ther's confidence," he said slowly.

There was a moment's silence. I was listening to a distant voice in the
lower part of the hall.

"Am I to take it, Mr. Ducaine, then," he said at last, "that you
decline to apologize to the Prince?"

"I have nothing to apologize for," I answered calmly. "The Prince was
attempting to obtain information in an illicit manner by the perusal of
papers which were in my charge."

Blenavon rose slowly to his feet. His eyes were fixed upon the opposite
corner of the hall. Lady Angela, who had just descended the stairs, was
standing there, pale and unsubstantial as a shadow, and it seemed to me
that her eyes, as she looked across at me, were full of trouble. She
came slowly towards us. Blenavon laid his hand upon her arm.

"Angela," he said, "Mr. Ducaine will not accept my word. I can make no
impression upon him. Perhaps he will the more readily believe yours."

"Lady Angela will not ask me to disbelieve the evidence of my own
senses," I said confidently.

She stood between us. I was aware from the first of something
unfamiliar in her manner, something of which a glimmering had appeared
on our way home through the wood.

"It is about Malors, Angela," he continued. "You were there. You know
all that happened. Malors is very reasonable about it. He admits that
his actions may have seemed suspicious. He will accept an apology from
Mr. Ducaine, and remain."

She turned to me.

"And you?" she asked.

"The idea of an apology," I answered, "appears to me ridiculous. My own
poor little possessions were wholly at his disposal. I caught him,
however, in the act of meddling with papers which are mine only on
trust."

Lady Angela played for a moment with the dainty trifles which hung from
her bracelet. When she spoke she did not look at me.

"The Prince's explanation," she said, "is plausible, and he is our
guest. I think perhaps it would be wisest to give him the benefit of
the doubt."

"Doubt!" I exclaimed, bewildered. "There is no room for doubt in the
matter."

Then she raised her eyes to mine, and I saw there new things. I saw
trouble and appeal, and behind both the shadow of mystery.

"Have you spoken to my father?" she asked.

"Yes," I answered.

"Did he accept--your view?"

"He did not," I answered bitterly. "I could not convince him of what I
saw with my own eyes."

"You have done your duty, then," she said softly. "Why not let the rest
go? As you told us just now, thi