An exclamation which was half an oath arrested him suddenly and he became aware that he was no longer heard patiently. In truth, the native temper of his race mastered Georges Odin in that moment and left him with no remembrance but that of the wretchedness of his own life and the depth of the passions which had contributed to it. "Money!" he cried angrily, "this man offers me money!" "Indeed, no--he offers you friendship." "Tell me the truth! He is afraid of me. Yes, there was always a coward's cloak ready for him. He knew it and played his part in spite of it. He is afraid of me and sends you here to say so. My friend, that man shall yet fall on his knees before me. He shall beg mercy, not for himself but for another. When his daughter--God be thanked he has a daughter--when his daughter is my daughter--ha! we can reach many hearts through the hearts of the women they love. As he did to me, so will I do to this English girl he dotes upon. When she is my son's wife!" His laugh had a horrid ring in it--broken, stunted teeth protruded from his hanging lips, his hands trembled upon the stick he carried. "When she is my son's wife!" He seemed to moisten the very words with a tongue lustful for vengeance. And Gavin heard him with a repulsion beyond all experience, a horror that made him dread the very touch of such a man's fingers. "Chevalier," he said at length, "the Lady Evelyn will never be your son's wife." "Ha, a prophet? Tell me that you are her chosen husband, and I will ask you no second question." "I am her chosen husband and I return to England to marry her." "You return! _Mein herr_, am I a madman that I should open my gates to one who does not even know how to hold his tongue? Shall I send you back to rob my son of the rewards of his fidelity? Return you shall--when she is his wife. Until that time, _mein herr_, consider yourself my guest." He rose defiantly, brandishing his stick. "Fool," he cried; "fool to dare the mountains which Zallony rules. As you came in folly, so shall you go--when the Englishwoman is in my son's arms." [Illustration: "As you came in folly, so shall you go----"] He turned, a laugh which was almost a cry upon his lips, and tapped his way from the apartment. Gavin could hear the sound of his footsteps long afterwards, passing from corridor to corridor of the great bare house; but the words he had spoken lingered and were echoed, as though by a spirit of vengeance moving in the room. CHAPTER XXVII ETTA ROMNEY'S RETURN