t to
make allowance for it."

I looked him straight in the face.

"I am afraid, Colonel Ray," I said, "that you are not inclined to give
me credit for very much common sense. Take those papers to Lord
Chelsford. I will come round to your rooms as soon as possible."

He looked at me with eager, searching gaze.

"You mean this?"

"Certainly!" I answered.

He seemed about to say something, but changed his mind. He left me
without another word. I stepped back into the sitting-room. My father,
with an empty tumbler in his hand, was crouched forward over the table,
breathing heavily. My stepmother, with marble 'face and hard set eyes,
was leaning forward in her chair, looking into the dying fire. She
scarcely glanced at me as I entered.

"Has he gone?" she asked.

"Yes," I answered. "Will you get ready, please? I want to take you to
the Duke."

She rose to her feet at once, and moved towards the door. I was left
alone with my father, but he never stirred during her absence, nor did I
speak to him. She returned in a few minutes, dressed very quietly, and
wearing a veil which completely obscured her features. We walked to the
corner of the square, and then I called a hansom.

"I know nothing about Lord Blenavon," she said, a little wearily. "I
suppose the Duke will not believe that, but it is true."

"You can do no more than tell the truth," I remarked.

"Tell me what he is like--the Duke?" she asked abruptly.

"He is a typical man of his class," I answered. "He is stiff,
obstinate, punctilious, with an extreme sense of honour, to gratify
which, by-the-bye, he has just deliberately pauperized himself. He will
not remind you in the least of Lord Blenavon."

"I should imagine not," she answered.

Then there was a short silence, and I could see that she was crying
under her veil. I laid my hand upon hers.

"I am afraid," I said gently, "that I have misled you a little. You are
worrying about me, and it isn't half so necessary as you imagine. You
thought me mad to listen to my father's offer, and a coward to give up
those papers to Ray. Isn't that so?"

My words seemed to electrify her. She pushed up her veil and looked at
me eagerly.

"Well? Go on!" she exclaimed.

"There are some things," I said, "which I have made up my mind to tell
no one. But at least I can assure you of this. I am not nearly in so
desperate a position as you and Colonel Ray seem to think."

She caught hold of my hand and grasped it