antation now, in the
open park, where eavesdropping was impossible.

"You have a difficult post, Mr. Ducaine," she said, "and you will
remember--"

"Oh, I remember," I interrupted. "You warned me not to take' it. But
think in what a position I was. I had no career, I was penniless. How
could I throw away such a chance?"

"Something has happened--this morning, has it not?" she asked.

I nodded.

"Yes."

She waited for me to go on. She was deeply interested. I could hear
her breath coming fast, though we were walking at a snail's pace. I
longed to confide in her absolutely, but I dared not.

"Do not ask me to tell you what it was," I said. "The knowledge would
only perplex and be a burden to you. It is all the time like poison in
my brain."

We were walking very close together. I felt her fingers suddenly upon
my arm and her soft breath upon my cheek.

"But if you do not tell me everything--how can you expect my sympathy,
perhaps my help?"

"I may not ask you for either," I answered sadly. "The knowledge of
some things must remain between your father and myself."

"Between my father--and yourself!" she repeated.

I was silent, and then we both started apart. Behind us we could hear
the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching, soft quick footsteps,
muffled and almost noiseless upon the spongy turf. We stood still.

CHAPTER XIII

A BRIBE

I wheeled round and peered into the darkness. Lady Angela's fingers
clutched my arm. I could feel that she was trembling violently. It was
Grooton whose figure loomed up almost immediately before us--Grooton,
bareheaded and breathless. "What is it?" I exclaimed quickly. "I
think, sir, that you had better return," he panted.

He pointed over his shoulder towards the "Brand," and I understood. In
a moment I was on my way thither, running as I had not done since my
college days. I stumbled over antheaps, and more than once I set my
foot in a rabbit hole, but somehow I kept my balance. As I neared the
cottage I slackened my speed and proceeded more stealthily. I drew
close to the window and peered in. Grooton had been right indeed to
fetch me. The Prince was standing before my desk, with a bundle of
papers in his hand. I threw open the door and entered the room. Swift
though my movement had been, a second's difficulty with the catch had
given the Prince his opportunity. He was back in his easy chair when I
entered, reclining there with half-closed eyes. He looked up at