Part 83 (1/2)

CHAPTER XLII

LANGHETTI'S ATTEMPT

Two days after Brandon's visit to Potts, Langhetti reached the village

A searching exaht now be sought for at Brandon Hall The police could do nothing for hie, she was her own mistress, and must make application herself for her safety and deliverance; if she was under age, then she must show that she was treated with cruelty None of these things could be done, and Langhetti despaired of acco once htful to him This idea filled his hts His opera was forgotten One great horror stood before hi for him to do was to try to save her He could find no way, and therefore detero and see Potts hi From Beatrice's descriptions he had an idea of the life froiven him a true idea of the character of Potts He knew that there was scarcely any hope before hi a last effort

He was hardly the h-toned, passionate, is, he could not command that calmness which was the first essential in such an interview

Besides, he was broken down by anxiety and want of sleep His sorrow for Beatrice had disturbed all his thoughts Food and sleep were alike aboanization, in which every feeling had been rendered more acute by his mode of life, were of that kind which could feel intensely wherever the affections were concerned His material frame was too weak for the presence of such an ardent soul Whenever any emotion of unusual power appeared he sank rapidly

So now, feverish, eree, he appeared in Brandon to confront a cool, unemotional villain, who scarcely ever lost his presence of mind Such a contest could scarcely be an equal one What could he bring forhich could in any way affect such a ht be of service, and trustedelse He went up early in theto Brandon Hall

Potts was at ho There was a vast contrast between these two ; the other refined, slender, spiritual, and delicate, with his large eyes burning in their deep sockets, and a strange hetti,” said he, abruptly--”the er of the Covent Garden Theatre”

”You are, are you?” answered Potts, rudely; ”then the sooner you get out of this the better The devil hihter fro to pay you off, too, hetti ”What she is, and who she is, you very well know If the dead could speak they would tell a different story”

”What the devil do you mean,” cried Potts, ”by the dead? At any rate you are a fool; for very naturally the dead can't speak; but what concern that has with a to bully hetti's iuage He stretched out his long, thin hand toward Potts, and said:

”I hold your life and fortune in hter”

Potts stood for a

”The devil you do!” he cried, at last ”Coood, rich, racy! Will your sublime Excellency have the kindness to explain yourself? If my life is in your hand it's in a devilish lean and weak one It strikes ot some kink in your brain--some notion or other Out with it, and let us see what you're driving at!”

”Do you know a ole!” replied Potts, after a pause, in which he had stared hard at Langhetti; ”well, what if I do? Perhaps I do, and perhaps I don't”

”He is in ood may he do you then, for I'ood to ood in this case, at any rate,” said Langhetti, with an effort at calmness ”He was connected with you in a deed which you must remember, and can tell to the world what he knows”

”Well, what if he does?” said Potts

”He will tell,” cried Langhetti, excitedly, ”the true story of the Despard murder”