He will fall out upon me for not having told
him at once; but I must not mind that: if I were not to tell him
now, he would have a good case against me."
They were already walking towards the house, the old man giving a
groan now and then. He could not go in, he said; he would walk
gently on, and Donal would overtake him.
It was an hour and a half before Andrew got home, and Donal had not
overtaken him.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE EARL'S BEDCHAMBER.
Having washed the blood from his face, Donal sought Simmons.
"His lordship can't see you now, I am sure, sir," answered the
butler; "lord Forgue is with him."
Donal turned and went straight up to lord Morven's apartment. As he
passed the door of his bedroom opening on the corridor, he heard
voices in debate. He entered the sitting-room. There was no one
there. It was not a time for ceremony. He knocked at the door of the
bedroom. The voices within were loud, and no answer came. He knocked
again, and received an angry permission to enter. He entered, closed
the door behind him, and stood in sight of his lordship, waiting
what should follow.
Lord Morven was sitting up in bed, his face so pale and distorted
that Donal thought elsewhere he should hardly have recognized it.
The bed was a large four-post bed; its curtains were drawn close to
the posts, admitting as much air as possible. At the foot of it
stood lord Forgue, his handsome, shallow face flushed with anger,
his right arm straight down by his side, and the hand of it clenched
hard.
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