'Now come with me to your mother,' he said, in a milder tone. 'You do not know how cruelly she has suffered since yesterday evening. She is waiting in terrible suspense for news of you, for a word from your lips. Come.'
Edmund passively allowed himself to be raised from his seat and led a few steps towards the door. There he halted suddenly.
'I cannot,' he said.
Heideck, who had thrown open the door, which had been locked on the inside, paid no attention to this protest, but endeavoured to draw his nephew from the room. The latter now resisted energetically.
'I cannot see my mother. Do not press me, uncle; do not try compulsion, or there will be a repetition of last night's scene.'
He freed himself from Heideck's grasp, and pulled the bell. Everard came in at once.
'My horse,' commanded his master. 'Have him saddled immediately.'
'Is this your reply to all that I have been saying to you? Has it all been in vain?' cried Heideck, in despair, when the man had withdrawn. 'Can you really still intend to take that journey?'
'No, I shall remain; but I must be out in the open air, or I shall stifle. Let me go, uncle.'
'First give me your word that you will do nothing rash, nothing desperate. In your present state, you are capable of any madness. What am I to say to your mother?'