from his heart, as one does in moments of prolonged suspense. There was
a singing in his ears. Without, he could hear the roar and howl of the
tempest, and through it, swept on the storm, came the striking of
midnight by the great chimes in the market place. He stood for a space
of time that seemed to him endless still as a statue, and with
wide-open, horror-struck eyes, breathless. As the clock struck, so the
smile of triumph on the Judge's face intensified, and at the last stroke
of midnight he placed the black cap on his head.

Slowly and deliberately the Judge rose from his chair and picked up the
piece of the rope of the alarm bell which lay on the floor, drew it
through his hands as if he enjoyed its touch, and then deliberately
began to knot one end of it, fashioning it into a noose. This he
tightened and tested with his foot, pulling hard at it till he was
satisfied and then making a running noose of it, which he held in his
hand. Then he began to move along the table on the opposite side to
Malcolmson keeping his eyes on him until he had passed him, when with a
quick movement he stood in front of the door. Malcolmson then began to
feel that he was trapped, and tried to think of what he should do. There
was some fascination in the Judge's eyes, which he never took off him,
and he had, perforce, to look. He saw the Judge approach--still keeping
between him and the door--and raise the noose and throw it towards him
as if to entangle him. With a great effort he made a quick movement to
one side, and saw the rope fall beside him, and heard it strike the
oaken floor. Again the Judge raised the noose and tried to ensnare him,
ever keeping his baleful eyes fixed on him, and each time by a mighty
effort the student just managed to evade it. So this went on for many
times, the Judge seeming never discouraged nor discomposed at failure,
but playing as a cat does with a mouse. At last in despair, which had
reached its climax, Malcolmson cast a quick glance round him. The lamp