The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-11-25

OFF together, and then'-his voice
the great, luxurious room-"and then
people are whispering about" He
hesitated a moment.
II know" said the Duke, gravely.
and with the simple directness of his
age and position. 9" know they're
talking about Beatrice and yount
Michael Grant. 1t appears hat he
cannot be found, either; but | will
lay my life-'pon my soul, | will!-that
there's nothing in that. There's no
reason for II, to begin with. Why on
earth should Beatrice go off with
young Grant? And is young Grant the
sort Of a man to play a scurvy trick?
Not a bit of ii. There is nothing IN
that, whatever the chattermongers
may say, and | beg, Marriott, and you,
Sir Anthony, that you will squash any
such rumors instantly and firmly. as
! myself should do. | may tell you In
confidence that the rumour had reach
ed a certain quarter two days ago, but
| was able very satisfactorily to dis
abuse her mind-well, you know what
| mean"
That's good" Sir Anthony an
swered; but all the same, society is
being shaken right away down to its
foundations by this extraordinary mys-
terry. Not only society, Sir Hercules,
but the middle classes and the public
are beginning to be filed with furious
curiosity. You have no idea of the
efforts my department has been com
PEELED to make to prevent a continue
ton of the extraordinary nonsense
that appeared in the press when the
little Duke disappeared"
Sir Hercules Marriott had said very
little during this scene, but now he
leant forward and spoke. His face
was singularly earnest. The old blue
eyes, with the network of fine wrinkles
round them, were grave, and he ca
ressed his pointed white beard with
his left hand.
II think | ought to tell you some
thing" he said. MY boy has disap-
peared, too
The other men looked at him in
amazement.
What dye mean?" the Duke said.
testify. Another COMPOUNDED mys-
terry! What?"
Not another" the Admiral answer.
ed, but part of the same. Michael
Grant and my lad and the Duchess
know more about all this than we
three do; and what it all means 10
absolutely beyond me-"
The old Duke snarled. II am not
going to stand IL much longer" he
said. Something must be done at
once
Exactly" Sir Anthony replied.
But what?"
"~Confounded if | know" said the
Duke, hopelessly.
II wish | knew where Michael Grant
was" said Sir Anthony Heller.
II wish | knew where my boy Basil
was" the Admiral echoed him.
81 think" said the Duke. that |
will take a little milk and brandy.
win you order it for me, MARRIOTT"
The Duke slipped his mixture.
We'll" he said. after a moment or
two, Il suppose | must be getting on
| am going up into Piccadilly to see
the s~coundrels who make my boots"
Sir Anthony smiled at the Admiral.
Very well, Duke" he said. Il think
| shall stay here with Marriott; but
we will see you into your cab, or have
you a carriage waiting?"
Cab be bowed said the Duke,
"and carriage, too. If | cannot walk
from Carlton House Terrace up into
Piccadilly then / am indeed the de-
crepit old fool that | am represented
TO be in Punch. Thank'ee. | don't
need any of your kind help"
He got up grumbling and irritable,
distinguished still, a prince of England
still, but yet-in another aspect-a
futile, senile old fellow, whose lips
moved and quivered, whose face was
but hardly reiuvenated by the rouge
upon his cheeks, whose stays were
too palpable to deceive anyone at all.
Despite his protests Sir Anthony and
Sir Hercules were accompanying him
to the high. carved door of the smok-
ing-room, when it was suddenly opened
by the porter, and two young men
walked in together.
They were perfectly dressed, in
shining silk hats, frock-coats, and
light trousers. Both of them might
have stepped straight from the hands
of their Wallets.
The three elderly men, who were
standing i'm line at the moment of
this entrance, started back
by Gad!" said the Duke.
Good heavens!' Sir Anthony Hell
lier calculated.
Basil! BY all that's lucky!" said
Sir Hercules Marriott.
"Halloa, guv'nor." said Basil Mar.
riott. Il wondered il / should find
YOU here. Grant has brought me in.
How are your"
Il am very fit. my dear boy" said
the Admiral, but where the deuce
have you been?"
Il went off to the Continent for a day
or two" Basil answered, simply.
How do you do, Duke? How do you
10, Sir Anthony"