d in
impressiveness Blanche's made up for. She kept looking at me as though
anxious that I should remember our common secret. More than once I was
almost sorry that I had not let her speak.

"You've had swell callers again," she remarked, as we sat side by side
at supper-time. "A carriage from Rowchester was outside your door when
I passed."

"Ah, he's a good sort is the Duke," Mr. Moyat declared appreciatively.
"A clever chap, too. He's A1 in politics, and a first-class business
man, chairman of the great Southern Railway Company, and on the board of
several other City companies."

"I can't see what the gentry want to meddle with such things at all
for," Mrs. Moyat said. "There's some as says as the Duke's lost more
than he can afford by speculations."

"The Duke's a shrewd man," Mr. Moyat declared. "It's easy to talk."

"If he hasn't lost money," Mrs. Moyat demanded, "why is Rowchester
Castle let to that American millionaire? Why doesn't he live there
himself?"

"Prefers the East Coast," Mr. Moyat declared cheerfully. "More
bracing, and suits his constitution better. I've heard him say so
himself."

"That is all very well," Mrs. Moyat said, "but I can't see that
Rowchester is a fit country house for a nobleman. What do you think,
Mr. Ducaine?"

I was more interested in the discussion than anxious to be drawn into
it, so I returned an evasive reply. Mrs. Moyat nodded sympathetically.

"Of course," she said, "you haven't seen the house except from the road,
but I've been over it many a time when Mrs. Felton was housekeeper and
the Duke didn't come down so often, and I say that it's a poor place for
a Duke."

"Well, well, mother, we won't quarrel about it," Mr. Moyat declared,
rising from the table. "I must just have a look at the mare. Do you
look after Mr. Ducaine, Blanche."

To my annoyance the retreat of Mr. and Mrs. Moyat was evidently
planned, and accelerated by a frown from their daughter. Blanche and I
were left alone--whereupon I, too, rose to my feet."

"I must be going," I said, looking at the clock.

Blanche only laughed, and bade me sit down by her side.

"I'm so glad dad brought you in to-night," she said. "Did he say
anything to you?"

"What about?"

"Never mind," she answered archly. "Did he say anything at all?"

"He remarked once or twice that it was a wet night," I said.

"Stupid!" she exclaimed. "You know what I mean."

"He did make me a very kind offer," I admitted.

She l