s wisdom may discover. I am at a loss."

Still Carford whispered, and presently the Duke said,

"Come, gentlemen, you've fallen into a foolish quarrel where no quarrel
need have come. Pray be friends again."

M. de Fontelles drew himself up stiffly.

"I asked a promise of that gentleman, and he refused it me," he said.

"And I asked an explanation of that gentleman, and he refused it me,"
said I, just as stiffly.

"Well, then, Mr Dale shall give his promise to me. Will that be
agreeable to you, Mr Dale?"

"I'm at your Grace's commands, in all things," I answered, bowing.

"And you'll tell nobody of M. de Fontelles' agitation?"

"If your Grace pleases. To say the truth, I don't care a fig for his
fierceness. But the explanation, sir?"

"Why, to make all level," answered the Duke, smiling and fixing his gaze
upon the Frenchman, "M. de Fontelles will give his explanation to me."

"I cry agreed, your Grace!" said I. "Come, let him give it."

"To me, Mr Dale, not to you," smiled the Duke.

"What, am I not to hear why he was so fierce with me?"

"You don't care a fig for his fierceness, Mr Dale," he reminded me,
laughing.

I saw that I was caught, and had the sense to show no annoyance,
although I must confess to a very lively curiosity.

"Your Grace wishes to be alone with M. de Fontelles?" I asked readily
and deferentially.

"For a little while, if you'll give us leave," he answered, but he added
to Carford, "No, you needn't move, Carford."

So I made my bow and left them, not well pleased, for my brain was on
the rack to discover what might be the secret which hung on that
mysterious phrase, and which I had so nearly surprised from M. de
Fontelles.

"The gist of it," said I to myself, as I turned to the kitchen, "lies,
if I am not mistaken, in the third member. For when I had said _Je
viens, tu viens_, the Duke interrupted me, crying, 'Any more?'"

I had made for the kitchen since there was no other room open to me, and
I found it tenanted by the French servants of M. de Fontelles. Although
peace had been made between them and the host, they sat in deep
dejection; the reason was plain to see in two empty glasses and an empty
bottle that stood on a table between them. Kindliness, aided, it may be,
by another motive, made me resolve to cure their despondency.

"Gentlemen," said I in French, going up to them, "you do not drink!"

They rose, bowing, but I took a third chair between them and motioned