The San Francisco call., 1907-03-24

KNOW very cll- tALcPN " haN
overheard I declared Colonel Ray
was. believe. responsible for Lord
Bienavons abrupt departure, and
would rather that your information
came from him.
Colonel Ray is not here. and you
arc" the Duke answered. Remember
that am no trifier with words. have
said that I insist. I repeat II.
j..ere seemed to be no escape for
me. Lady Angela remained silent the
Duke was plainly insistent. | did not
dare to trif1e with him.
Very good. your Grace / said. Il
will tell you what know. 1t dates
from last Monday. when YOU Will re-
member that / was in London TO attend
a meeting OF the council"
Go on
Il returned here by the last train,
bringing with me the notes and in
structions taken at that meeting. Out
side Braster Grange an attack was
made upon me, evidently with the in
tention Of securing these. ] escaped,
with the assistance OF Colonel Ray.
who had come down from London by
the same train unknown TO me-.
"Wellg~
The attack was made from the
grounds OF Braster Grange. It seems
that Lord Blenavon spent the night
there. Tho next morning Colonel Ray
insisted upon my accompanying
him to -Braster Grange. Lord
Blenavon was still there. and we
saw him He was suffering
from wounds such as in the darkness
I had inflicted upon my assailant OF
the night before
1t seemed TO me that even then the
Duke would not, or could not UNDER
stand. His brows were knitted into n
heavy frown. and he was evidently fol-
...t& l., IL "a t~s4 tff0
But exactly where ! was going TO lead,
he seemed TO have no idea.
The tenanE OF Braster Grange. l
continued. "a a Mrs Smith-Lessing.
whom Colonel Ray has told me is
servant of the French secret police
am afraid that Lord Blenavon has been
a good deal under her influence"
Then the Duke blazed out. which was
very much what i expected from him.
Horror amazement, and scornful dis
belief were all expressed in his trans
figured face and angry words.
aBlenavou. My soni The confeder-
ate OF French spy. What nonsense'
Who. dares 90 suggest such thing?
Angela--I--I beg your pardon
He stopped short. making an effort
TO regain his seIf-control. He contif-
ued IN a more collected manner. but
his voice still shook with inexpresei-
bic scorn.
Angela" he said. turning 70 her, 'Is
st within your knowledge that Bien-
avon had any acquaintance with this
person.
think that her face might well have
answered him: very white It was, and
very sorrowful
.'Blenavon met Mrs. Smith-Lessing.
7 believe. at BordigheTa," she said. II
have seen them together several times.
Here2" the Duke asked sharply.
Yes, 1 have seen them riding on
the sands, and Bienayon dined there
on the night--Mr. Ducsine has been
speaking Of"
..Rlenavon is a fool" the Duke said.
This is to my mind convincing proos
that he was ignorant of the woman's
antecedents. At the worst he proba-
bly, regarded her as an ordinary ad-
ventures. AS for the rest. look upon
IT as the most extraordinary mares
nest which the mind of man could pos
sibly conceive. Do fyou mean TO tell
me, Mr. Ducaine. that Colonel Ray went
so far as TO charge Blenavon TO HIS
face with being in league with this
person."
He certainly did. sir
stark mad"
Your son denied It. sir answered.
Denied fl or course he did. What
followed?v
Colonel Ray was very forcible and
very imperative. sir" / answered. He
insisted upon Lord Bienavon leaving
England at once"
''WelI?"
Lord BIenavon consented to do so.
sir said quietly
saw the veins in the Dukes foro-
head stand out like whipcords. He be-
gan a sentence and left 1t unfinished.
He was In that condition when words
are impotent.
Can YOU tell me. Mr.. Ducafne." he
asked. what possible argument Coli
onei Ray could have made use of to in
duce my son TO consent TO this e2traor-
dfnary proceeding
II know no more about the matter.
your Grace / answered. Perhaps
Lord Blenavon felt that his in
tinacy with Mrs. Smith-Lessing had
compromised hiin-that appearances
were against him"
.'Pshawi" the Duke interrupted.
"Blcnavon's intrigues are foolish
enough. but they are beside the mark
! want 20 know what further argument
or fnducement Colonel Raw used.