"Because you tried to murder me last night, and came very near succeeding," he replied.
"It is false. How dare you accuse me of such a crime?" she broke out, passionately, flying to her father's side, as if for protection.
"How dare you?" echoed John Glenalvan, furiously.
Bertram Chesleigh lifted his hand imperiously.
"Listen," he said, "I told you I had one more card to play. Your fair daughter there attempted to poison me last night with drugged wine. The physician who saved my life declared that I had taken arsenic in a draught of wine. Do you see where you stand now?"
"Do not believe him, father; it is false!" cried Elinor, furiously; but John Glenalvan, turning to look into her wild, frightened face, read the signs of guilt too plainly to be mistaken.
The sight forced a groan even from his hardened lips.
"You see where you stand," repeated Bertram Chesleigh, with stern brevity. "How will you bear to see your cherished daughter dragged into court on such a dreadful charge?"
"You will not dare do such a thing," Elinor flashed out, quivering with rage.
"That will be as your father says," was the firm reply. "If it pleases him to reveal the secret of Golden Leith's fate, I'll spare you and him; if not, you need expect no mercy from me."