“I want your help,” said Sir Matthew. “At any moment I may be traced. Though I hope I have eluded pursuit and set them on a wrong track one can never tell in these days of telegrams and espionage. I don’t ask much of you. All I want is this; go down to the agents’ and take a place on board the Havre boat for to-night; let me shelter here until the passengers are allowed to go on to the steamer and, since you are a practised hand in making up, help me to disguise myself. I ask nothing but this.”
The audacity of the request roused all Ralph’s angry resentment again. He clenched his hands fiercely and began to pace up and down the room.
“You ask me to help you to escape,” he said indignantly, “when I am certain that you richly deserve to be brought to justice!”
“I ask you,” replied Sir Matthew, “to help your Godfather in his great need. To show a kindness to your father’s old friend.”
“You had no kindness for him,” said Ralph. “How can you—how dare you come to me. You who have desolated homes and broken hearts! Why there are few things I should like better than to see you arrested and properly punished.”
Sir Matthew’s face grew whiter.
“Would you betray me?” he said, “after I have trusted you?”
“No,” said Ralph indignantly, “certainly not. But I will not stir a finger to help you. How can you expect me to forget the way in which you have wronged Evereld?”
Sir Matthew’s keen eyes scrutinised him closely for a minute; he was puzzled to know how much Ralph had learnt of the truth.
“Wronged her?” he said questioningly, “what do you mean?”