“Donnegan!” he said sharply.

Donnegan raised his hand slowly.

“Do you call me by that name?”

“Aye.  You’ve ceased to be a brother.  There’s no blood tie between us now, as I warned you before.”

Donnegan, very white, moved back toward the wall and rested his shoulders lightly against it, as though he needed the support.  He made no answer.

“I warned you not to cross me again.” exclaimed Lord Nick.

“I have not.”

“Donnegan, you’ve murdered my men!”

“Murder?  I’ve met them fairly.  Not murder, Henry.”

“Leave out that name, I say!”

“If you wish,” said Donnegan very faintly.

The sight of his resistlessness seemed to madden Lord Nick.  He made one of his huge strides and came to the center of the room and dominated all that was in it, including his brother.

“You murdered my men,” repeated Lord Nick.  “You turned my girl against me with your lying love-making and turned her into a spy.  You made her set the trap and then you saw that it was worked.  You showed her how she could wind me around her finger again.”

“Will you let me speak?”

“Aye, but be short.”

“I swear to you, Henry, that I’ve never influenced her to act against you; except to win her away for just one little time, and she will return to you again.  It is only a fancy that makes her interested in me.  Look at us!  How could any woman in her senses prefer me?”

“Are you done?”

“No, no!  I have more to say:  I have a thousand things!”

“I shall not hear them”

“Henry, there is a black devil in your face.  Beware of it.”

“Who put it there?”

“It was not I.”

“What power then?”

“Something over which I have no control.”

“Are you trying to mystify me?”

“Listen!” And as Donnegan raised his hand, the singing poured clear and small into the room.

“That is the power,” said Donnegan.

“You’re talking gibberish’” exclaimed the other pettishly.

“I suppose I shouldn’t expect you to understand.”

“On the other hand, what I have to say is short and to the point.  A child could comprehend it.  You’ve stolen the girl.  I tried to let her go.  I can’t.  I have to have her.  Willing or unwilling she has to belong to me, Donnegan.”

“If you wish, I shall promise that I shall never see her again or speak to her.”

“You fool’ Won’t she find you out?  Do you think I could trust you?  Only in one place—­underground.”

Donnegan had clasped his hands upon his breast and his eyes were wide.

“What is it you mean, Henry?”

“I’ll trust you—­dead!”

“Henry!”

“That name means nothing to me I’ve forgotten it.  The worlds has forgotten it.”

“Henry, I implore you to keep cool—­to give me five minutes for talk—­”