He gnashed his teeth, and rolled over and over in a paroxysm of jealous recollection.  We guessed what he meant.  Then he went on:  “That night he sauntered backward and forward for some time.  I thought he would not go far enough away, and I called to the devil to help me.  He did; for, very soon, Forrester walked straight down the path.  I crept after him till he had gone some hundred yards—­my heart was beating so quickly that I could hardly breathe—­then I ran forward and stood before him.  I had taken off the black wig and beard that I always wore, and he knew me directly.

“‘Mr. Bruce, I believe?’ he said, raising his hat, just as if he had met me by appointment.

“‘Yes,’ I said.  ‘I have got you at last, as I wished.’  I tried to speak as steadily as he had done; but, as the moment for action came near, my d——­d cowardice made me stammer.

“‘I am not invisible, as a rule,’ he replied.  ’You, or any friend of yours, might have found me long ago.  You have been some time making up your mind.  It’s that unfortunate constitutional—­caution, I suppose.  Well, I’ll meet you in Rome:  it’s more than you deserve.’

“‘You’ll fight me here—­now,’ I said.

“‘I shall do nothing half so melodramatic,’ he answered.  ’I’ll give you a fair chance on the ground; but, if you do not move out of my path now, I’ll shoot you as I would any other disagreeable ruffian,’ and he put his hand into his breast, where, I knew, he carried a pistol.

“I was brave then.  I sprang in upon him all at once.  ’You may shoot now, if you like,’ I said.  ’I swear I am quite unarmed.  But show that to your wife when you go back,’ and I struck him with my open hand.”

(I remembered the mark on the corpse’s cheek, and looked at Guy eagerly.  I could not see his face, which was hidden by the curtain, but all his lower limbs were shaking and quivering.)

“I thought how it would be,” Bruce went on; “he drew his hand out with the pistol in it, but he only flung it over the bank—­one barrel went off in the fall—­then we grappled.  After wrestling for a minute or two on the narrow path, we lost our footing and rolled down the rocks; neither quitted his hold, but I fell uppermost and kept him down.  He struggled desperately at first; but when he found that I was much the stronger, he lay quite still, looking up into my face.  I said, ’It’s my turn at last.  Do you think I’ll let you off?’

“He did not answer at first.  I believe he would not till he had quite recovered his breath; then he said, coolly, ’No, I don’t.  Finish it quickly, if you can, that’s all.’  I would have delayed a little, to enjoy my triumph, but I thought the pistol-shot might bring some one; so I tightened my gripe on his throat, and looked round for a weapon.  I found none at first, and my purpose actually began to soften when I saw him so helpless; but, as I relaxed my fingers, I heard him whisper to himself, ’Poor Bella! we have