ee. That there would be a
very great scandal--a world scandal. Even if he were not to prove his
case, the character of--your nephew--would be held up for inspection.
Then again, he would have very powerful backers. Now you told me of this
man Mulhausen. How would that property stand were this man to prove his
claim and prove that Lord Rochester was dead when the transfer of the
property was made to him? I am not thinking of my reputation," finished
the ingenuous Simms, "but of your interests, and I tell you quite
plainly, your Grace, that were this man to escape we would all be in a
very unpleasant predicament."

"Well, he won't escape," said the Duke. "I'll see to that."

"Quite so, but there is another matter. The Commissioners in Lunacy."

"Well, what about them?"

"It is the habit of the Commissioners to visit every establishment
registered under the act and unfortunately, they are men--I mean of
course that, fortunately, they are men of the most absolute probity, but
given to over-riding, sometimes, the considered opinion of those in
close touch with the cases they are brought in contact with. They would
undoubtedly make strict enquiries into the truth of the story that Lord
Rochester has just put up, and the result--I can quite see it--would
drift us into one of those _exposes_, those painful and interminable
lawsuits, destructive alike to property, to dignity, and that ease of
mind inseparable from health and the enjoyment of those positions to
which my labours and your Grace's lineage entitle us."

"Damn the Commissioners," suddenly broke out his Grace. "Do you mean to
say they would doubt my word?"

"Unfortunately, it is not a question of that," said Simms. "It is a
question of what they call the liberty of the subject."

"Damn the liberty of the subject--liberty of the subject. When a man's
mad what right has he to liberty--liberty to cut people's throats maybe.
Look at that fool Arthur, liberty! Look at the use he made of his
liberty when he had it. Look what he did to Langwathby: sent a telegram
leading him to believe that his wife had broken out again--you know how
she drinks--and had been gaoled in Carlisle. And the thing was so
artfully constructed, it said almost nothing. You couldn't touch him on
it. Simply said, 'Go at once to police court Carlisle.' See the art of
it? Never mentioned the woman's name. There was no libel. Langwathby, to
prosecute, would have to explain all about his wife. He wen