The astonished wretch strove to reply, but terror
and strangulation forbade him; and the enraged
parent, like an incarnate storm, at arm's-length shook
him, as the dog shakes the rat which it has caught,
or the lion its prey; and each moment the shuddering
youth, hearing his father's deep curses, and stiffening
with horror, was urged further and yet further over
the abyss, and still with aimless, outstretched arms,
and disparted, claw-like fingers, strove to clutch the
advocate's gown; while with upturned and beseech-
ing eyes starting from their sockets, and still half on
the balustrade and half in air, with nothing but the
grasp of his adversary retaining him, he hung, while
the arm that held him quivered, and surged uneasily
from side to side, as if irresolute whether to plunge
him or to draw him back; until a growl of satisfac-
tion, followed by an execration, gurgling in the ad-
vocate's throat, announced the coming climax: the
arm was jerked outwards, the clenched fingers un-
clutched themselves, like an automaton's, and the
miserable mannikin tumbled with a yell down to the
stones beneath. An instant all was silent, then a
faint groan rose from the bruised form, that the next
moment lay on the bloody flags a senseless corpse.
Drawing a loud sigh of indescribable relief, after his
fearful and protracted agitation, the advocate -- and
now murderer -- stood glaring downwards with fixed
eyes and yet clenched teeth; then, sickening at the
horrid sight which loomed beneath, turned and lean-
ed for support against the balustrade over which he
had cast his child. Hearing the noise of the scuffle,
some stragglers from the mixed crowd on the lobby
came running to the spot, and one enquired of the

[[118]]

p117 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p118w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p119

v?