donal grant-第69章
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should have gathered his wits； he stepped quietly across the passage
to the door opposite； opened it； not without a little noise； and
went in。
It was a strange…looking chamber he had enteredthat； doubtless；
once occupied by the ogreThe Reid Etin。 Even in the bewilderment
of the moment； the tale he had just heard was so present to him that
he cast his eyes around； and noted several things to confirm the
conclusion。 But the next instant came from below what sounded like a
thundering knock at the street doora single knock； loud and
fiercepossibly a mere runaway's knock。 The start it gave Donal set
his heart shaking in his bosom。
Almost with it came a little cry； and the sound of a door pulled
open。 Then he heard a hurried； yet carefully soft step； which went
down the stair。
〃Now is my time！〃 said Donal to himself。 〃She is alone！〃
He came out； and went along the passage。 The door at the end of it
was open； and Eppy stood in it。 She saw him coming； and gazed with
widespread eyes of terror； as if it were The Reid Etin
himselfwaked； and coming to devour her。 As he came； her blue eyes
opened wider； and seemed to fix in their orbits； just as her name
was on his lips； she dropped with a sharp moan。 He caught her up；
and hurried with her down the stair。
As he reached the first floor； he heard the sound of swift ascending
steps； and the next moment was face to face with Forgue。 The youth
started back； and for a moment stood staring。 His enemy had found
him！ But rage restored to him his self…possession。
〃Put her down； you scoundrel！〃 he said。
〃She can't stand；〃 Donal answered。
〃You've killed her； you damned spy！〃
〃Then I have been more kind than you！〃
〃What are you going to do with her？〃
〃Take her home to her dying grandfather。〃
〃You've hurt her； you devil！ I know you have！〃
〃She is only frightened。 She is coming to herself。 I feel her
waking！〃
〃You shall feel me presently！〃 cried Forgue。 〃Put her down； I say。〃
Neither of them spoke loud； for dread of neighbours。
Eppy began to writhe in Donal's arms。 Forgue laid hold of her； and
Donal was compelled to put her down。 She threw herself into the arms
of her lover； and was on the point of fainting again。
〃Get out of the house！〃 said Forgue to Donal。
〃I am here on your father's business！〃 returned Donal。
〃A spy and informer！〃
〃He sent me to fetch him some papers。〃
〃It is a lie！〃 said Forgue； 〃I see it in your face！〃
〃So long as I speak the truth；〃 rejoined Donal； 〃it matters little
that you should think me a liar。 But； my lord； you must allow me to
take Eppy home。〃
〃A likely thing！〃 answered Forgue； drawing Eppy closer； and looking
at him with contempt。
〃Give up the girl；〃 said Donal sternly； 〃or I will raise the town；
and have a crowd about the house in three minutes。〃
〃You are the devil！〃 cried Forgue。 〃There！ take herwith the
consequences！ If you had let us alone； I would have done my
part。Leave us now； and I'll promise to marry her。 If you don't；
you will have the blame of what may happennot I。〃
〃But you will； dearest？〃 said Eppy in a tone terrified and
beseeching。
Gladly she would have had Donal hear him say he would。
Forgue pushed her from him。 She burst into tears。 He took her in his
arms again； and soothed her like a child； assuring her he meant
nothing by what he had said。
〃You are my own！〃 he went on； 〃you know you are； whatever our
enemies may drive us to！ Nothing can part us。 Go with him； my
darling； for the present。 The time will come when we shall laugh at
them all。 If it were not for your sake； and the scandal of the
thing； I would send the rascal to the bottom of the stair。 But it is
better to be patient。〃
Sobbing bitterly； Eppy went with Donal。 Forgue stood shaking with
impotent rage。
When they reached the street； Donal turned to lock the door。 Eppy
darted from him； and ran down the close； thinking to go in again by
the side door。 But it was locked； and Donal was with her in a
moment。
〃You go home alone； Eppy；〃 he said； 〃it will be just as well I
should not go with you。 I must see lord Forgue out of the house。〃
〃Eh； ye winna hurt him！〃 pleaded Eppy。
〃Not if I can help it。 I don't want to hurt him。 You go home。 It
will be better for him as well as you。〃
She went slowly away； weeping； but trying to keep what show of calm
she could。 Donal waited a minute or two； went back to the front
door； entered； and hastening to the side door took the key from the
lock。 Then returning to the hall； he cried from the bottom of the
stair；
〃My lord； I have both the keys； the side door is locked； I am about
to lock the front door； and I do not want to shut you in。 Pray； come
down。〃
Forgue came leaping down the stair； and threw himself upon Donal in
a fierce attempt after the key in his hand。 The sudden assault
staggered him； and he fell on the floor with Forgue above him； who
sought to wrest the key from him。 But Donal was much the stronger；
he threw his assailant off him； and for a moment was tempted to give
him a good thrashing。 From this the thought of Eppy helped to
restrain him； and he contented himself with holding him down till he
yielded。 When at last he lay quiet；
〃Will you promise to walk out if I let you up？〃 said Donal。 〃If you
will not； I will drag you into the street by the legs。〃
〃I will；〃 said Forgue； and getting up； he walked out and away
without a word。
Donal locked the door； forgetting all about the papers； and went
back to Andrew's。 There was Eppy； safe for the moment！ She was busy
in the outer room； and kept her back to him。 With a word or two to
the grandmother； he left them； and went home； revolving all the way
what he ought to do。 Should he tell the earl； or should he not？ Had
he been a man of rectitude； he would not have hesitated a moment；
but knowing he did not care what became of Eppy； so long as his son
did not marry her； he felt under no obligation to carry him the evil
report。 The father might have a right to know； but had he a right to
know from him？
A noble nature finds it almost impossible to deal with questions on
other than the highest grounds： where those grounds are
unrecognized； the relations of responsibility may be difficult
indeed to determine。 All Donal was able to conclude on his way home；
and he did not hurry； was； that； if he were asked any questions； he
would speak out what he knewbe absolutely open。 If that should put
a weapon in the hand of the enemy； a weapon was not the victory。
CHAPTER XLVIII。
PATERNAL REVENGE。
No sooner had he entered the castle； where his return had been
watched for； than Simmons came to him with the message that his
lordship wanted to see him。 Then first Donal remembered that he had
not brought the papers！ Had he not been sent for； he would have gone
back at once to fetch them。 As it was； he must see the earl first。
He found him in a worse condition than usual。 His last drug or
combination of drugs had not agreed with him； or he had taken too
much； with correspondent reaction： he was in a vile temper。 Donal
told him he had been to the house； and had found the papers； but had
not brought themhad； in fact； forgotten them。
〃A pretty fellow you are！〃 cried the earl。 〃What； you left those
papers lying about where any rascal may find them and play the deuce
with them！〃
Donal assured him they were perfectly safe； under the same locks and
keys as before。
〃You are always going about the bush！〃 cried the earl。 〃You never
come to the point！ How the devil was it you locked them up
again？To go prying all over the house； I suppose！〃
Donal told him as much of the story as he would hear。 Almost
immediately he saw whither it tended； he began to abuse him for
meddling with things he had nothing to do with。 What right had he to
interfere with lord Forgue's pleasures！ Things of the sort were to
be regarded as non…existent！ The linen had to be washed； but it was
not done in the great court！ Lord Forgue was a youth of position：
why should he be balked of his fancy！ It might be at the expense of
society！
Donal took advantage of the first pause to ask whether he should not
go back and bring the papers： he would ru
