Donal found him lying on the couch.
“My lord,” he said, “you must be aware of the reasons why you should not present yourself here!”
The earl started up in one of his ready rages:—they were real enough! With epithets of contemptuous hatred, he ordered Donal from the room and the house. Donal answered nothing till the rush of his wrath had abated.
“My lord,” he said, “there is nothing I would not do to serve your lordship. But I have no choice but tell you that if you do not walk out, you shall be expelled!”
“Expelled, you dog!”
“Expelled, my lord. The would-be murderer of his hostess must at least be put out of the house.”
“Good heavens!” cried the earl, changing his tone with an attempted laugh, “has the poor, hysterical girl succeeded in persuading a man of your sense to believe her childish fancies?”
“I believe every word my lady says, my lord. I know that you had nearly murdered her.”
The earl caught up the poker and struck at his head. Donal avoided the blow. It fell on the marble chimney-piece. While his arm was yet jarred by the impact, Donal wrenched the poker from him.
“My lord,” he said, “with my own hands I drew the staple of the chain that fastened her to the bed on which you left her to die! You were yet in the house when I did so.”