and Blitheheart entered. Scowl 

 threw himself before the treasure, and, with the knife firmly grasped in 

 his extended hand, dared the approach of his " dear brother," who, 

 wildered at the discovery, moved not, spoke not — but breathed a deep 

 groan of agony, let the pitcher fall, and, subdued to utter imbecility, 

 threw himself upon his knees : he held out his clasped, trembling hands 

 — the tears rolled down his withered cheeks — he tried to speak — but 

 ai'ticulation was lost in guttural moanings. 



" What ! I have found a treasure !" exclaimed Scowl. 



" My all — my all !'' sobbed Blitheheart, tremulously. 



" All !" echoed Scowl, and drawing his finger down the edge of the 

 knife, and his eyes flashing with triumph, he cried, in a mingled tone of 

 mockery and menace, " Halves, brother !" 



The lips of Blitheheart quivered as though struck with sudden ague. 

 The veins worked, like young snakes, in his brow. StiU, he strove to 

 call up a ghastly smile into his face — " Halves — aye, aye — we'll see — 

 but the wine is gone — we must have more — we " 



" Regale yourself — here is my banquet. Brother (by which dear 

 name I claim half your substance) — I say, halves ! Why so," he pur- 

 sued, as he searched among the treasure — " this is well ; a good trade, 

 in faith, this physic. Brother, how many men died in this .''" and he 

 held up a piece of coin, and then again turned over the store. The 

 tinkling of every peice of metal added torture to Blitheheart — his 

 clenched hands struck each other in impotent frenzy, and he rushed 

 forward. Scowl dashed back the terrified wretch — a struggle ensued — 

 and the tenant of the hut lay dumb and insensible. Scowl searched 

 amongst the heap of wealth : he was speedily loaded — indeed, he was 

 almost held to the spot by the weight of his pilferings. He took up a 

 large golden vase — twice he put it down, and then resumed it. It could 

 not be, he must relinquish it — with hate and selfish disappointment he 

 dashed it from him, and the metal tinkled against the bald skull of the 

 dumb and prostrate man. Blitheheart groaned heavily, and Scowl, 



with a fiendish chuckle, crossed the threshold. 



* * » * 



" Is there no mercy ?" asked a manacled wretch ; and the rattling of 

 his chains seemed to answer — " None." The prisoner was a thin old 

 man, whose face, though meagre, was animated with strong, con- 

 temptuous feeling : his lips seemed festering with satire. He slunk 

 to a corner of his dungeon, and lifting a stone, took from under it a 

 small bag : it was filled with precious gems. He sat down, and taking 

 up a loose pebble, drove the jewels between the crannies of the dungeon 

 walls. " If they kill the bird, they shall not have the plumes," he 

 muttered, as he studded the cell of death with gems fitting a diadem. 

 " I fix them thus low, that they shall not glare upon men's eyes : for 

 even in a dungeon man does not look down : his hopes will fly up- 

 wards, even though they lose their pinions through the bars." As he 

 accomplished his work the gaoler entered — a friend was at the gate. 

 " P'riend !" echoed the captive, snecringly — "Say I have no legacies." 



The visitor would take no denial : it was Scowl who came to console 

 the captive Topasi. Scowl held forth his hand. " What !" cried Topaz, 



2 B2 



