“He is not here yet. He is staying with his uncle over at Thornby,” was His Excellency’s reply.
And the bridegroom smiled to himself. His words of the previous night would, he knew, have their effect.
Silence for silence!
Chapter Thirty Nine.
Revelations.
At that moment, however, the door suddenly opened, causing the three men to turn and glance, when, to their surprise, they saw, standing before them, the man whose name had just been mentioned. Dubard held his breath. Macbean’s face was bloodless, his lips quivered, his hands were clenched, his whole countenance seemed to have altered in those moments of tension and determination, and as he closed the door behind him and advanced boldly into the room, trying to speak in a cool voice, he addressed the Minister—
“Your Excellency, the tragedy of this marriage must not take place—for your own sake, as well as for your daughter’s.”
In an instant the three men were upon their feet, electrified by the Englishman’s startling words.