The San Francisco call., 1907-02-17
CHAPTER x
4r Hxpre.sion of Conndence


A HAVE no exact recollection of how
long I spent in that little room.
4 After while I closed the safe
door and reset the combination lock-
with trembling fingers. Then searched
al around, but could find no traces
Of any recent intruder I>undid Tho
heavy shutters and let in a stream Of
sunshine. Outside Ray and Lady An
gela were strolling up and down the
terrace. 1 watched the latter with
fascinated eyes. II was from her tnat
this strange warning had come to ne.
this warning which as yet was only
imperfectly explained. What did Si1e
know? Whom did she suspect? Was
it possible that she, mere child. had
even a slimmering of a suspicion as
TO the truth? My eyes followed her
every movement. She walked with all
the liEhtsome grace to which her young
limbs and breeding entitled her. her
head elegantly poised on her slender
neck. her face mostly turned toward
her companion, to whom she was talk
ing earnestly. Even at this distance [
seemed 20 catch the inspiring fash OF
her dark fcyes, to follow the words
which fell from her lips so gravely-
And as ] watched new idea came TO
me. I turned slowly away and went IN
search of the Duke.
7 found him sitting fully dressed in
an anteroom leading from his bedroom,
with a great pile of letters before him
and an empty postbag. He was leaning
forward. with his elbow upon the table,
his head resting upon his right hand
Engrossed as l was with my own bor-
rible discovery, I was yet powerfully
impressed by his unfamiliar appear
ance. In the clear light which came
flooding in through the north window
he seemed to me older and his face
more deeply lined than any of my pre-
vious Impressions OF him had suggest
ed His eyes were fixed upon the mass
Of correspondence before him. most of
which was as yet unopened, and his eN-
preston was one of absolute aversion.
At my entrance he locked up inQuir-
ingly.
what do you want. Ducaine?" he
asked.
81 am sorry to have disturbed your
Grace" I answered 81 have come 20
place my resignation in your hands. :.
His face was expressive enough in its
frowning contempt, but he said nothing
for moment, during which his eyes
met mine mercilessly.
so you end the work too hard, eh?'
he asked.
The work is just what should have
chosen. your Grace" I answered. q
like hard work. and L expected it The
trouble is that 1 have succeeded no bet
ter than Lord Ronald"
Ny words were evidently a shock II
him. He half opened his lips, but
closed them again. ] saw the hand
which he raised to his forehead shake
What do you mean, Ducaine? Speak
out man"
'sThe safe in the study has beer
opened during the night 1 said. Our
map Of the secret fortifications on the
Surrey downs and plans for a camp al
Guilford have been examined"
How do you know this?"
81 tied the red tape round them il
a peculiar way. IT has been undont
and retied. The papers have been put
back IN different order"
The Duke was without doubt agi-
tated. He rose from his chair ano
paced the room restlessly.
You are sure OF what you say, Dun
cainey' he demanded, turning and fac
ing me suddenly.
Absolutely sure, your Grace I an
swered.
He turned away from nae.
'In my own house, under my owr
roof" L heard him mutter. Coco
Godv
I had scarcely believed him capable
OF so much feeling. When he resumed
bis seat and former attitude L coulC
see that his face was almost gray.
This is terrible news he said. ~
am not at all sure. though. Mr.. Du-
csine. that any blame can attach itsel.
to YOU"
Your Grace answered, "ther,
were three men only who knew the
secret 90 that combination. One 1.
yourself, another Colonel Ray, the third
myself. I set the lock last night.
opened il this morning. / ask you, Il
the name OF common sense, upon whom
the blame is likely to fall? If ] re
main this will happen again. I canno
escape suspicion II is not reasonable
The word was q common one." tn,
Duke said half to himself. Some ont
may have guessed it."
"Youf Grace" I said 'fs II likel,
that any one would admit the possibil
ity of such a thing?"
1T may have been overheard
1T has never been spoken [ re
minded him. 1T was written down