s, their attacks, their fine tactics aren't up to much,"
said Guerchard, smiling contemptuously.

"You go a trifle too far, I think," said the Duke, smiling with equal
contempt.

They looked one another in the eyes with a long, lingering look. They
had suddenly the air of fencers who have lost their tempers, and are
twisting the buttons off their foils.

"Not a bit of it, your Grace," said Guerchard; and his voice lingered
on the words "your Grace" with a contemptuous stress. "This famous
Lupin is immensely overrated."

"However, he has done some things which aren't half bad," said the
Duke, with his old charming smile.

He had the air of a duelist drawing his blade lovingly through his
fingers before he falls to.

"Oh, has he?" said Guerchard scornfully.

"Yes; one must be fair. Last night's burglary, for instance: it is not
unheard of, but it wasn't half bad. And that theft of the motorcars: it
was a neat piece of work," said the Duke in a gentle, insolent voice,
infinitely aggravating.

Guerchard snorted scornfully.

"And a robbery at the British Embassy, another at the Treasury, and a
third at M. Lepine's--all in the same week--it wasn't half bad, don't
you know?" said the Duke, in the same gentle, irritating voice.

"Oh, no, it wasn't. But--"

"And the time when he contrived to pass as Guerchard--the Great
Guerchard--do you remember that?" the Duke interrupted. "Come, come--to
give the devil his due--between ourselves--it wasn't half bad."

"No," snarled Guerchard. "But he has done better than that lately....
Why don't you speak of that?"

"Of what?" said the Duke.

"Of the time when he passed as the Duke of Charmerace," snapped
Guerchard.

"What! Did he do that?" cried the Duke; and then he added slowly, "But,
you know, I'm like you--I'm so easy to imitate."

"What would have been amusing, your Grace, would have been to get as
far as actual marriage," said Guerchard more calmly.

"Oh, if he had wanted to," said the Duke; and he threw out his hands.
"But you know--married life--for Lupin."

"A large fortune ... a pretty girl," said Guerchard, in a mocking tone.

"He must be in love with some one else," said the Duke.

"A thief, perhaps," sneered Guerchard.

"Like himself.... And then, if you wish to know what I think, he must
have found his fiancee rather trying," said the Duke, with his charming
smile.

"After all, it's pitiful--heartrending, you must admit it, that, on the
very eve o