Part 100 (1/2)
”I saw Colonel Despard,” repeated the stranger, for the third time, ”on board the _Vishnu_ in the Indian Sea I learned from him his story--”
He paused
”Then,” cried Potts quickly, to whoe with it; ”then, if you saw him, what concern is it of mine? He was alive, then, and the Despard murder never took place”
”It did take place,” said the other
”You're talking nonsense How could it if you saw him? He must have been alive”
_”He was dead!”_ replied the stranger, whose eyes had never withdrawn themselves fro wrathfully upon him The tones penetrated to the very soul of the listener He shuddered in spite of hiar natures, his was accessible to superstitious horror He heard and treer, ”and yet all that I told you is true I learned from him his story”
”Dead men tell no tales,” muttered Potts, in a scarce articulate voice
”So you thought when you locked him in, and set fire to the shi+p, and scuttled her; but you see you were mistaken, for here at least was a dead man who did tell tales, and I was the listener”
And the mystic soleht indeed have held coer, ”where he found you, and how”
Awful expectation was manifest on the face of Potts
”He told s, Potts, or whatever other name you choose, and show the indelible characters which represent the narew ashen His teeth chattered
”He gave er, in a louder voice; ”and this is the draft which you will not reject”
He strode forward three or four paces, and flung so toward Potts
It was a cord, at the end of which was a metallic ball The ball struck the table as it fell, and rolled to the floor, but the stranger held the other end in his hand
”THUG!” cried he; ”do you knohat that is?”
Had the stranger been Olyht hand a thunder-bolt, it could not have produced a ht upon Potts by the sight of this cord
He started back in horror, uttering a cry half-way between a screa drops of perspiration started from his brow He trembled and shuddered from head to foot His jaw fell He stood speechless
”That is asped Potts
”The title deeds of the Brandon estates!”
”The Brandon estates!” said Potts, in a faltering voice
”Yes, the Brandon estates; nothing less”