“I heard a good deal of it,” said Sewell, coolly. “She screams, particularly when she means to be confidential; and all that about my wife must have reached the gardener in the shrubbery. Where is she off to?” “To Dublin. She means to see his Excellency and the Chief Baron; she says she can't leave Ireland till she has unmasked all your wickedness.” “She had better take a house on a lease then; did you tell her so?” “I did nothing but listen,--I never interposed a word. Indeed, she won't let one speak.” “I 'd give ten pounds to see her with the Chief Baron. It would be such a 'close thing.' All his neat sparring would go for nothing against her; for though she hits wide, she can stand a deal of punishment without feeling it.” “She 'll do you mischief there.” “She might,” said he, more thoughtfully. “I think I 'll set my mother at her; not that she 'll have a chance, but just for the fun of the thing. What 's the letter in your hand?” “Oh, a commission she gave me. I was to distribute this amongst your household;” and he drew forth a banknote. “Twenty pounds! you have no objection to it, have you?” “I know nothing about it; of course you never hinted such a thing to me;” and with this he arose and left the room. CHAPTER XXXVII. A STORMY MOMENT Within a week after the first letter came a second from Cagliari. It was but half a dozen lines from Tom himself. “They are sending me off to a place called Maddalena, dearest Lucy, for change of air The priest has given me his house, and I am to be Robinson Crusoe there, with an old hag for Friday,--how I wish for you! Sir Brook can only come over to me occasionally. Look out for three rocks--they call them islands--off the N. E. of Sardinia; one of them is mine.--Ever your own, “Tom L.” Lucy hastened down with this letter in her hand to her grandfather's room, but met Mr. Haire on the stairs, who whispered in her ear, “Don't go in just yet, my dear; he is out of sorts this morning; Lady Lendrick has been here, and a number of unpleasant letters have arrived, and it is better not to disturb him further.” “Will you take this note,” said she, “and give it to him at any fitting moment? I want to know what I shall reply,--I mean, I 'd like to hear if grandpapa has any kind message to send the poor fellow.” “Leave it with me. I 'll take charge of it, and come up to tell you when you can see the Judge.” Thus saying, he passed on, and entered the room where the Chief Baron was sitting. The curtains were closely drawn, and in one of the windows the shutters were closed,--so sensitive to light was the old man in his periods of excitement. He lay back in a deep chair, his eyes closed, his face slightly flushed, breathing heavily, and the fingers of one hand twitching slightly at moments; the other was held by Beattie, as he counted the pulse. “Dip that handkerchief in the cold lotion, and lay it over his forehead,” whispered Beattie to Haire.