"Speak—do not delay."
"You gave me forty pounds for this night's work. What guarantee do you offer me that the child—should it survive—will not be left on my hands, altogether unprovided for?"
"Trust to paternal affection, sir," answered Marian. "I can promise you that the child will not even remain long with you."
"Well, I will venture it," said the surgeon. "Your money will save me from being compelled to shut up my establishment after an unsuccessful struggle of only a few weeks; and I ought not to ask too many questions."
"And you remember your solemn promise, sir, not to attempt to obtain any clue to the place to which I am conducting you."
"On my honour as a man—on my solemn word as a gentleman."
"Enough, sir. Let us proceed."
Marian let the surgeon onward, and admitted him into the house by the back door.
All was still quiet.
We have said on a previous occasion that the mansion was a spacious one. Ellen's apartment was far removed from that in which her father slept; and the rooms occupied by Whittingham and Holford were on the uppermost storey. There consequently existed little chance of disturbing any one.