Miss Mephistopheles: A Novel: (Sequel to Madame Midas.)
David Hume · en
"Not yet!" yelled Fenton, and with a sudden effort he flung Naball
off, and dashed for the window, but Malton sprang on him like a wild
cat, and they both rolled on the floor. Naball jumped up, and went to
Malton's help, when suddenly the American, with a supreme effort,
wrenched himself clear of them, and ran once more for the window.
Seeing this, Kitty, who had remained a passive spectator, tried to
stop him, but with an oath he hurled her from him, and she, falling
against a table, knocked it over, and fell senseless on the ground.
Fenton, with a cry of anger, dashed through the window, and
disappeared into the darkness. But, quick as he was, Malton was
quicker; for seeing his enemy escape him, he also sprang through the
window, and gave chase.
Naball, breathless, and covered in blood, was about to go also, when a
cry from Eugénie stopped him. The girl was kneeling down beside Kitty,
while the frightened servants crowded in at the door.
"Oh, she is dead! dead!" cried Eugénie, looking down at the still
face. "No; she can't be. Brandy--bring some brandy!"
A servant entered with the brandy, and Eugénie, filling a glass,
forced some of the liquid between Kitty's clenched teeth. Naball also
took a glass, as he was worn-out with the struggle, then, hastily
putting on his hat, went out, leaving Kitty lying, to all appearances
dead, in Eugénie's arms.
Meanwhile, Malton was close on the heels of the American, who had
cleared out by the gate, and was making for the railway station. There
were few people about; but the spectacle of two men racing bare-headed
soon brought a crowd around. Fenton, with deep curses, sped on through
the driving rain, and at last flew on to the platform, followed by
Malton, who gasped out,--
"Seize him! Murderer! murderer!"
The station-master, a porter, and some passengers who were waiting,
all sprang forward at this; so Fenton, seeing himself surrounded, gave
one yell of rage, and, jumping on the line, ran along.
"My God!" cried the station-master, "the train is coming down; he will
be killed."
He tried to hold Malton, who was mad with anger at seeing his prey
escape him, and, foaming with anger, wrenched himself away.
"You'll be killed!" cried the porter; but Malton, with a hoarse cry,
sprang on to the line, and sped after Fenton through the driving rain.
It was pitch dark, and the rain swept along in slanting sheets,
through which gleamed the red and green of the signals. Malton, only
actuated by a mad desire to seize Fenton, staggered blindly over the
sleepers, stumbling at every step.
Suddenly he heard the hard breathing of the man he was pursuing, and
the foremost figure loomed up dark and misshapen in the thick night.
They were now near the railway bridge which crosses the Yarra-Yarra at
this point, and the steady sweep of the river could be heard as it
flowed against the iron girders.