I started up, and without attending to Paul's suggestion to bring my friends in, or to O'Grady's advice to be cautious if it were Burke, hurried outside, where a servant of the house was in waiting to conduct me.
'Two gentlemen in the drawing-room, sir,' said he, as he preceded me down the corridor.
The next instant the door opened, and I saw my father, accompanied by another person, who being wrapped up in travelling equipment, I could not recognise.
'My dear father I' said I, rushing towards him, when suddenly I stopped short, as I perceived that instead of the affectionate welcome I looked for he had crossed his hands behind his back, and fixed on me a look of stern displeasure.
'What does this mean?' said I, in amazement; 'it was not thus I expected——'
'It was not thus I hoped to have received my son,' said he resolutely, 'after a long and eventful separation. But this is too painful to endure longer. Answer me, and with the same truth I have always found in you—is there a young lady in this house called Miss Bellew?'
'Yes, sir,' said I, and a cold perspiration broke over me, and I could scarcely support myself.
'Did you make her acquaintance in Ireland?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Did you at that time use every effort to win her affections, and give her to understand that she had yours?'