doors are open to my flesh and blood.  And here she halts, I say, ’gainst the law, if the law’s against me.  She’s crazed:  you’ve made her mad; she knows none of us, not even her boy.  Be off; you’ve done your worst; the light’s gone clean out in her; and hear me, you Richmond, or Roy, or whatever you call yourself, I tell you I thank the Lord she has lost her senses.  See her or not, you ’ve no hold on her, and see her you shan’t while I go by the name of a man.’

Mr. Richmond succeeded in preserving an air of serious deliberation under the torrent of this tremendous outburst, which was marked by scarce a pause in the delivery.

He said, ’My wife deranged!  I might presume it too truly an inherited disease.  Do you trifle with me, sir?  Her reason unseated! and can you pretend to the right of dividing us?  If this be as you say—­Oh! ten thousand times the stronger my claim, my absolute claim, to cherish her.  Make way for me, Mr. Beltham.  I solicit humbly the holiest privilege sorrow can crave of humanity.  My wife! my wife!  Make way for me, sir.’

His figure was bent to advance.  The squire shouted an order to Sewis to run round to the stables and slip the dogs loose.

‘Is it your final decision?’ Mr. Richmond asked.

’Damn your fine words!  Yes, it is.  I keep my flock clear of a foul sheep.’

’Mr. Beltham, I implore you, be merciful.  I submit to any conditions:  only let me see her.  I will walk the park till morning, but say that an interview shall be granted in the morning.  Frankly, sir, it is not my intention to employ force:  I throw myself utterly on your mercy.  I love the woman; I have much to repent of.  I see her, and I go; but once I must see her.  So far I also speak positively.’

‘Speak as positively as you like,’ said the squire.

’By the laws of nature and the laws of man, Marian Richmond is mine to support and comfort, and none can hinder me, Mr. Beltham; none, if I resolve to take her to myself.’

‘Can’t they!’ said the squire.

’A curse be on him, heaven’s lightnings descend on him, who keeps husband from wife in calamity!’

The squire whistled for his dogs.

As if wounded to the quick by this cold-blooded action, Mr. Richmond stood to his fullest height.

’Nor, sir, on my application during to-morrow’s daylight shall I see her?’

’Nor, sir, on your application’—­the squire drawled in uncontrollable mimicking contempt of the other’s florid forms of speech, ending in his own style,—­’no, you won’t.’

’You claim a paternal right to refuse me:  my wife is your child.  Good.  I wish to see my son.’

On that point the squire was equally decided.  ‘You can’t.  He’s asleep.’

‘I insist.’

‘Nonsense:  I tell you he’s a-bed and asleep.’

‘I repeat, I insist.’

‘When the boy’s fast asleep, man!’

’The boy is my flesh and blood.  You have spoken for your daughter—­I speak for my son.  I will see him, though I have to batter at your doors till sunrise.’