"You've been in that room!" cried Ashby, pointing up the passage-way.
"Well, what if I have?"
"What if you have? You know what you went there for."
Thus far Harry had been too much amazed to understand anything. But now he began to see what it all meant.
"Oh, ho!" said he; "so that's it?"
"That's it! of course that's it!" cried Ashby. "Isn't that enough? sneaking after that girl, when you know that she is mine. What the devil have you got to say for yourself?"
At this Harry began to rouse himself. He didn't feel like defending his conduct; and now, as was natural, took refuge in a fight.
"Confound you!" he cried; "what do you mean by such insults as these? Who are you? What business is it of yours?"
"She's engaged to me. I took you into my confidence, and you've turned out a traitor and a sneak."
Harry drew a long breath, and instantly recovered his usual coolness.