on
consideration. I appeal to your reason. Is it well to treat me like an
enemy?"

"Whether you are indeed my friend or my enemy I am not even now sure," I
answered. "I am learning to be suspicious of every person and thing
which breathes. But as for this matter between the Prince and myself,
it can make little difference who knows the truth. He shammed a fall
over the cliff and a sprained ankle. Lady Angela and I started for the
house to send a cart for him, but, before we were halfway across the
Park, Grooton fetched me back. I found the Prince examining the papers
on which I had been working, and when I charged him with it he offered
me a bribe."

"And you?"

"I struck him!"

Ray groaned.

"You struck him! And you had him in your power--to play with as you
would. And you struck him! Oh, Ducaine, you are very, very young. I
am your friend, boy, or rather I would be if you would let me. But I am
afraid that you are a blunderer."

I faced him with white face.

"I seem to have found my way into a strange place," I answered. "I have
neither wit nor cunning enough to know true men from false. I would
trust you, but you are a murderer. I would have trusted the Prince of
Malors, but he has proved himself a common adventurer. So I have made
up my mind that all shall be alike. I will be neither friend nor foe to
any mortal, but true to my country. I go my way and do my duty, Colonel
Ray."

He blew out dense volumes of smoke, puffing furiously at his pipe for
several minutes. There seemed to be many things which he had it in his
mind to say to me. But, as though suddenly altering his purpose, he
stood on one side.

"You shall go your own way," he said grimly. "The Lord only knows where
it will take you."

It took me in the first place to the Duke, to whom I recounted briefly
what had happened. I could see that my story at once made a deep
impression upon him. When I had finished he sat for several minutes
deep in thought. For the first time since I had known him he seemed
nervous and ill at ease. He was unusually pale, and there were deep
lines engraven about his mouth. One hand was resting upon the table,
and I fancied that his fingers were shaking.

"The Prince of Malors," he said at last, and his voice lacked altogether
its usual ring of cool assurance, "is of Royal blood. He is not even in
touch with the political powers of France to-day. He may have been
guilty of a moment's idle curiosity--"

"Your Grac