other, grew graver.

"I suppose," he continued, "I ought to apologize for coming here so
late at night, but my solicitor has only just arrived from London, and
reported to me the result of some inquiries he has been making. Ronald
is my favourite brother, although I have not seen much of him lately. I
trust, therefore," he continued, still speaking to Cecil de la Borne,
"that you will pardon my intrusion when I explain that from the moment
of quitting your house my brother seems to have completely disappeared.
I have come to ask you if you can give me any information as to the
circumstances of his leaving, and whether he told you his destination."

Cecil de la Borne was white to the lips, but he was on the point of
answering when the Princess intervened. She leaned forward toward the
newcomer, and her face expressed the most genuine concern.

"My dear Duke," she said, "this is very extraordinary news that you
bring. Lord Ronald left here for London. Do you mean to say that he has
never arrived there?"

The Duke turned towards his companion.

"My solicitor here, Mr. Hensellman," he said, "has made the most
careful inquiries, and has even gone so far as to employ detectives. My
brother has certainly not returned to London. We have also wired to
every country house where a visit from him would have been a
probability, without result. Under those circumstances, and others
which I need not perhaps enlarge upon, I must confess to feeling some
anxiety as to what has become of him."

"Naturally," the Princess answered at once. "And yet," she continued,
"it is only a few days ago since he left here. Your brother, Duke, who
seemed to me a most delightful young man, was also distinctly peculiar,
and I do not think that the fact of your not being able to hear of him
at his accustomed haunts for two or three days is in any way a matter
which need cause you any anxiety."

The Duke bowed.

"Madam," he said, "I regret having to differ from you. I beg that you
will not permit anything which I say to reflect upon yourself or upon
Mr. De la Borne, whose honour, I am sure, is above question. But you
have amongst you a person whom I am assured is a very bad companion
indeed for boys of my brother's age. I refer to you, sir," he added,
addressing Forrest.

Forrest bowed ironically.

"I am exceedingly obliged to you, sir," he said, "for your amiable
opinion, although why you should go out of your way to volunteer it
here, I canno