s very much like the tragedy of an
unharnessed Niagara."

The Duchess looked around her triumphantly. She was chilled a little,
however, by Rochester's curling lip.

"Dear hostess," he whispered in her ear, "this sort of conversation is
scarcely respectful to the bishop, even though he be a relative. You
can let your young protege expound his marvelous views after dinner."

The Duchess shrugged her ample shoulders.

"I wonder how it is," she declared, a little peevishly, "that directly
one sets foot in the country, one seems to come face to face with the
true Briton. What hypocrites we all are! We are broad enough to
discuss any subject under the sun, in town, but we seem to shrink into
something between the Philistine and the agricultural pedagogue, as
soon as we sniff the air of the ploughed fields."

She rose a little pettishly, and motioned to Rochester to take her
place.

"Five minutes only," she said. "You will find us all over the place.
The cigarettes and cigars are in the hall. You can finish your wine
here, and come out."

"Is there anything particular," Rochester asked grimly, "that we are
permitted to talk about?"

"With this crowd," she whispered, "if I forbid politics and
agriculture, I don't think you'll last the five minutes."

CHAPTER XXVII

THE ANSWER TO A RIDDLE

A few of the Duchess's guests left early--those who had to drive a
long distance, and who had not yet discarded their carriage horses for
motor-cars. Afterwards the party seemed to draw into a little circle,
and it was then that the Duchess, rising to her feet, went over and
talked earnestly for a few minutes with Saton.

"Some slight thing!" she begged. "Anything to set these people
wondering! Look at that old stick Henry Rochester, for instance. He
believes nothing--doesn't want to believe anything. Give him a shock,
do!"

"Can't you understand, Duchess," Saton said, "how much harm we do to
ourselves by any exhibition of the sort you suggest? People are at
once inclined to look upon the whole thing as a clever trick, and go
about asking one another how it is done."

The Duchess was disappointed, and inclined to be pettish. Saton
realized it, and after a moment's hesitation prepared to temporize.

"If it would amuse you," he said, "and I can find anyone here to help
me, I daresay we could manage some thought transference. All London
seems to be going to see those two people at the Alhambra--or is it
the Empire? Y