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"Vibart!"

The word had been uttered close behind me, and very softly, yet I

started at this sudden mention of my name and stood for a moment

with my hammer poised above the anvil ere I turned and faced the

speaker He was a tall rizzled

hair about his lank jaws, and he was leaning in at thatof

the srassy back lane

"You spoke, I think!" said I

"I said, 'Vibart'!"

"Well?"

"Well?"

"And why should you say 'Vibart'?"

"And why should you start?" Beneath the broad, flapping hat his

eyes gloith a sudden intensity as he waited my answer

"It is familiar," said I

"Ha! familiar?" he repeated, and his features were suddenly

contorted as with a strong convulsion, and his teeth glearasp, and, as I htened instinctively about the shaft

"Faain

"Yes," I nodded; "like your face, for it would almost seeet faces"