"We'll be wanting one or two to swear to it," he continued, "and the rest to be silent. Sorra a bit of difficulty will there be about it!"
"But if," she said slowly, "he gets the first word? And tells the truth?"
"The truth?" James McMurrough replied scornfully. "The truth is what we'll make it! I'll see to that, my jewel."
She shivered. "Still," she said, "it will not be truth."
"What matter?" James answered. "It will cook his goose. Curse him," he continued with violence, "what right had he to come here and thrust himself into other folks' affairs?"
"I could have killed him," she said. "But——"
"But you can't," he rejoined. "And you know why."
"But this"—she continued with a shudder, "this is different."
"What will you be after?" he cried impatiently. "You are not turning sheep-hearted at this time of day?"
"I am not sheep-hearted."