I can expose him most thoroughly.
He is quite capable of trying to put an end to my mother's life
to-night. And that is what your sister meant."

"Don't forget her warning. Don't go alone," said Vivian.

"You'll come with me, Percival," said Brian. "And you, Fane."

"If Fane and Percival go, you must let me go, too," remarked Vivian, but
Brian shook his head, and Elizabeth interposed.

"Will you stay with us, Mr. Vivian? Do not leave Mr. Colquhoun and me
alone."

"I'll not be left behind," said Mr. Colquhoun, smartly; "you may depend
upon that, Mrs. Brian. You and Mr. Vivian must take care of my wife; but
I shall go, because it strikes me that I shall be needed. Four of us,
that'll fill the brougham. And we'll put the constable, Macpherson, on
the box."

"I must resign myself to be useless," said Vivian, with a smile which
had some pain in it.

"Useless, my dear fellow? We should never have been warned but for you,"
answered Brian, giving him a warm grasp of the hand before he hurried
off.

In a very short time the carriage was ready. The gentlemen had hastily
swallowed some refreshment, and were eager to start. Brian turned back
for a moment to bid his wife farewell, and received a whispered caution
with the kiss that she pressed upon his face.

"Spare Kitty as much as you can, love. And take care of your dear self"

Then they set out for Netherglen.

The drive was almost a silent one. Each member of the party was more or
less absorbed in his own thoughts, and Brian's face wore a look of stern
determination which seemed to impose quietude upon the others. It was he
who took command of the expedition, as naturally as Percival had taken
command of the sailors upon the Rocas Reef.

"We will not drive up to the house," he said, as they came in sight of
the white gates of Netherglen. "We should only be refused admittance. I
have told the driver where to stop."

"It's a blustering night," said Mr. Colquhoun.

"All the better for us," replied Brian. "We are not so likely to be
overheard."

"Why, you don't think that they would keep us out, do you, Brian, my
lad? Hugo hasn't the right to do that, you know. He's never said me nay
to my face as yet."

"Depend upon it, he won't show," said Percival, contemptuously. "He'll
pretend to be asleep, or away from home, or something of the sort."

"I am sure that he will try to keep us out, if he can," said Brian,
"and, therefore, I am not going to give him the cha