The girl's looks must have conveyed an enquiry; he answered them with a shake of his head towards the bed. "I may have business to settle with _him_," he said, in a hoarse whisper; and the girl pursued her task in silence. The old man, after cautioning her not to touch the gun, turned to the dark press at one end of the room, and in about half a minute had filled his pipe with tobacco, and re-seated himself in the chair. But Janet had seized the opportunity of his back being turned, and poured the hot water from the teapot into the touch-hole, and was again busy in arranging the cups and saucers. "Where's George?" enquired the father; "but poh, he's a chicken-hearted fellow, and would be of no use in case of a row"---- So saying, he went on with his breakfast. "He's awake!" he said suddenly. "I seed his eye." "Oh no, father! he's too weak to open his eyes--indeed he is." "I seed his eye, I tell ye; and more than that, I've seed the eye afore. Ha! am I betrayed?" He started up, and seized the fowling-piece. His step sounded across the floor, and Berville threw down the clothes in a moment, and sprang to his feet. "_You_ here?" cried the ruffian, and levelled the gun, drew the trigger, and recoiled in blank dismay when he missed fire, and saw the athletic figure of Berville distended to its full size with rage, and a pistol pointed with deadly aim within a yard of his heart. He raised the but-end of his gun; but his daughter, rushing forward, clung to his arm. "Fire not--but fly!" she cried to Berville. "Others are within call, and you are lost." "Villain!" said Berville, "miscreant! murderer! you have but a moment to live"--and cocked the pistol. "Let go my arm, girl," cried the old man, struggling. "I have saved your life--I hindered the gun from going off--all I ask you in return is to spare my father." She still retained her hold on the old man's arm, who, however, no longer struggled to get it free. "What! you turned against me?" he said, looking ferociously at the beautiful imploring face of his daughter. "You, to revenge whom I did it all! Do you know what I did? I watched your silken wooer till I saw him in the presence of this youth--I killed Sir Stratford Manvers"----