The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-09-27
CHAPTER xvI.-Continued.

Vial i1AS A OOhSAAuSAs
81 think" he continued, that
Lord Chelsford and in fact all the
others are inclined to accept you
on my estimate. We all of us feel
that We are the victims of some
unique and very marvellous piece of
roguery on the part of some one or
other. I believe myself that we are
on the eve of discovery"
Thank heaven!" murmured. !.
1--WE shall only succeed in rin-
travelling this mystery" the duke
continued deliberately, ''by very
cautious and delicate maneuvering.
have an idea which propose to
carry out But it's success depends
largely upon you" i 5
Upon me?" I repeated, amazed.
Exactly! Upon your common
sense and judgment"
| The duke paused to listen for a
moment. Then he continued, speak
ing very slowly and leaning over
toward me-
Lord Chelsford proposes for his
own satisfaction to cross examine
you. 1t occurs to me that you will
probably tell him of your fancied
disturbance Of those papers in the
safe and of your little adventure
with the prince Of Majors"
| looked alta him i'm surprise.
Have they not all been told of
this?' | asked.
| NO"
There was a moments dead 81
lence. was little staggered. The
duke remained imperturable.
They have not been told" he
repeated. mo one has been told.
The matter was one for my discre-
ton, and l exercised it,,
There seemed to be no remark
which l could make, so / kept
! silence.
I'VE have discussed this matter
before" the duke said, land my
firm conviction is that you were
mistaken. That safe could only
have been opened by yourself, Ray
or my self. l think l am Justified
in saying that neither Of us did
open It,"
Nevertheless that safe was
opened" l objected. Those were
the very papers copies of which
have found their way to Paris"
(TO be continued.l -,t
| Exactly" the duke answered.
only you must remember that
every member Of the board was suf-
1 ficiently acquainted with their con-
tents to have sent those particulars
to Paris, without opening the safe
for further investigation of them.
Any statement of your suspicion
would only result in attention be-
ing diverted from the proper quar-
ters to members of my household.
| believe that even If you are right,
even if those papers were dis
turbed, it was done simply to throw
| dust in your eyes. Do you follow
me?"
Yes, your grace" answered.
| Lord ChelsfOrd, If you were able
to convince him, would most GER
taainly be misued in this direction.
That is why have kept your report
to myself. That is why my advice
to you now is to say nothing about
your imagined displacement of
those papers, That Is my advice.
You understand"
| Yes. your grace" l repeated.
| with regard to the prince of Ma
lors," the duke continued, my firm
conviction is that you were mis-
taken. Majors is not politician.
He has nothing whatever to gain
or lose in this matter. He is a
member of one of the most ancient
houses of Europe. house which
for generations has been closely
connected with my own. abso-
lutely decline to believe that whilst
under my roof Majors could low
er himself to the level Of COM
mon spy. Such an accusation
brought against him would be re-
garded as a blot upon my hospital
/ ity. Further, 1t would mean the
breaking off of my ancient ties of
friendship. l am very anxious,
therefore. that you should bring
yourself to accept my view as to
this episode Also
Your grace" l answered, you
ask me very hard things"
He looked at me with his. clear
cold eyes.
Surely not too hard. Mr.. Du
caine," he said. 81 ask you to &C
cept my judgment. Consider for a
moment. You are a young man
little more than boy. for 4C
wears have heen servant of my