As I might have expected, Adkins was not aboard. He had landed several hours before, while the ship was still in the river. Having ascertained the name of the hotel where he was in the habit of staying, while in Liverpool, I lost no time loitering on board the ship, but went in search of him. On reaching the hotel, I found that he had slept there the night before, but had gone out after breakfast in the morning. My conjecture was, that he would be found at the house of Mrs Hyland; and it now occurred to me that I had been wonderfully stupid in not looking for him there in the first instance. From the hotel, I proceeded direct to Mrs Hyland's residence, as I walked along, anticipating much pleasure in the task of compelling Adkins to refute his own falsehoods. I feared, however, that shame would hinder him telling the truth; and that even in my presence he would stick to his infamous story. I feared it, because I did not wish to kill him. As I had conjectured, he was visiting at Mrs Hyland's. Just as I reached the door, Adkins was coming out. I controlled my temper as well as I could. I did not wish to defeat my purpose by an exhibition of idle anger. "Good morning Mr Adkins!" said I. "We meet again; and I assure you, on my part, with profound pleasure." He would have passed without speaking, had I not placed my body so as to block the way. "Who the devil are you; and what do you want?" he asked, with a bullying tone and air that I had often known him assume before. "I am Rowland Stone," I answered, "and I wish to see you on a matter of considerable importance." "You see me then! what the important business?" "It can only be made known in the presence of Mrs Hyland and her daughter." "Mrs Hyland does not wish to see you," said Adkins, "and much less her daughter, I should think. As for myself, I want nothing to do with you." "I can believe the latter part of your assertions," I answered, "but it is necessary that we should sometimes do what may not be exactly agreeable to us. If there is a spark of manhood in you, walk back into the house, and repeat to Mrs Hyland in my presence, what you have said behind my back." "I shall not take the trouble to do any thing of the kind. I tell you again, I want nothing to say to you. Give me the way!" As Adkins said this, he made a gesture as if he intended to pass me. "I'll give you the way to hell," said I, "unless you do as I bid you," and I caught him by the collar to drag him into the house. He resisted this attempt by aiming a blow at me, which I returned with such interest, that while I still kept my legs, the captain of the "Lenore" missed his; and, staggering backward, he fell heavily on the door-step. I had now lost all command of myself; and, after ringing the bell, to have the door re-opened, I seized him by the hair of the head--for the purpose of hauling him inside.