Merle half arose from his seat as to escape; but Dan, now thoroughly angry at what he regarded as an unjustifiable interference, forced him down. The man snarled and muttered. Like a rat driven into a corner he turned at bay.
"I shan't tell you!"
"I'll drop you into the well if you don't," said Dan, grimly. "I'm not going to have you and Tim interfering with my business without knowing your reasons."
"Has Tim been here?"
"He left as you came. I wonder you did not meet him. And he asked me the same question as you have done. What business is it of yours or of his if I marry Miss Linisfarne? It has nothing to do with you."
"Yes, it has--yes, it has! I love her--I love her!"
"How can that be, when, by your own confession, you never saw her till you came to Farbis?"
"I didn't say that! I said that I had not seen her since she came to Farbis."
"Indeed! Then you knew her before she settled at the Court?"
"Yes! I--that is--oh, don't ask me any more!" said Merle, in an hysterical manner. "I can't tell you. If Tinker Tim knew he would kill me."