"No," Maud fastened her teeth in Elspeth's wrist and received a box on the ears. Then she burst out crying and dropped to the floor with Mrs. Herries still holding to her prey. "Oh, you are cruel."
Elspeth shook her again, and went on shaking as she spoke. "Tell me--tell me."
"I'm not sure," whimpered Miss Tedder, now really frightened of the other's blazing eyes. "I can prove nothing."
"You must let me judge of that. Who killed Sir Simon?"
"Will you give me half the money if I tell you?"
"You must ask Angus that. I don't dispose of his property."
Maud began to scream. But it was all of no use. She had ventured into the lion's den.
"How ill-bred you are," she sobbed.
"Ah," said Elspeth contemptuously, "you thought to come here and taunt me, you thought to find a weakling; but you see," with another vigorous shake, "my love for Angus makes me strong. I'm afraid of nothing, when he is in danger. You rejoiced to hear that he was arrested. Very good, then you shall be the one to release him. Now then, out with it,--out with it," and again came the shaking until Maud was quite sick. She was terribly afraid of this reckless girl, who dared to lay hands on her. There was nothing for it, but to tell the truth so far as she knew it.
"Señora Guzman murdered my father," she cried, grovelling.