He laughed insolently. I went on as quietly as before. "You have personated your brother to Lucilla this morning," I said. "You have done that, Mr. Nugent Dubourg, for the last time."
"Have I? Who will prevent me from doing it again?"
"I will."
This time he took it seriously.
"You?" he said. "How are you to control me, if you please?"
"I can control you through Lucilla. When I get back to the rectory, I can, and will, tell Lucilla the truth."
He started—and instantly recovered himself.
"You forget something, Madame Pratolungo. You forget what the surgeon in attendance on her has told us."
"I remember it perfectly. If we say or do anything to agitate his patient, in her present state, the surgeon refuses to answer for the consequences."
"Well?"