As he spoke he let the earl feel the ploughman's grasp: it was useless to struggle. His lordship threw himself on the couch.
"I will not leave the house. I am come home to die," he yelled. "I'm dying now, I tell you. I cannot leave the house! I have no money.
Forgue has taken all."
"You owe a large sum to the estate!" said Donal.
"It is lost--all lost, I tell you! I have nowhere to go to! I am dying!"
He looked so utterly wretched that Donal's heart smote him. He stood back a little, and gave himself time.
"You would wish then to retire, my lord, I presume?" he said.
"Immediately--to be rid of you!" the earl answered.
"I fear, my lord, if you stay, you will not soon be rid of me! Have you brought Simmons with you?"
"No, damn him! he is like all the rest of you: he has left me!"
"I will help you to bed, my lord."
"Go about your business. I will get myself to bed."
"I will not leave you except in bed," rejoined Donal with decision; and ringing the bell, he desired the servant to ask mistress Brookes to come to him.
She came instantly. Before the earl had time even to look at her, Donal asked her to get his lordship's bed ready:--if she would not mind doing it herself, he said, he would help her: he must see his lordship to bed.
She looked a whole book at him, but said nothing. Donal returned her gaze with one of quiet confidence, and she understood it. What it said was, "I know what I am doing, mistress Brookes. My lady must not turn him out. I will take care of him."
"What are you two whispering at there?" cried the earl. "Here am I at the point of death, and you will not even let me go to bed!"
"Your room will be ready in a few minutes, my lord," said Mrs.
Brookes; and she and Donal went to work in earnest, but with the door open between the rooms.
When it was ready, "Now, my lord," said Donal, "will you come?"
"When you are gone. I will have none of your cursed help!"
"My lord, I am not going to leave you."
With much grumbling, and a very ill grace, his lordship submitted, and Donal got him to bed.
"Now put that cabinet by me on the table," he said.
The cabinet was that in which he kept his drugs, and had not been touched since he left it.
Donal opened the window, took up the cabinet, and threw it out.
With a bellow like that of a bull, the earl sprang out of bed, and just as the crash came from below, ran at Donal where he stood shutting the window, as if he would have sent him after the cabinet.
Donal caught him and held him fast.
"My lord," he said, "I will nurse you, serve you, do anything, everything for you; but for the devil I'll be damned if I move hand or foot! Not one drop of hellish stuff shall pass your lips while I am with you!"
"But I am dying! I shall die of the horrors!" shrieked the earl, struggling to get to the window, as if he might yet do something to save his precious extracts, tinctures, essences, and compounds.
"We will send for the doctor," said Donal. "A very clever young fellow has come to the town since you left: perhaps he can help you.
I will do what I can to make you give your life fair play."
