The change was so terrible in the old man’s face that Saxa uttered a low cry.
“No, no!” she said. “Neil! Look at him. Look!”
“Silence, girl,” cried the old man hoarsely, and with his face working.
“Father, for Heaven’s sake,” said Neil, bending over him; but the old man waved him back, and he shrank away, ignorant of the fact that Saxa’s cry had brought Nurse Elisia to the door, where she stood appalled at the old man’s aspect.
“Tell Saxa it is a lie.”
“I cannot, sir,” said Neil firmly. “You force from me the truth.”
“What!” panted Elthorne.
“It would be deceiving Saxa Lydon, and lying against Elisia, the woman I love hopelessly, but with all my heart.”
“You have killed him!”