The young man caught the glass from his friend's hand, tossed down the contents, shuddered, and then drew a deep breath, pulling himself together directly. "I'm better now," he said. "It has all been such a shock, and I've been travelling night and day." "Where from?" said the doctor, so as to give the young fellow time for the medicine to produce its effect. "Berlin," was the reply. "Berlin? That accounts for it. I was wondering why you had not been here. I thought you were in Paris about some mineral business." "I was there, but I heard some news about--about poor Hal." "Indeed?" said the professor, growing excited now. "Yes, it was from a gentleman who had escaped out of Khartoum." "Go on, my lad; go on," said Morris. "Yes, yes, I can go on now," said the young man calmly. "Don't think any more about what I said." "No, no, of course not, Frank, my lad," said the doctor; "but pray speak out. Landon and I are suffering pain." "Of course, and I've travelled night and day as I told you, so as to bring you the news myself. This German gentleman has been a prisoner ever since Khartoum was taken by the Mahdi, and only managed to get out of the place in disguise six months ago." "Yes, yes," said the doctor excitedly, and the professor took up a carafe and made it rattle against a glass as he hurriedly poured out some water and drank it with avidity. "He knew poor old Hal well by sight, and spoke to him twice, and heard who he was. He was alive, and seemed to be well the last time this gentleman saw him; but he was a miserable slave in irons without the slightest prospect of getting away." "Hah!" exclaimed the doctor, dropping into a chair and beginning to wipe his forehead. "Oh!" groaned the professor, sinking back in his chair, but only to become excited directly after, as he turned upon the bearer of the news. "But he's alive, Frank, boy! he's alive!" he cried, in a peculiarly altered voice. "Yes, thank Heaven!" said Frank Frere softly; "he is alive." No one spoke for a few moments. Then the professor began again excitedly-- "Look here," he cried, "both of you; that German sausage is a fool!" The others turned on him with wondering eyes as if they doubted his sanity, a notion quite pardonable from his manner of speaking and the wild look he had given himself by thrusting both his hands through his rather long, shaggy black hair, and making it stand up on end. "Well," he said sharply, "what are you two staring at?" "Well, Fred," said the doctor smiling, "I suppose it was at you." "And pray why were you staring in that peculiar way at me? Here, you answer--you, Frank." "I was staring on account of the sausage," said the young man, sinking back in his chair and laughing aloud. "Here, Bob," said the professor excitedly, "what have you been giving this fellow--ether? It's too strong for him. Got on his nerves."