hear all that you do, and we shall stop immediately outside the door."
"Go to Hell!" said Professor Higginson, using the phrase for the second time in his life, and after an interval of not less than twenty-three years.
Whereupon the young men retired, and the now hardened soul proceeded once again to trace, to pencil, and to sign.
"It 's ready!" he shouted to the door as his pen left the paper.
His tormentors re-entered and possessed themselves of the document, and then, though Melba remained an enemy, Jimmy's demeanour changed.
"Mr. Brassington," he said, "we are very much obliged to you, very much obliged, indeed."
"So you ought to be," said Professor Higginson suddenly.
"Henceforward I beg you will regard these premises as your own," said Jimmy.
With these words he suddenly caught the Professor down upon the chair, took that chair upon one side, Melba took it upon the other, and they held and carried the unfortunate man rapidly through the open door, up three flights of uncarpeted stairs, until, assuring him of
