On reaching the spot indicated he found the young mountaineer seated on a large moss-covered stone.
He appeared to be in a depressed state; his head was bent forward, and rested on the palms of his hands, which were pressed firmly against his temples.
The miserable young man was heedless of the earl’s presence, so absorbed and abstracted did he appear to be.
“So,” exclaimed Lord Ethalwood, in a loud voice, “I am here, agreeable to the request made in your uncourteous and intemperate letter. What would you with me?”
Chanet regarded the speaker with a malevolent look.
“What would I?” he repeated.
“Aye, surely you sent for me. Pray—inform me what for?”
Rising from his seat Chanet made a courteous obeisance, and then said—
“I am not mistaken, then—you have condescended to grant me a meeting?”
“That is evident. Now, your business. Proceed, if you please. In this letter,” said the earl, drawing the missive from his pocket, “you speak of a terrible reckoning you have to demand from me. I must frankly confess I do not at present understand the meaning of this expression. Perhaps you will enlighten me, for at the present moment I am in the dark. I hope you are not labouring under some hallucination.”