Part 6 (1/2)
Michael did not answer.
”I saw the body before it was moved,” continued the duke. ”It was still warm. I incline to think the marchese was murdered actually inside the garden, and that he fell on his face where he stood, and was dragged behind the hydrangeas. But the _delegato_ thought differently. You will remember, Carstairs, that the dead man had been dragged by the feet.”
”Did I put him on the right side or the left of the door as you go in?”
”On the left.”
”On his face?”
”Yes.”
There was a pause.
”You had no quarrel with the marchese, I presume?” said the duke significantly.
”On the contrary,” said Michael; ”it is not known, but I had.”
”Just so. Just so. About a woman?”
Michael winced.
”About a horse,” he said.
”No,” said the duke, with decision. ”Think again. Your memory does not serve you. It was about a woman. Was it not a dancing-girl?”
”I am not like that,” said Michael, colouring.
”It is of no account what you are like, or what you are not like. What matters is that which is quickly believed. A quarrel about a woman is always believed, especially by women who think all turns on them. Were you not in Paris at Easter?”
”I was.”
”Was not the marchese in Paris at Easter?”
”He was. I saw him once at the Opera with the old Duke of Castelfranco.”
”Just so. A quarrel about a dancing-girl at Paris at Easter. That was how it was.”
”You are right,” said Michael, regaining his composure with an effort.
”I owed him a grudge. You will be careful to mention this to no one?”
”I will mention it only to one or two women on whom I can rely,” said the duke; ”and to them only in the strictest confidence.”
Michael nodded.
Silence fell between them, and he wondered why the duke did not go. The warder s.h.i.+fted his feet in the pa.s.sage.
Presently the duke began to speak in a low, even voice.
”I owe you an apology,” he said. ”I saw you standing behind the screen, reflected in a little mirror, and for one moment I thought you had done me a great injury. It was only for a moment. I regained myself quickly.
I would have saved you if I could. But I owe you an apology for a suspicion unworthy of either of us.”