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Updated: June 14, 2025
To my surprise it was Blanche Moyat who stood upon the threshold. She laughed a little nervously. "I'm no ghost, Mr. Ducaine," she said, "and I shan't bite!" "Forgive me," I answered. "I was hard at work and your knock startled me. Please come in." I ushered her into my sitting-room.
Lord Chelsford poured himself out a glass of wine, and held it up to the light for a moment. "Mr. Ducaine," he said, "a secret is a very subtle thing. Though the people who handle it are men of the most unblemished honour and reputation, still the fewer they are, the safer the life of that secret." "But the Duke and Colonel Ray!" I protested.
Ducaine," the Duke continued, "that it was possible for any one else except us the to have attained to the knowledge of that word." "I do not sir," I admitted. "Do you believe that it was possible for any one to have opened the safe without the knowledge of that word?" "Without breaking it open, no, sir."
She smiled upon me almost gaily. "So this sunshine has even tempted you out, Sir Hermit," she exclaimed. "Is it not good to feel the Spring coming?" "Delightful," I answered. She looked at me curiously. "How pale you are!" she said. "You are working too hard, Mr. Ducaine." "I came down from London by the mail last night," I said. "I saw Colonel Ray had dinner with him, in fact."
Ducaine," he said, "you must see for yourself that I am running a very serious risk in making these plans with you behind the backs of the Duke of Rowchester and Colonel Ray. The Duke is a man of the keenest sense of honour, as his recent commercial transactions have shown. He has parted with a hundred thousand pounds rather than that the shadow of a stigma should rest upon his name.
The Duke entered the room, brilliant in sash and orders. "Good evening, Ducaine," he said, looking at me with slightly lifted eyebrows. "Good evening, your Grace," I answered in some embarrassment. "I sent for Mr. Ducaine," Lady Angela remarked, stooping that her maid, who had followed the Duke, might arrange her cloak.
Was he even now insisting upon an explanation with Lord Cheisford? The minutes passed, and I began to get restless and anxious. Then the door opened, and Lord Chelsford entered alone. He came over at once to my side. He was looking perplexed and a little annoyed. "Ducaine," he said, "Lady Angela Harberly is here." I started, and I suppose my face betrayed me. "Lady Angela here?"
Lady Angela turned towards me eagerly. "Mr. Ducaine," she exclaimed, "have you seen anything of Lord Blenavon to-day?" I shook my head. "I have not seen him for several days, Lady Angela," I answered. Ray said something to her which I could not hear. She nodded and left us together.
"I have seen them together several times." "Here?" the Duke asked sharply. "Yes, I have seen them riding on the sands, and Blenavon dined there on the night Mr. Ducaine has been speaking of." "Blenavon is a fool!" the Duke said. "This is to my mind convincing proof that he was ignorant of the woman's antecedents. At the worst he probably regarded her as an ordinary adventuress.
"Duke, should I be taking a liberty if I asked to be left alone with this young man for five minutes?" The Duke rose slowly to his feet. He had the air of one not altogether approving of the suggestion. Ray glowered upon us both, but offered no objection. They left the room together. Lord Cheisford at once turned to me. "Ducaine," he said, "forgive me that I did not come to your aid.
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