"Agnes, is it you?" demanded Lady Rookwood.
Thus summoned, the old attendant entered the room.
"Why are my orders disobeyed?" asked the lady, in a severe tone of voice. "Did I not say, when you delivered me this package from Mr.
Coates, which he himself wished to present, that I would not be disturbed?"
"You did, my lady, but----"
"Speak out," said Lady Rookwood, somewhat more mildly, perceiving, from Agnes"s manner, that she had something of importance to communicate.
"What is it brings you hither?"
"I am sorry," returned Agnes, "to disturb your ladyship, but--but----"
"But what?" interrupted Lady Rookwood, impatiently.
"I could not help it, my lady--he would have me come; he said he was resolved to see your ladyship, whether you would or not."
"Would see me, ha! is it so? I guess his errand, and its object--he has some suspicion. No, that cannot be; he would not dare to tamper with these seals. Agnes, I will _not_ see him."
"But he swears, my lady, that he will not leave the house without seeing you--he would have forced his way into your presence, if I had not consented to announce him."
"Insolent!" exclaimed Lady Rookwood, with a glance of indignation; "force his way! I promise you he shall not display an equal anxiety to repeat the visit. Tell Mr. Coates I will see him."
"Mr. Coates! Mercy on us, my lady, it"s not he. He"d never have intruded upon you unasked. No such thing. He knows his place too well. No, no; it"s not Mr. Coates----"
"If not he, who is it?"
"Luke Bradley; your ladyship knows whom I mean."
"He here--now?----"
"Yes, my lady; and looking so fierce and strange, I was quite frightened to see him. He looked so like his--his----"
"His father, you would say. Speak out."
"No, my lady, his grandfather--old Sir Reginald. He"s the very image of him. But had not your ladyship better ring the alarm-bell? and when he comes in, I"ll run and fetch the servants--he"s dangerous, I"m sure."
"I have no fears of him. He _will_ see me, you say----"
"Ay, _will_!" exclaimed Luke, as he threw open the door, and shut it forcibly after him, striding towards Lady Rookwood, "nor abide longer delay."
It was an instant or two ere Lady Rookwood, thus taken by surprise, could command speech. She fixed her eyes with a look of keen and angry inquiry upon the bold intruder, who, nothing daunted, confronted her glances with a gaze as stern and steadfast as her own.
"Who are you, and what seek you?" exclaimed Lady Rookwood, after a brief pause, and, in spite of herself, her voice sounded tremulously. "What would you have, that you venture to appear before me at this season and in this fashion?"
"I might have chosen a fitter opportunity," returned Luke, "were it needed. My business will not brook delay--you must be pleased to overlook this intrusion on your privacy, at a season of sorrow like the present. As to the fashion of my visit, you must be content to excuse it. I cannot help myself. I may amend hereafter. Who I am, you are able, I doubt not, to divine. What I seek, you shall hear, when this old woman has left the room, unless you would have a witness to a declaration that concerns you as nearly as myself."
An indefinite feeling of apprehension had, from the first instant of Luke"s entrance crossed Lady Rookwood"s mind. She, however, answered, with some calmness:
"What you can have to say is of small moment to me--nor does it signify who may hear it. It shall not, however, be said that Lady Rookwood feared to be alone, even though she endangered her life."
"I am no a.s.sa.s.sin," replied Luke, "nor have sought the destruction of my deadliest foe--though "twere but retributive justice to have done so."
Lady Rookwood started.
"Nay, you need not fear me," replied Luke; "my revenge will be otherwise accomplished."
"Go," said Lady Rookwood to Agnes; "yet--stay without, in the antechamber."
"My lady," said Agnes, scarcely able to articulate, "shall I----"
"Hear me, Lady Rookwood," interrupted Luke. "I repeat, I intend you no injury. My object here is solely to obtain a private conference. You can have no reason for denying me this request. I will not abuse your patience. Mine is no idle mission. Say you refuse me, and I will at once depart. I will find other means of communicating with you--less direct, and therefore less desirable. Make your election. But we _must_ be alone--undisturbed. Summon your household--let them lay hands upon me, and I will proclaim aloud what you would gladly hide, even from yourself."
"Leave us, Agnes," said Lady Rookwood. "I have no fear of this man. I can deal with him myself, should I see occasion."
"Agnes," said Luke, in a stern, deep whisper, arresting the ancient handmaiden as she pa.s.sed him, "stir not from the door till I come forth.
Have you forgotten your former mistress!--my mother? Have you forgotten Barbara Lovel, and _that night_?"
"In Heaven"s name, hush!" replied Agnes, with a shudder.
"Let that be fresh in your memory. Move not a footstep, whatever you may hear," added he, in the same tone as before.
"I will not--I will not." And Agnes departed.
Luke felt some wavering in his resolution when he found himself alone with the lady, whose calm, collected, yet haughty demeanor, as she resumed her seat, prepared for his communication, could not fail to inspire him with a certain degree of awe. Not unconscious of her advantage, nor slow to profit by it, Lady Rookwood remained perfectly silent, with her eyes steadily fixed upon his face, while his embarra.s.sment momentarily increased. Summoning, at length, courage sufficient to address her, and ashamed of his want of nerve, he thus broke forth:
"When I entered this room, you asked my name and object. As to the first, I answer to the same designation as your ladyship. I have long borne my mother"s name. I now claim my father"s. My object is, the rest.i.tution of my rights."
"Soh!--it is as I suspected," thought Lady Rookwood, involuntarily casting her large eyes down. "Do I hear you rightly?" exclaimed she, aloud; "your name is----"
"Sir Luke Rookwood. As my father"s elder born; by right of _his_ right to that t.i.tle."
If a glance could have slain him, Luke had fallen lifeless at the lady"s feet. With a smile of ineffable disdain, she replied, "I know not why I hesitate to resent this indignity, even for an instant. But I would see how far your audacity will carry you. The name you bear is Bradley?"
"In ignorance I have done so," replied Luke. "I am the son of her whose maiden name was Bradley. She was----"
""Tis false--I will not hear it--she was _not_," cried Lady Rookwood, her vehemence getting the master of her prudence.
"Your ladyship antic.i.p.ates my meaning," returned Luke. "Susan Bradley was the first wife of Sir Piers Rookwood."
"His minion--his mistress if you will; nought else. Is it new to you, that a village wench, who lends herself to shame, should be beguiled by such shallow pretences? That she was so duped, I doubt not. But it is too late now to complain, and I would counsel you not to repeat your idle boast. It will serve no other purpose, trust me, than to blazon forth your own--your mother"s dishonor."
"Lady Rookwood," sternly answered Luke, "my mother"s fame is as free from dishonor as your own. I repeat, she was the first wife of Sir Piers; and that I, her child, am first in the inheritance; nay, sole heir to the estates and t.i.tle of Rookwood, to the exclusion of your son.
Ponder upon that intelligence. Men say they fear you, as a thing of ill.
_I_ fear you not. There _have_ been days when the Rookwoods held their dames in subjection. Discern you nought of that in me?"
Once or twice during this speech Lady Rookwood"s glances had wandered towards the bell-cord, as if about to summon aid; but the intention was abandoned almost as soon as formed, probably from apprehension of the consequences of any such attempt. She was not without alarm as to the result of the interview, and was considering how she could bring it to a termination without endangering herself, and, if possible, secure the person of Luke, when the latter, turning sharply round upon her, and drawing a pistol, exclaimed,--
"Follow me!"