cks 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 run all the way, he said.

"No, damn you!" answered the earl. "Give me the keys--all the
keys--house-keys and all. I should be a fool myself to trust such a
fool again!"

As Donal was laying the last key on the table by his lordship's
bedside, Simmons appeared, saying lord Forgue desired to know if his
father would see him.

"Oh, yes! send him up!" cried the earl in a fury. "All the devils in
hell at once!"

His lordship's rages came up from abysses of misery no man knew but
himself.

"You go into the next room, Grant," he said, "and wait there till I
call you."

Donal obeyed, took a book from the table, and tried to read. He heard
the door to the passage open and close again, and then the sounds of
voices. By degrees they grew louder, and at length the earl roared out,
so that Donal could not help hearing:

"I'll be damned soul and body in hell, but I'll put a stop to this!
Why, you son of a snake! I have but to speak the word, and you
are--well, what--. Yes, I will hold my tongue, but not if he crosses
me!--By God! I have held it too long already!--letting you grow up the
damnablest ungrateful dog that ever snuffed carrion!--And your poor
father periling his soul for you, by God, you rascal!"

"Thank heaven, you cannot take the title from me, my lord!" said Forgue
coolly. "The rest you are welcome to give to Davie! It won't be too
much, by all accounts!"

"Damn you and your title! A pretty title, ha, ha, ha!--Why, you
infernal fool, you have no more right to the title than the beggarly
kitchen-maid you would marry! If you but knew yourself, you would crow
in another fashion! Ha, ha, ha!"

At this Donal opened the door.

"I must