"Alick!"
"Go away!"
"I have something to say to you."
"Go away, I tell you."
"But I have something to tell you."
"There's only one thing you can tell me. Is it true—is she to die?"
"It .... it is so appointed."
"Then take that," cried Gell, and flinging himself upon Stowell with the fury of madness he struck him in the face and laid open his cheek-bone.
There was an awful silence. Gell had staggered to a bookcase behind him, expecting Stowell to strike back. But Stowell remained standing, and then said, with a break in his voice,
"I have well deserved it."