Let no one stir, or they are dead. The house is
surrounded by a squadron of my cavalry. You are a mile from all succor.
You can make no resistance. I am master of this house. But I design to
injure no one. Sit down, madam," he added, to his companion, "I wish to
speak first."
The sentences followed each other rapidly. The speaker's accent was
cold, and had something metallic in it. The capture of the party before
him seemed to be no part of his design.
All at once the voice of the strange woman was heard in the silence.
She quietly released the arm of Georgia Conway, who had drawn back with
an expression of supreme disdain; and calmly seating herself in a
chair, gracefully cut some particles of dust from her gray riding habit
with a small whip which she carried.
"Yes, let us converse," she said, with her eyes riveted upon Georgia
Conway, "nothing can be more pleasant than these sweet family
reunions!"
Judge Conway glanced at the speaker with eyes full of sudden rage.
"Who are you, madam," he exclaimed, "who makes this impudent claim of
belonging to my family?"
"I have already told you," was the satirical reply of the woman.
"And you, sir!" exclaimed the old judge, suddenly turning and
confronting Darke, "perhaps you, too, are a member of the Conway
family?"
"Not exactly," was the cold reply.
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