But Lady Lake was too much bent upon the immediate and full gratification of her long-deferred vengeance to heed her.  Clapping her hands together, the signal was answered by Sir Thomas Lake, who came forth from the adjoining room with Luke Hatton.  At the same time, and as if it had been so contrived that all the guilty parties should be confronted together, the outer door of the chamber was opened, and the Countess of Exeter was ushered in by Sarah Swarton.

On seeing in whose presence she stood, the Countess would have precipitately retreated; but it was too late.  The door was closed by Sarah.

“Soh! my turn is come at last,” cried Lady Lake, gazing from one to the other with a smile of gratified vengeance.  “I hold you all in my toils.  You, my Lord,” addressing her son-in-law, “have treated a wife, who has ever shown you the most devoted affection, with neglect and cruelty, and, not content with such barbarous treatment, have conspired against her life, and against my life.”

“Take heed how you bring any charge against him, mother,” cried Lady Roos, raising herself in her couch.  “Take heed, I say.  Let your vengeance fall upon her head,” pointing to the Countess—­“but not upon him.”

“I am willing to make atonement for the wrongs I have done you, Lady Roos,” said the Countess, “and have come hither to say so, and to implore your forgiveness.”

“You fancied she was dying,” rejoined Lady Lake—­“dying from the effects of the poison administered to her and to me by Luke Hatton, according to your order; but you are mistaken, Countess.  We have found an antidote, and shall yet live to requite you.”

“It is more satisfaction to me to be told this, Madam, than it would be to find that Luke Hatton had succeeded in his design, which I would have prevented if I could,” said Lady Exeter.

“You will gain little credit for that assertion, Countess,” remarked Sir Thomas Lake, “since it is contradicted by an order which I hold in my hand, signed by yourself, and given to the miscreant in question.”

“O Heavens!” ejaculated the Countess.

“Do you deny this signature?” asked Sir Thomas, showing her the paper.

Lady Exeter made no answer.

“Learn further to your confusion, Countess,” pursued Lady Lake, “that the wretch, Luke Hatton, has made a full confession of his offence, wherein he declares that he was incited by you, and by you alone, on the offer of a large reward, to put my daughter and myself to death by slow poison.”

“By me alone!—­incited by me!” cried Lady Exeter; “why, I opposed him.  It is impossible he can have confessed thus.  Hast thou done so, villain?”

“I have,” replied Luke Hatton, sullenly.

“Then thou hast avouched a lie—­a lie that will damn thee,” said Lady Exeter.  “Lord Roos knows it to be false, and can exculpate me.  Speak, my Lord, I charge you, and say how it occurred.”