Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/279

Rh power I gave the Doctor. I will give you far greater. I was never unkind to him. His death—ah, yes, his death! Well, he brought it on himself. I'll bet my existence that the cunning rogue swelled himself up on purpose, so that I might throw him out, and thus release him from his engagements, and that he is hiding somewhere as much alive as ever. But woe betide him if I ever catch him again! Will not Flambo Combustius and Cashup Humbuggins satiate their vengeance! Perpetual roasting in molten lava will be nothing to it. But you'll be my private secretary, I know? You can bring your wife and family, and all your friends, too—a million sterling British pounds a year, as many grand castles to live in as you like, gardens and parks, libraries, hunters and hounds, and as many fine, beautiful——'

'Away! begone! Demon of hell!' I shouted in a perfect fury of rage; 'away, liar and murderer! tempt me no more! What! was I, an intellectual being, born into this grand world, of a God-fearing mother, for nothing better than to help you to fill it with wickedness, violence, brutality, and bloodshed; with spite and malice, and hatred and jealousy; with pride, avarice, adultery, drunkenness, and every other abomination? Away, fiendish author of our rebellion and our madness! That human soul cannot exist which will not for ever curse you and the spirits that serve you. I refuse your service, I scorn and defy you!'

To this passionate outburst the Demon did not answer a single word. He stared at me in apparently stunned astonishment, but, recovering himself immediately, and before I had time to perceive his intention, he unwound his tail from his arm, and struck me a savage blow with it above the region of the heart I fell and rolled over on the stones in an agony of pain and shame, but, gifted with sudden, almost supernatural strength, I sprang up in an instant with a heavy stone in my hand, and hurled it at