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.—As soon as Shiana said the words: "by the virtue of the Holy Things!" a change came over the appearance of the Black Man. He showed his teeth, both above and below, and they were tightly clenched. A sort of crooning sound came from his mouth, but Shiana could not make out whether he was laughing or growling. But when he looked up into the Black Man's eyes, the same terror was near coming upon him that he had felt at first. He saw well enough that the fellow was not laughing. He had never seen a worse pair of eyes, nor a more malignant look than the look that was in them, nor a brow so hard and forbidding as the brow that was above them; so he did not speak, and he did his best to pretend that he did not notice the growling. At the same time the Black Man let the gold out again upon his hand, and counted it.

"Here," said he. "Shiana, there are a hundred pounds for you for the first shilling you gave away to-day. Are you paid?"

"It is a big return," said Shiana. "It is only right that I should be."

"Right or wrong," said the Black Man, "are you paid?" and the growling became sharper and quicker.

"Oh, I am paid, I am paid," said Shiana, "my thanks to you."