"Rick, Rick!" cried my guardian with a sudden terror in his manner, and in an altered voice, and putting up his hands as if he would have stopped his ears. "For the love of God, don't found a hope or expectation on the family curse! Whatever you do on this side the grave, never give one lingering glance towards the horrible phantom that has haunted us so many years. Better to borrow, better to beg, better to die!"
We were all startled by the fervour of this warning. Richard bit his lip and held his breath, and glanced at me as if he felt, and knew that I felt too, how much he needed it.

"Rick, Rick!" cried my guardian with a sudden terror in his manner. "For the love of God, don't found a hope on the family curse! Never give one glance towards the horrible phantom that has haunted us so many years. Better to borrow, beg, or die!"
We were all startled by the fervour of this warning. Richard bit his lip and held his breath.
