ain before I
tried watching the crowd pass through the Court of Oranges. Now, I'm
certain that Carmona or Lady Vale-Avon must have pounced upon her while I
was surrounded, and forced her away. No doubt they're at home long ago.
Why shouldn't I appeal to the English consul, and say that the Duke of
Carmona's detaining an English girl in his house against her will?"

"No use," said the Cherub. "She's under age, and she's with her mother,
who's visiting the Duchess."

"Then I'll go to Carmona's door and make such a row that they'll be
obliged to let me in."

"You'd get into a police cell instead. A man's house is his castle,
especially when it's a palace and he's a Duke."

I was silenced. I knew the Cherub was right; but it seemed monstrous that
in this twentieth century such tyranny should divide a girl from her
lover.

When I had thought for a moment I said, "Anyhow, I shall go to the house
and try to bribe a servant. Once in, I'd not come out without Monica. I've
done two satisfactory things to-day by bribery and corruption, and I don't
see why I shouldn't bring it off the third time."

"The Duke's servants have been in the employ of the family for years, and
their fathers and grandfathers before them. No money would bribe them to
deceive their master and mistress," said the Cherub.

"I shouldn't have thought either the Duke or his mother capable of
inspiring such devotion."

"It isn't devotion--it's fear. To an unfaithful servant in that house--well,
almost anything might happen."

"Have you any advice to give me, then?" I asked, in despair.

The Cherub shook his head. "The prudent thing would be to go away
to-night, and trust Lady Monica's loyalty. She can't be forced into
marrying the Duke, you know; and if she breaks the engagement he'll have
to let her alone, for dignity's sake."

"That might be prudent; but of course I won't do it."

"Of course you won't," returned the Cherub, as if it went without saying.

"Very well, then; matters are desperate, and desperate remedies must be
tried; things can't be worse than they are. I shall hang about Carmona's
house early in the morning, and when the first person comes out I'll go
in. If I don't come out, you will know what's become of me; and I don't
suppose in these days even a Duke can kill a man without getting into
trouble?"

"He would merely have you arrested as a housebreaker," said the Cherub.

"Well, I should have seen Monica first, and perhaps hav