The old woman looked up earnestly at Rainscourt's face, as if to
understand him. "I see!"--then remaining with her head down for some
time, as if in cogitation; she again looked up. "Will father O'Sullivan
give me absolution for that?"

"He will--he shall--I will pay for ten thousand masses for your soul
over and above."

"But what would you have me do--so young and so beautiful, too! I'll
think over it to-night. I never sleep much now, the rats are so
troublesome."

"Rats!" cried Rainscourt; "why not get some arsenic?"

"Arsenic!" echoed the old woman; "is it arsenic for the rats you mean?"

"Yes," replied Rainscourt, significantly; "for all sorts of rats--those
who would undermine the foundation of an ancient house."

"Sure it's an old house, that of the Rainscourts," replied the nurse;
"but I'm giddy a little--I'll think a bit." In a second or two, her
face brightened up a little. "Why don't you marry the two together?
Such a handsome couple as they'd be!"

"Marry, you old fool! Do you think, now that he is aware that all the
property is his, that he would marry Emily, without a sixpence? No--
no."

"True--and it's the arsenic you want, then?--and you're sure that the
priest will give absolution?"

"Sure," replied Rainscourt, out of patience; "come to me at daylight
to-morrow morning."

"Well, I'll think about it to-night when I'm asleep.--And so young, and
so beautiful, too. Och hone!" murmured the old woman, as she unlocked
the door, and with tremulous gait quitted the room.

Rainscourt, left to himself again became the prey to conflicting
passions. Although his conscience had long been proof against any
remorse at the commission of the every-day crimes which stained the
earth, yet it recoiled at meditated murder. More than once he
determined to leave it all to chance, and if Seymour did recover, to fly
the country with all the money he could raise; but the devil had
possession, and was not to be cast out.

The door was again opened, and Emily, radiant with happiness after the
interview with Seymour, in which she had plighted and received the troth
of her beloved, entered the room.

"My dear father, Mr Seymour is so much better this evening."

"Would he were in his grave!" replied Rainscourt, bitterly.

Emily had come in, at the request of Seymour, to state to her father
what had taken place, but this violent exclamation deterred her. She
thought that it was not a favourable moment