Where is he ?" "In his room." The lad hurried on, and entered through a door way on his left, to where, in an oaken-panelled room, a stern, slightly grey, military-looking man sat poring over an old book, but looked up directly the lad entered.
"Ah, Ralph, boy," he said; "been out ?" "Only on the cliff, father," cried the lad hastily.

"Visitors." "Visitors?
Nonsense! I expect no visitors.

Who are they ?" "Captain Purlrose and his men." "Purlrose!" cried Sir Morton, with a look of angry disgust.

"Here ?" "Yes, father," said Ralph, watching keenly the impression made by his words.

"Waiting at the foot of the steps." "Bah! I thought the drunken, bullying scoundrel was dead and gone years ago.