"Get the company away as quickly as can be managed," he whispered to the steward of Ravenhall, "the earl is dead!"
CHAPTER XX FINALE
"The earl dead!" murmured Beatrice in a tone of awe. "Death! That was no part of Lorelie's design." And, after a brief pause, she added, "It is the judgment of God."
Awe-struck by the terrible ending of the play the whispering guests began a hurried departure. Idris, however, at Godfrey's suggestion, remained behind.
The body of Olave Ravengar, un-lawful Earl of Ormsby, was carried to the chamber usually assigned to the lying-in-state of the dead lords of Ravenhall.
Having attended to this duty Ivar, passing through the entrance-hall, suddenly caught sight of Idris in conversation with Godfrey.
For a moment he stared superciliously at his rival.
"Impostor!" he muttered, with affected indignation. "John! Roger!" he continued, addressing two tall footmen who stood near, "put this fellow outside the park gates."