“These few words were spoken in such terrible tones of quiet anger that I began to fear for poor Baptiste.

“‘Thy marriage-bed shall be thy death-bed also,’ said she.

“And she loosed the hound!

“With a bound he darted towards the closet in which I was concealed.

“He growled and sniffed, as if in warning.

“As if by some supernatural instinct, the animal then leaped wildly on the bed.

“A heavy groan was all I heard.

“Baptiste was murdered!

“With one fierce bite the animal had severed his wind-pipe, as clean as if it had been done with a knife!

“The pure white sheets were quickly dyed in blood.