"Be quick then," I answered, "my time is short." And I seated myself opposite him, and leaning my elbow on the table, waited to hear what he would say. "Our father is dead," he said, clearing his throat and speaking in a low voice. "Is that so? Well, thou couldst not expect me to shed many tears over him, the way he has treated me. Thy news, while interesting, is not of sufficient moment to disturb me at this late hour." "Wait a moment!" he cried. "He left me the estates and title, but thou art my brother, I cannot forget that, and I would deal generously by thee. Though thou hast no legal claim to the estate, if thou wilt but sign this paper, renouncing all right which thou mayst have to the estate, and also another trifling matter here, thou shalt have the Devonshire lands with the house, and I will see that thou dost go free," and his watery eyes glistened as he looked at me. "Thou art promising too much," I replied. "Art promising what thou canst not perform, and----" "Not so," he broke in eagerly. "I swear to thee that if I but say the word thou shalt go scot free." "And what is the other trifling condition in the paper that thou speakest of?" I asked. "That thou dost renounce all right and pretension that thou mayest have to the hand of the Lady Margaret Carroll," he said. I laughed scornfully. "Thou hadst best save thy breath," I said. "Thou hast no claim--no hope," he rejoined, rising to his feet. "The lady is about to become the bride of the Lord Dunraven. What difference can it make to thee if thou signest away the right to something that thou hast not, if by doing so, thou canst save thy life?" "Why dost thou wish me to sign the paper, then?" I asked. "If the estates and title are already thine, and the lady Dunraven's?" He hesitated a moment. "There are reasons," he finally said. "Reasons that I cannot explain to thee, but sufficiently weighty for us to give thee thy life, if thou wilt sign this document. More than this I durst not say." "Us," I repeated. "Why not say Dunraven and thyself? It would sound better thus." "Well," he replied defiantly, "if thou dost wish it thus, have it thine own way. This much is certain: sign this paper and thou art free, a competency in thy hands sufficient to support thee in comfort--refuse, and thy head will pay the penalty," and he stood, his back to the door, leering at me. "Get out of my sight!" I replied. "Or I will forget myself and do thee an injury," and I advanced on him. With a yell, he turned and beat fiercely on the door with the hilt of his sword. "Open!" he cried, "quick!" The door opened so suddenly that he fell out into the hall at full length and sprawled upon the floor. The door was shut and fastened, and I heard his voice as he shrilly cursed the jailer for his carelessness. The voice died away, and I knew that he was gone.