"What do I care for dinner when my mother's life may be in danger?" said Brian.
"Tut, tut! Why should it be in danger to-night of all nights in the year?" said Mr. Colquhoun, testily.
"Why? Can you ask? Have you not told me yourself that my mother made a will before her illness, leaving all that she possessed to Hugo? Depend upon it, he is anxious to get Netherglen. When he hears that I have come back he will be afraid. He knows that I can expose him most thoroughly. He is quite capable of trying to put an end to my mother's life to-night. And that is what your sister meant."
"Don't forget her warning. Don't go alone," said Vivian.
"You'll come with me, Percival," said Brian. "And you, Fane."
"If Fane and Percival go, you must let me go, too," remarked Vivian, but Brian shook his head, and Elizabeth interposed.
"Will you stay with us, Mr. Vivian? Do not leave Mr. Colquhoun and me alone."
"I'll not be left behind," said Mr. Colquhoun, smartly; "you may depend upon that, Mrs. Brian. You and Mr. Vivian must take care of my wife; but I shall go, because it strikes me that I shall be needed. Four of us, that'll fill the brougham. And we'll put the constable, Macpherson, on the box."
"I must resign myself to be useless," said Vivian, with a smile which had some pain in it.
"Useless, my dear fellow? We should never have been warned but for you," answered Brian, giving him a warm grasp of the hand before he hurried off.