"We are obliged to consult our own convenience rather than yours, Lily. Pardon our informal and ill-timed visit," said Mr. Colville, coming forward to her side. She flashed a look of scorn upon him, but deigned no reply. He turned to the two old people who stood waiting. "You may go," he said. "We will apprise you when we are about to leave." "No, let them remain," said Lily, imperiously. "I have something to say to you, Mr. Colville, and I desire that these, _your friends_, may hear it." Old Peter and Haidee looked at each other in some trepidation at her words and manner, but stood still, curious and a little frightened. "My _friends_," muttered Colville, indignantly; "Miss Lawrence, I do not choose my friends from among such rabble, I assure you!" "Do you not?" said she, contemptuously. "Yet if you had a precious treasure, Mr. Colville, and desired to guard it very carefully, you would entrust it to your best friends rather than your enemies--would you not?" "Assuredly," he answered, wondering what she meant by her strange words and manner. "You would? and yet you have professed to regard me as the thing most precious upon earth to you while you have given the lie to the assertion by leaving me here in the keeping of these wretches whom you disdain to own as your friends. Is it not so?" He quailed before the scorn in her ringing voice, and the proud gesture of her lifted finger. "You were safe with them," he muttered. "My dearest friends could not have guarded you more faithfully than they have done." "It is false," she said, scornfully. "My life has been in constant jeopardy at their hands ever since I first entered this house." "Miss Lawrence, you are raving," said Doctor Pratt. "These people have been paid to keep you here: it is to their interest to do so. And why should you fancy yourself in danger from them?" "It is no fancy," she answered, coldly, while her scathing glance fell upon the cowering pair of interrupted murderers like lightning a moment, then returned to the faces of those she addressed. "I assure you, Doctor Pratt, and you, Mr. Colville, that your sudden coming interrupted her--I was on the point of being _murdered_ by that woman there!" "She lies!" cried Haidee and Peter, simultaneously. "Silence, wretches!" thundered Dr. Pratt, furiously, reading guilt in their very faces. "Let the lady tell her story, then deny it if you can." "It is the wine that has got into her head," whined Peter, abjectly. "Silence, fellow! Now, go on with your story, Miss Lawrence," said the physician, impatiently. Thus encouraged, Lily related every word of the frightful conversation that was indelibly stamped on her memory. There was no discrediting her assertions. The truth was unmistakable. "She was just opening the door," concluded Lily, "when your loud knocking frightened her away. My relief from the pressure of over-wrought feeling was so great that I fainted when I attempted to stand up again!"