Page:Marietta, or the Two Students.djvu/38

20 certain of the return of Thick, then knocked loudly upon the door he had just closed after him. He then pushed it open, and entering, stood in the presence of the body-snatcher, who looked somewhat disconcerted.

"Ah! is it you. Dr. Glad to see you," said the resurrection man, resolving to put as good a face upon the matter as possible. "A pleasant evening. Be seated."

"I have come to see you in relation to that 'subject.' There appears to be some mistake about the matter."

"Mistake—eh—indeed," replied the body-snatcher, stammering. "I think there could be no mistake."

"I agree with you perfectly in that respect," replied Levator. "It was evidently not a mistake, but a scheme deliberately formed."

"What do you mean, Sir?" cried Thick, affecting the greatest astonishment. "Do you mean to say—"

"Hear me," said Levator, sternly, resolved to cut short the interview. "You have played a trick upon me; it will be of no avail to deny it—you have brought me a rotten carcass, instead of that for which I bargained. Now what I wish, rascal, is this, for you to take it away, and bring the other to my office without delay.

"I can't understand you—really."

"This evasion which you attempt, is not of the slighest weight. Get the body, and come with me," continued the student, firmly.

"We carried you the body as we agreed. What more do you wish?" replied Thick, moodily.

"It is a falsehood—as great a one as you ever coined. Get the body, and come with me, or I will expose your trade."

"I carried it to your room," continued the villain stoutly. "That fulfilled my part of the contract."

"The body for which I paid you is in this house."

"I protest that it is not."

"You utter a lie," retorted Levator, fearlessly. "I tell you it is not three yards from where we stand."

"You give me the lie—be careful, young man, I am not to be frightened by a boy. The body is not in this house, and I have not the slightest knowledge of where it is."

"Come with me, and I will prove you a liar," continued the student, advancing towards the door.

"You cannot enter this room," said Thick, placing himself directly in the door.

"I must." (In a determined voice.)

"You cannot."

"I can and will—stand aside."

"Young man, be warned, keep away. It will not be safe for you to come nearer." And he lifted his clenched hand in a menancingmenacing [sic] manner over Levator.

The former recoiled a step, and suddenly taking a pistol from his pocket cocked and presented it to the breast of the body-snatcher. With the other hand he deliberately drew his watch from his vest, and then in a calm, stern voice said,

"I give you just one minute to take your unsightly body from that door; if at the expiration of that time, you have not done so, I swear by him who sees us, that I will shoot you."

Had his dead father risen up before him in "propria persona," the amazement of the resurrection man could not have been greater. To see that pale, thoughtful student at once transformed into a hero—almost a desperado—standing before him, with unflinching front, compressed lip, and flashing eye, holding an implement of death to his breast, was what he was not prepared for.

"Half a minute has elapsed, you have