"Upstairs, my lord, in the earl's study."
"All right," said Fitz, and he ascended the stairs with a heavy gait.
Knocking at the study door, he received a cold, stern "Come in," and, entering, found Lord Lackland seated in the same chair at the same table in the same room in which he had sat that morning when he informed Fitz that the Lackland estates were mortgaged and that the Lackland purse was empty.
"Good-morning," said Fitz.
The earl bowed with cold politeness.
"You have arrived this morning?"
"This morning," said Fitz. "I haven't been in town three hours."
"I am glad of it," said the earl, "as I wished to see you immediately you arrived."
"I left Ethel——"
"Thank you," said the earl, interrupting him with stately politeness. "I do not wish to know anything of your disobedient and undutiful sister. If I should at any time, I will come to you, who, it seems, is a partner and chief abettor in her misconduct. Be good enough not to mention her name to me."