“You are acting only for self-interest, simply to get your reward out of it, and I will be happy in keeping it from you.”
“But dear Mary will be made unhappy by——”
“Dear Mary is happy as she is with my father, Mat Kingsland. I order you from this house, for I have heard all that was said, and know your baseness,” and Mary swept into the room as proud as a queen and defiant.
“Ah! you, then, know that your father stole——”
“Silence, sir! He invested funds in his keeping in speculations and lost thereby. It was, perhaps, a criminal act, but he is more than sorry for it. He has just refused a fortune rather than do wrong again, and I refuse it with him; go, sir, or I will call Daniel to put you out.”
Mary pointed toward the door.
“Girl, you and this old fool, your father, shall rue this act. I go, but I warn you that you will yet beg mercy of me.”
Mary laughed scornfully. The villain moved toward the door, and a moment after was riding away at a speed that Goliath of Gath had not been forced to for many a long day.