“And do you fancy, sir, that such conduct is legal?” cried Hoare.
“I cannot say,” rejoined Tiernay; “but that it is far more mild and merciful than I could have expected under the circumstances, I am perfectly ready to aver.”
“May I read the paper out?” said Hoare, with a malicious scowl at Cashel.
“There is no need that you should, sir,” said Roland; “its contents are known to me, whom alone they concern.”
“You can, I opine, have no objection that your friend, Dr. Tiernay, should hear them?”
“I repeat, sir, that with the contents of that paper neither you nor any one else has any concern; they relate to me, and to me alone.”
“Then I must labor under some misapprehension,” said Hoare, affectedly; “I had fancied there was another person at least equally interested.”
“Will you dare, sir!” said Roland; and in the thick guttural utterance there was that which made the other tremble with fear.
“If the matter be one, then,” said he, rallying into his former assurance, “that you deem best kept secret, it would be perhaps a judicious preliminary to any conversation on the subject, that Dr. Tiernay should withdraw.”
“I only await Mr. Cashel's pleasure,” said Tiernay, moving towards the door.