t. What
happened! You know his temper. He went to Langwathby Castle before going
to the police court, and the first person he saw was his wife. Before
all the servants. Before all the servants, mind you, he said to her, 'So
they have let you out of prison and now you'd better get out of my
house.' You know her temper. Before all the servants. Before all the
servants, mind you, she accused him of that disgraceful affair in Pont
Street when he was turned out in his pyjamas--and they half ripped off
him--by Lord Tango's brother. Tango never knew anything of it. Never
would, but he knows now, for Lucy Jerningham was at Langwathby when the
scene occurred and she's told him. The result is poor Langwathby will
find himself in the D. C. Liberty! What right has a man like that to
talk of liberty?"

"Quite so," said Simms, utterly despairing of pressing home the truth of
the horrible situation upon this brain in blinkers. "_Quite_ so. But
facts are facts and the fact remains that this man--I mean--er--Lord
Rochester, possesses on your own shewing great craft and subtlety. And
he will use that with the Commissioners in Lunacy when they call."

"When do they call?"

"Ah, that's just it. They visit asylums and registered houses at their
own will, and the element of surprise is one of their methods. They may
arrive at Hoover's any time. I say, literally, any time. Sometimes they
arrive at a house in the middle of the night; they may leave an asylum
unvisited for a month and then come twice in one week, and they hold
everyone concerned literally in the hollows of their hands. If denied
admittance they would not hesitate to break the doors down. Their power
is absolute."

"But, good God, sir," cried the Duke, "what you tell me is monstrous.
It's un-English. Break into a man's house, spy upon him in the middle of
the night! Why, such powers vested in a body of men make for
terrorisation. This must be seen to. I will speak about it in the
House."

"Quite so, but, meanwhile, there is the danger, and it must be faced."

"I'll take him away from Hoover's."

"Ah," said Simms.

"I'll put him somewhere where these fellows won't be able to interfere.
How about my place at Skibo?"

Simms shook his head.

"He is under a certificate," said he. "The Commissioners call at
Hoover's, inspect the books, find that Lord Rochester has been there,
find him gone, find you have taken him away. They will simply call upon
you to produce him."