“Don’t know, indeed, sir,” said the man, whose teeth were chattering with fear.
“Don’t know, indeed! You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Speak out, you fool. Was it burglars——”
“No, sir. I think not, sir. I—don’t know what it was, sir. Something about Miss—— about Miss——”
“About whom?” the old man cried.
“Oh, sir, have a little patience—it’s all right, it’s all right, sir—just Miss Stella, sir, that—that is all right, sir—all safe, sir,” the attendant cried.
Old Tredgold sat upright in his chair; he put his elbows on the table to support his head. “Miss Stella!” he said with a sudden hoarseness in his voice.
And then the man rushed out to summon Katherine, who came quietly but trembling to the call.
He uncovered his face as she came in. It was ghastly pale, the two gleaming points of the eyes glimmering out of it like the eyes of a wild beast. “Stella, Stella!” he said hoarsely, and, seizing Katherine by the arm, pressed her down upon a low chair close to him. “What’s all this cock and a bull story?” he said.
“Oh, papa!”
He seized her again and shook her in his fury. “Speak out or I’ll—I’ll kill you,” he said.