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396 good sword under his arm, and strode boldly out of the room. Nordenholm ventured not to oppose him, but followed at a distance trembling with doubt and terror, up the steps and along the sounding staircase until they reached the strange lodger’s room.

The grey-headed host knocked smartly at the door; it began to open very slowly, but not as if moved by a human hand; for the fearful guest was seated quite at the other end of the chamber, upon the ground, wrapped in a red mantle; several household implements scattered round him, and a dull blue fire flickering and casting its fitful shadows upon the opposite walls.

The strange lodger cast a keen glance at the intruders, with a smile of scorn upon his lips; and as they continued to gaze upon him, more fierce and fiery glances shot from his hollow eyes.

“Give yourselves no trouble;” he shouted in a hollow voice; “I well know your object, and what you want here; but nothing will come of it, at least during your lives; and it is a question even whether Master Philibert’s grand-children will make me quit. For I am of a very tenacious nature, and apt to tarry long at a place.”

The Professor here sighed deeply from the bottom of his soul. The Red Mantle tried to force a laugh, but in this he could not rightly succeed;