Page:The Ghost (O'Connor).djvu/94
"First, put some coal on that fire, and light the chandelier. I shall not go upstairs to-night." The man obeyed. "Now, James, sit down in that chair." He did so, beginning to look frightened at Dr. Renton's grave manner.
"James"—a long pause—"I want you to tell me the truth. Where did you go tonight? Come, I have found you out. Speak."
The man turned as white as a sheet, and looked wretched with the whites of his bulging eyes, and the great pimple on his nose awfully distinct in the livid hue of his features. He was a rather slavish fellow, and thought he was going to lose his situation. Please not to blame him, for he, too, was one of the poor.
"Oh! Dr. Renton, excuse me, sir; I didn't mean doing any harm."
"James, my daughter gave you an undirected letter this evening; you carried it to one of my houses in Hanover street. Is that true?"
"Ye-yes, sir. I couldn't help it. I only did what she told me, sir."
"James, if my daughter told you to set fire to this house, what would you do?"
"I would not do it, sir," he stammered, after some hesitation.