to the dim entrance hall, that was divided by pond-
erous doors from the esplanade between the building
and the busy street. A low, massive balustrade
guarded the bridge-like portion of the corridor that
hung between the heads of the twin flights of stairs, and
whence, on looking down, was seen the paved abyss
below. Approaching this part, what did he behold
but the truant Narcisse, unconscious of his presence,
ascending one of these flights of stairs. At the sight
of him the gloomy elements of his soul seemed to
flash within him and explode, rending all resolution
of restraint, and leaving him a puppet of some de-
structive power, as he stood eyeing his son's approach,
as the cat eyes that of the marauding mouse, motionless,
allowing the culprit to draw near, until, detected, he
stood, too nigh to retreat, too terrified to advance, and,
as the fascinated bird drops into the open jaws of the
serpent, fell resistless into the grasp of the advocate's
extended hand. Then, as the firedamp when met by
the miner's candle must explode, or as the liberated
lightning must rend the cloud, though the latter be
near Jove's throne, so the frenzied father, regardless,
nay, forgetful, of the place, the time, the occasion, of
himself and natural ties, assailed the scared Narcisse,
clutching him by the throat with the strength of a
maniac, and pushing him backwards against the bal-
ustrade, and holding him there transfixed, while,
with eyes seething with wrath beneath the blanched,
and big, umbrageous brows, and showing like a sud-
den opening of the infernal pit, he cried: "Demon,
degenerate dog, where hast thou been walking to
and fro in the earth? whom helping to devour? Ah,
son of Satan, ah! Aroint thee, Imp, Abortion."

[[117]]

p116b _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p117w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p118

v?