s?" I asked breathlessly. "Forgive me, your Grace, but it
means so much to me. You believe that we are justified?"

"Why not?" the Duke asked coldly. "It is I who am your employer. It is
I who am responsible to the country for these things. You are
responsible only to me. I choose that you remain. I choose that you
speak of this matter only when I bid you speak."

To me it was relief immeasurable. The Duke's manner was precise, even
cold. Yet I felt that he believed in me. I scarcely doubted but that
he had suspicions of his own. I, at any rate, was not involved in them.
I could have wrung him by the hand but for the inappropriateness of such
a proceeding. So far as he was concerned I could see that the matter
was already done with. His attention was beginning to wander to the
mass of letters before him.

"Would you allow me to help your Grace with your correspondence?" I
suggested. "I have no work at present."

The Duke shook his head impatiently.

"I thank you," he said. "My man of business will be here this morning,
and he will attend to them. I will not detain you, Mr. Ducaine."

I turned to leave the room, but found myself face to face with a young
man in the act of entering it.

"Blenavon!" the Duke exclaimed.

"How are you, sir?" the newcomer answered. "Sorry I didn't arrive in
time to see you last night. We motored from King's Lynn, and the whole
of this respectable household was in bed."

I knew at once who he was. The Duke looked towards me.

"Ducaine," he said, "this is my son, Lord Blenavon."

Lord Blenavon's smile was evidently meant to be friendly, but his
expression belied it. He was slightly taller than his father, and his
cast of features was altogether different. His cheeks were pale, almost
sunken, his eyes were too close together, and they had the dimness of
the _roue_ or the habitual dyspeptic. His lips were too full, his chin
too receding, and he was almost bald.

"How are you, Mr. Ducaine?" he said. "Awful hour to be out of bed,
isn't it? and all for the slaying of a few fat and innocent birds. Let
me see, wasn't I at Magdalen with you?"

"I came up in your last year," I reminded him.

"Ah, yes, I remember," he drawled. "Terrible close worker you were,
too. Are you breakfasting down stairs, sir?"

"I think that I had better," the Duke said. "I suppose you brought some
men with you?"

"Half a dozen," Lord Blenavon answered, "including his Royal Highness."

The Duke thrust all h