Who gave you the right to speak to me?
The lady herself?
She must be indeed distressed to choose you for a messenger." Gifford did not answer; for a moment the dark room was very still, except for the beating rain and the tapping of the ivy at the south window.
"Or perhaps," he went on, a sneer curling his handsome mouth, "you will comfort her yourself, instead?
Well, you're welcome." Gifford's hands clenched on the back of the chair in front of him.

"Sir," he said, "this place protects you, and you know it." But Dick Forsythe was beside himself with anger.

He laughed insultingly.
"I'll not detain you any longer.

Doubtless you will wish to go to the rectory to-night.

But I'm afraid, even though I'm obliging enough to leave Ashurst, you will have no"-- He did not finish his sentence.