is sin too venial to be denied. And the
Duke, who could be crafty, perceiving that mood of his, and simulating
almost an approval of it, drew the German captain into self-betrayal.

"And so this Philip Danvelt may have been innocent?"

"He must have been, for we have since taken the guilty man of the same
name," said the German easily. "It was unfortunate, but--"

"Unfortunate!" The Duke's manner changed from silk to steel. He heaved
himself out of his chair, and his dark eyes flamed. "Unfortunate! Is
that all, you dog?"

"I conceived him guilty when I ordered him to be hanged," spluttered the
captain, greatly taken aback.

"Then, why this? Answer me--why this?"

And under his nose the Duke thrust the order of gaol delivery Rhynsault
had signed.

The captain blenched, and fear entered his glance. The thing was
becoming serious, it seemed.

"Is this the sort of justice you were sent to Middelburg to administer
in my name? Is this how you dishonour me? If you conceived him guilty,
why did you sign this and upon what terms? Bah, I know the terms. And
having made such foul terms, why did you not keep your part of the
bargain, evil as it was?"

Rhynsault had nothing to say. He was afraid, and he was angry too. Here
was a most unreasonable bother all about nothing, it seemed to him.

"I--I sought to compromise between justice and--and--"

"And your own vile ends," the Duke concluded for him. "By Heaven, you
German dog, I think I'll have you shortened by a head!"

"My lord!" It was a cry of protest.

"There is the woman you have so foully wronged, and so foully swindled,"
said the Duke, watching him. "What reparation will you make to her? What
reparation can you make? I can toss your filthy head into her lap. But
will that repair the wrong?"

The captain suddenly saw light, and quite a pleasant light it was, for
he had found Sapphira most delectable.

"Why," he said slowly, and with all a fool's audacity, "having made her
a widow, I can make her a wife again. I never thought to wive, myself.
But if Your Grace thinks such reparation adequate, I will afford it
her."

The Duke checked in the very act of replying. Again the expression of
his countenance changed. He strode away, his head bowed in thought; then
slowly he returned.

"Be it so," he said. "It is not much, but it is all that you can do, and
after a fashion it will mend the honour you have torn. See that you wed
her within the week. Should she not c