"I, for one," said the doctor, "would not like to stand by and see the vampyre murdered; but I am inclined to think he is a good match for any mortal opponent."
"You may depend he is," said Henry.
"But how long, doctor, do you purpose that we should wait here in such a state of suspense as to what is going on within the house?"
"I hope not long; but that something will occur to make us have food for action. Hark! what is that?"
There was a loud crash within the building, as of broken glass. It sounded as if some window had been completely dashed in; but although they looked carefully over the front of the building, they could see no evidences of such a thing having happened, and were compelled, consequently, to come to the opinion that Varney and the other man must have met in one of the back rooms, and that the crash of glass had arisen from some personal conflict in which they had engaged.
"I cannot stand this," said Henry.
"Nay, nay," said the doctor; "be still, and I will tell you something, than which there can be no more fitting time than this to reveal it."
"Refers it to the vampyre?"
"It does—it does."
"Be brief, then; I am in an agony of impatience."