Part 20 (1/2)

”I noticed that he did a very foolish thing, not only for his own interests with us, but also for several other reasons. You may rely upon it that if ever he had any chance with Gertrude----”

”He never had the remotest chance, I can promise you that,” my wife interrupted.

”I say if ever he had a chance with Gertrude, he has lost it now. Surely that should satisfy you.”

”It does not satisfy me that he should be rude to our guest at any time, but I am particularly averse to his insulting him in our presence.”

”You need not worry yourself,” I said. ”In all probability you will see no more of him. I shall convey a hint to him upon the subject. It will not be pleasant for Anstruther's sake.”

”Mr. Anstruther should have known better than to have sent him to us,”

she replied. ”There is one thing I am devoutly thankful for, and that is that the Duke took it so beautifully. He might have been angry, and have made a scene. Indeed I should not have blamed him, had he done so.”

I did not ask her, for reasons of my own, whether she was sure that his Grace of Glenbarth was not angry. I must confess that I was rendered more uneasy by the quiet way he had taken it, than if he had burst into an explosion. Concealed fires are invariably more dangerous than open ones.

Next morning after breakfast, while we were smoking together in the balcony, a note was brought to Glenbarth. He took it, opened it, and when he had read the contents, thrust it hastily into his pocket.

”No answer,” he said, as he lit a cigar, and I thought his hand trembled a little as he put the match to it.

His face was certainly paler than usual, and there was a far-away look in his eyes that showed me that it was not the ca.n.a.l or the houses opposite that he was looking upon.

”There is something behind all this, and I must find out what it is,” I said to myself. ”Surely he can't be going to make a fool of himself.”

I knew, however, that my chance of getting anything satisfactory out of him lay in saying nothing about the matter just then. I must play my game in another fas.h.i.+on.

”What do you say if we run down to Rome next week?” I asked, after a little pause. ”My wife and Miss Trevor seem to think they would enjoy it. There are lots of people we know there just now.”

”I shall be very pleased,” he answered, but with a visible effort.

At any other time he would have jumped eagerly at the suggestion.

Decidedly there was something wrong! At luncheon he was preoccupied, so much so that I could see Miss Trevor wondered what was the matter. Had she known the terrible suspicion that was growing in my own mind, I wonder what she would have said, and also how she would have acted?

That afternoon the ladies resolved to remain at home, and the Dean decided to stay with them. In consequence, the Duke and I went out together. He was still as quiet as he had been in the morning, but as yet I had not been able to screw up my courage to such a pitch as to be able to put the question to him. Once, however, I asked the reason for his quietness, and received the evasive reply ”that he was not feeling quite up to the mark that day.”

This time I came a little nearer the point.

”You are not worrying about that wretched fellow's rudeness, I hope?” I said, looking him fairly and squarely in the face.

”Not in the least,” he answered. ”Why should I be?”

”Well, because I know you are hot-tempered,” I returned, rather puzzled to find an explanation for him.

”Oh, I'll have it out with him at some time or another, I have no doubt,” he continued, and then changed the subject by referring to some letters he had had from home that day.

When later we returned to the hotel for afternoon tea, we found the two ladies eagerly awaiting our coming. From the moment that he entered the room, Miss Trevor was graciousness itself to the young man. She smiled upon him, and encouraged him, until he scarcely knew whether he was standing upon his head or his heels. I fancy she was anxious to compensate him for the Don's rudeness to him.

That evening we all complained of feeling tired, and accordingly went to bed early. I was the latest of the party, and my own man had not left my dressing-room more than a minute before he returned with the information that the Duke's valet would be glad if he could have a few words with me.

”Send him in,” I said, and forthwith the man made his appearance.

”What is it, Henry?” I inquired. ”Is your master not well?”