"His Honour cannot answer you, my Lady," said Mrs. Aylward. "He has
had a bad fall, and Mr. Belamour is gone to send for the doctor."
"This is the housekeeping in my absence!" said Lady Belamour, showing
less solicitude as to her son's condition than indignation at the
discovery, and her eyes and her diamonds glittering fearfully.
"My Lady," said Mrs. Aylward, with stern respectfulness, "I knew nothing
of all this till this lady called me an hour ago telling me Sir Amyas
was hurt. I found him as you see. Please your Ladyship, I must go
back to him."
"Speak then, you little viper," said Lady Belamour, turning on Aurelia,
who had risen, but was held fast by the hand upon hers. "By what arts
have you well nigh slain my son? Come here, and tell me."
"None, madam!" gasped Aurelia, trembling, so that she grasped her
chair-back with her free hand for support. "I never saw him till
to-night."
"Lies will not serve you, false girl. Come here this instant! I
_know_ that you have been shamelessly receiving my son here, night
after night."
"I never knew!"
"Missie Madam never knew," chimed in Jumbo. "All in the dark. She
thought it old mas'r."
Lady Belamour looked contemptuously incredulous; but the negro's
advocacy gave a kind of courage to Aurelia, and availing herself
of a slight relaxation of the fingers she withdrew her hand, and
coming forward, said, "Indeed, madam, I know nothing, I was entirely
deceived.
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