against their slow
coalescence. I did not wish to remember--to believe. In my heart I
felt that for some hidden reason Ray was my friend. This visit of the
Duke's, with whatever it might portend, was without doubt inspired by
him. And, on the other hand, there was the warning of Lady Angela, so
earnestly expressed, so solemn, almost sad. How could I see light
through all these things? How could I hope to understand?

The Duke came punctually, spruce and debonnair, a small rose in his
buttonhole, his wizened cheeks aglow with the smart of the stinging east
wind. With him came Lord Chelsford, whose face and figure were familiar
enough to me from the pages of the illustrated papers. Dark, spare, and
tall, he spoke seldom, but I felt all the while the merciless
investigation of his searching eyes. The Duke, on the other hand,
seemed to have thrown aside some part of his customary reserve. He
spoke at greater length and with more freedom than I had heard him.

"You see, Mr. Ducaine," he began, "I am not a man who makes idle
promises. I am here to offer you employment, if you are open to accept
a post of some importance, and also, to be frank with you, of some
danger."

"If I am qualified for the post, your Grace," I answered, "I shall be
only too willing to do my best. But you must excuse me if I express
exactly what is in my mind. I am almost a stranger to you. I am a
complete stranger to Lord Chelsford. How can you rely upon my
trustworthiness? You must have so many young men to choose from who are
personally known to you. Why do you come to me?"

The Duke smiled grimly.

"In the first place," he said, "we are only strangers from the personal
point of view, which is possibly an advantage. I have in my pocket a
close record of your days since you entered the university. I know
those who have been your friends, your tastes, how you have spent your
time. Don't be foolish, young sir," he added sharply, as he saw the
colour rise in my cheeks: "you will have a trust reposed in you such as
few men have ever borne before. This prying into your life is from no
motives of private curiosity. Wait until you hear the importance of the
things which I am going to say to you." I was impressed into silence.
The Duke continued--"You have heard, my young friend," he said, "of the
Committee of National Defence?" "I have read of it," I answered.

"Good! This committee has been formed and sanctioned by the War Office
in consequence of th