ord, if you were able to convince him, would most certainly
be misled in this direction. That is why I have kept your report to
myself. That is why my advice to you now is to say nothing about your
imagined displacement of those papers. That is my advice. You
understand?"

"Yes, your Grace," I repeated.

"With regard to the Prince of Malors," the Duke continued, "my firm
conviction is that you were mistaken. Malors is not a politician. He
has nothing whatever to gain or lose in this matter. He is a member of
one of the most ancient houses of Europe, a house which for generations
has been closely connected with my own. I absolutely decline to believe
that whilst under my roof a Malors could lower himself to the level of a
common spy. Such an accusation brought against him would be regarded as
a blot upon my hospitality. Further, it would mean the breaking off of
my ancient ties of friendship. I am very anxious, therefore, that you
should bring yourself to accept my view as to this episode also."

"Your Grace," I answered, "you ask me very hard things."

He looked at me with his clear cold eyes.

"Surely not too hard, Mr. Ducaine," he said. "I ask you to accept my
judgment. Consider for a moment. You are a young man, little more than
a boy. I for forty years have been a servant of my country, both in the
field and as a lawmaker. I am a Cabinet Minister. I have a life-long
experience of men and their ways. My judgment in this matter is that
you were mistaken, and much mischief is likely to ensue if the Prince of
Malors should find himself an object of suspicion amongst us."

"Your Grace," I said, "forgive me, but why do you not say these things
to the Board, or to Lord Chelsford and Colonel Ray after they have heard
my story?"

"Because," the Duke answered, "I have no confidence in the judgment of
either of them. Both in their way are excellent men, but they are of
this new generation, who do not probe beneath the surface, who form
their opinions only from the obvious. It is possible that after hearing
your story they might consider the problem solved. I am, at any rate,
convinced that they would commence a search for its solution in
altogether wrong quarters."

"Your Grace," I said firmly, "I am very sorry indeed that I cannot take
your advice. I think it most important that Lord Cheisford should know
that those papers were tampered with. And as regards the Prince of
Malors, whatever his motive may have been, I d