"I think Montrose will believe," chuckled Narvaez, and then waved his
thin hand. "Go now, Enistor. I am tired."
"Don't order me about in that arrogant way," shouted the Squire, "you
have not the power to do so. You will be tired enough when Montrose has
done with you, I can tell you."
"Perhaps I will. He threatened to murder me, and to keep his secret he
may do so. I don't care: this body is very old and weak. I shall be glad
to get a new one."
"To work more evil. Remember how you were warned on that night when----"
"Go away! Go away!" cried Don Pablo in a shrill voice of anger, and his
eyes flamed viciously. "I know more about the warning than you do and I
despise it. Do you hear? I despise it!" And as on the night when Alice's
soul had been loosened from its bonds of flesh he shook his fists in the
air.
Enistor did not argue any longer, but went away with a contemptuous
shrug of his shoulders. He was more than ever convinced that Narvaez had
little power left: all the same the wounded snake might strike in
hopeless rage, so it was not wise to tempt the man too far. Besides, on
his way back to Tremore, the Squire was filled with rage against Douglas
for tricking him. To think that the young scoundrel was married and yet
came down to make love to Alice. Eberstein must have known that Montrose
was not free, and yet he also had kept silent. So much for the
Christianity he professed. It was with a black face and an angry heart
that Enistor returned home. He found that Alice and her lover had gone
down to see Hardwick in Polwellin, therefore he nursed his wrath until
they returned, and it lost nothing by the delay. Even then the Squire
did not immediately attack the young man, since the girl was present.
After dinner, as he decided, he would be able to bring Montrose to book
for his monstrous behaviour.
Alice could scarcely eat and retired early from the table. Julian was at
death's door, as she told her father, and she doubted if Mrs.
Barrast--to whom she had written--would arrive in time to take a last
farewell. With the Squire's permission she returned to the dying man
accompanied by the housekeeper. Enistor did not object as he rather
liked Hardwick, and was sorry to hear that he was passing out of life at
so early an age. But he put the matter out of his mind when alone with
Montrose.
"I saw Narvaez to-day," he said abruptly. "He tells me that you are
already married, and swears that he can give proof."
Montrose sprang up almost too startled to speak. "Is he mad to say so?"
"Mad or not, he declares that such is the case. What have you to say?"
"Say? Why, such an accusation is not worth answering. I have never
looked at a woman until I met Alice. As to being married," the young man
paused with an angry, bewildered look, "the thing is preposterous," he
cried indignantly.
"Preposterous or not, Narvaez declares that if you go up to him to-night
at eight o'clock, he will give you proof."