t to pour into a cup,
which a nurse presented to him, some drops of a liquor contained
in a small glass bottle which he held in his hand. His long red
beard gave even a more than usually sinister appearance to his
physiognomy. I entered so hastily that he gave a look of
surprise at my stepmother, who followed me with hasty steps; and
instead of handing to my father the draught he had prepared for
him, he suddenly placed the phial on the mantelpiece. Guided by
an instinct for which I am unable to account, my first movement
was to seize the phial. Remarking instantly the surprise and
alarm of my stepmother and Polidori, I congratulated myself on
my promptitude. My father, amazed, seemed irritated at the sight
of me. I expected this. Polidori darted at me a ferocious scowl,
and, in spite of the presence of my father and the nurse, I
feared the wretch, seeing his crime so nearly disclosed, would
have recourse to violence with me. I felt the necessity of
support at a moment so decisive; and ringing the bell, one of my
father's servants came in, whom I requested to tell my _valet de
chambre_ (who had already been informed) to go and seek some
things I had left at the little inn. Sir Walter Murphy was aware
that, in order not to arouse my stepmother's suspicions, in case
it should be necessary to give my orders in her presence, I
should employ this means of requesting him to come to me. Such
was the surprise of my father and stepmother, that the servant
quitted the room before they could utter a word. I felt my
courage then rise, for, in a few minutes, Sir Walter Murphy
would be at my side.

"'What does all this mean?' said my father to me, in a voice
feeble, but still angry and imperious. 'You here, Clemence
without my sending for you? Then, scarcely arrived, you seize
the phial containing the draught the doctor was about to give
me. Will you explain this madness?'

"'Leave the room,' said my stepmother to the nurse. The woman
obeyed. 'Compose yourself, my dear!' said my stepmother,
addressing my father; 'you know how injurious the slightest
emotion is to you. Since your daughter will come here in spite
of you, and her presence is so disagreeable to you, give me your
arm. I will lead you into the small salon, and then our good
doctor will make Madame d'Harville comprehend how imprudent her
conduct has been,