ems to me one of the worst charges--that you
assail the names of those whose places you desire for yourself or your
friends, under cover, and in ways impossible for them to circumvent."

The duke shrugged his shoulders as if this charge were one of small
moment.

"But 'tis of your treatment of women that the worst stories of you are
abroad, and 'tis said that your conduct toward them is that of a brute
rather than of a man. There is a tale of one woman, the wife of a
baronet, who left her husband for you, and whom ye after deserted to
poverty and disgrace."

She paused a moment and turned to recapitulate.

"Liar," she said.

The duke bowed slightly.

"Thief."

The duke bent his head a bit lower.

"Defrauder, blackmailer, and betrayer of women."

The duke rose and made a profound salutation, and Nancy regarded him
with a smile.

"I do not think of any other thing," she concluded; and then, as though
there was still hope for him, "I have never heard your grace accused of
open murder."

"'Tis strange," the duke answered her with a queer look. "I have enough
of the artist in me to see that the open murder would have been finely
climactic. There is but one of these charges that I desire to deny to
you," looking at the fire through his eyeglass as he spoke; "I don't
lie," he said, adding, with the shadow of a smile, "I don't have to.
And may I ask, Mistress Stair, do you believe these things of me?"

Nancy rose and looked into the fire.

"I like you," she answered.

"In spite of my crimes?"

"Because of your power," she responded.

They stood for a moment regarding each other steadily before another
word was spoken.

"Ah, my lord," she said, "I must be going," and there was a shade of
regret in her voice, which Borthwicke was not the man to let pass
unnoticed, "I have kept my word."

"True," the duke answered, "you have kept your word."

"You will keep yours to me?" she asked, extending her hand.

"By this time to-morrow Lapraik shall be a free man," the duke
answered, holding the extended hand in his.

"Thank you," she said, and another silence fell between them as they
stood thus, nearer together, dominated by magnetic attraction so strong
that a full minute passed unnoted by either.

"It is my turn to ask favors," the duke said headily. "The rose in your
breast."

"Shall I fasten it on your coat?" she asked.

So for a moment more they stood almost touching each other, his breath
moving the