“Ha!” he heard the squire say, tauntingly, “I thought I’d bring you news of the wedding. Your——” Ralph could not catch the next word, though he strained his ears to do so—“has wedded the wealthy little lady, as I told you he would, and deeming it likely that you would be anxious to learn when it was all nicely over, I came to tell you.”
“Cease, babbler, and leave; I would be alone,” replied Mr. Ellerton, commandingly.
“Oh, ho! Command the rocks to open and set you free; perhaps they will hear and obey,” was the sneering retort. “But I cannot obey you just yet; you know, I promised to return to you again, and I always keep promises of this kind, especially when I have a purpose to accomplish.”
Mr. Ellerton bowed his head wearily upon his hands and made no reply. The evil-hearted squire went on, sneeringly:
“Nice little match that of Ralph Ellerton’s. I presume you will be interested to know that he will now have the command of three fortunes; you have always taken such an interest in the lad’s welfare that it must be pleasing to you to know of his present good luck. Miss Dupont’s, or rather Mrs. Ellerton’s fortune, united with my own, and then yours on the top of that, will make quite a little pile, amounting in all to about two millions of dollars. You perceive I keep posted about these things.”
“Villain! will you hold your peace?” demanded Mr. Ellerton, exasperated nearly beyond control.
He raised his head again, and sharply scrutinized the face of his enemy, and grew a shade paler at the diabolical purpose he saw written there. He saw at once that the man meant to take his life.
Step by step the squire approached nearer to his victim, until only a short space remained between them.
In a stern, authoritative tone, Mr. Ellerton cried out:
“Back, villain! Do not dare to take another step, or you shall pay dearly for it!”