Похититель трупов

           Thequestionis,Whydidhechooseustwoforhisassistants? AndIanswer,becausehedidn’twantoldwives.’ 

           ThiswasthetoneofallotherstoaffectthemindofaladlikeFettes. HeagreedtoimitateMacfarlane. Thebodyoftheunfortunategirlwasdulydissected,andnooneremarkedorappearedtorecogniseher. 

           Oneafternoon,whenhisday’sworkwasover,FettesdroppedintoapopulartavernandfoundMacfarlanesittingwithastranger. Thiswasasmallman,verypaleanddark,withcoal-blackeyes. Thecutofhisfeaturesgaveapromiseofintellectandrefinementwhichwasbutfeeblyrealisedinhismanners,forheproved,uponaneareracquaintance,coarse,vulgar,andstupid. Heexercised,however,averyremarkablecontroloverMacfarlane; issuedordersliketheGreatBashaw;becameinflamedattheleastdiscussionordelay,andcommentedrudelyontheservilitywithwhichhewasobeyed. ThismostoffensivepersontookafancytoFettesonthespot,pliedhimwithdrinks,andhonouredhimwithunusualconfidencesonhispastcareer. Ifatenthpartofwhatheconfessedweretrue,hewasaveryloathsomerogue;andthelad’svanitywastickledbytheattentionofsoexperiencedaman. 

           ‘I’maprettybadfellowmyself,’thestrangerremarked,‘butMacfarlaneistheboy—ToddyMacfarlaneIcallhim. Toddy,orderyourfriendanotherglass.’ Oritmightbe,‘Toddy,youjumpupandshutthedoor. ’‘Toddyhatesme,’hesaidagain. ‘Ohyes,Toddy,youdo!’