The herald., 1895-03-10

aloud with a sharp, throttling cry; he
dashed his Questioner across the open
space, and, with his hands over his head
fled out of the door like detected thief
Before it had occurred to one of us to
make movement the fly was already
rafting towards the station. The scene
was over like dream, but the dream had
left proofs and traces of its passage. Next
day the servant found those fine gold
spectacles crushed and broken on the
threshold, and that very night were we
not all standing breathless by the bar.
room window, and FeJtes at our. side,
sober, pale and resolute in look?
We three returned to our places in the
parlor, with the big red fire and four
clear candles and as we recapitulated
what had passed the first chill of our sur
prise soon changed into glow of curios-
ity We sat late; it was the latest session
| had known in the old George. Each
man, before we parted, had his theory
that he was bound to prove; and none OF
us had any nearer business in this world
than to track out the past of our con-
temned companion and surprise the secret
that she shared with the great London
doctor. 1t is no great boast, but be-
lieve was better hand at worming out
a story than either of my fellows at the
George; and perhaps there is nQW..no
other man alive who could narrate #g&pu
the following foul and unnatural eSAtWs
In his young days Fettes studied medi
cine in the schools of Edinburgh. He
had talent of a kind-the talent that picks
up swiftly what it hears and readily re-
tains it for its own. He worked little at
home; but he was civil, attentive and in
telligent in the presence Of his masters.
They soon picked him out as a lad who
listened closely and rememb ered' well
nay, strange as it seemed To me when
first heard it, he was in those days well
favored, and pleased by his exterior.
There was, at this period, a certain extra
mural teacher of anatomy, whom 1 shall
here designate by the letter X. His
name was subsequently too well known.
The man who bore it skulked through the
streets of Edinburgh in disguise, while
the mob that applauded at the execution
of Burke called loudly for the execution
OF his employer; But Mr.. K was then
at the top of his vogue; he enjoyed a
popularity partly due to his own talent
and address, and partly to the incapacity
of his rival, the university professor.
The students, at least, swore by his
name, and Fettes believed himself and
was believed by others to have laid the
foundation of success when he had ac-
nous man. Mr.. X was bon vivant as
we'll as an accomplished teacher; he liked
a sly allusion no less than careful prepa
ration. In both capacities Fettes enioyed
and deserved his notice, and by the sec
ond year of his attendance he held the
half-irregular position OF second demon
strator or sub-assstant in the class.
In this capacity the charge OF the the
alter and lecture room devolved in partic-
ular upon his shoulders, he had to answer
for the cleanliness of the premises and
the conduct OF the other students; and it
was part of his duty to supply, receive
and divide the various subjects. 1t was
with view to this last--at that time
very delicate-affair that he was lodged
by MIR. Kin the same wynd, and at last
in the same building, with the dissecting
rooms. Here, after night of turbulent
pleasure, his hand still to,tering, his sight
still misty and confused, he would be
called out of bed in the black hours be
fore the winter dawn by these unclean
and desperate interlopers who supplied
the table; he would open the door to these
men, since infamous throughout the
land; he would help them with their