At the foot of the staircase at Wyncham House she turned to say good-night.
She merely nodded to Tracy, but to Dick she extended her hand. He took it in his, kissing it, and she noticed how cold were his fingers, how burning hot his lips. Then he released her, and she went slowly up the stairs to her room.
His Grace watched her through his eyeglass. When she was out of sight he turned and surveyed Richard critically.
"If that is the way you kiss a woman, Lavinia has my sympathies," he remarked.
Richard's lips tightened. He picked up a stand of lighted candles and ushered his Grace into the drawing-room.
"I presume you did not come to tell me that?" he asked.
"Your presumption is correct, Richard. I have come to open your eyes."
"You are too kind."
His Grace laid his hat on the table, and sat down on the arm of a chair.
"I think perhaps I am. It may interest you to hear that Lavinia intends to elope with our gallant friend the Captain."
Richard bowed.
"You knew it?"
"Certainly."
Andover looked him over.
"May I ask what steps you are taking to prevent her?"
"None."
His Grace's expression was quite indescribable. For a moment he was speechless, and then he reverted to heavy sarcasm.
"Pray remember to be at hand-to conduct her to her chair!" he drawled. "Upon my soul, you sicken me!
"I am grieved. There is a remedy," replied Carstares significantly.
Tracy ignored the suggestion.
"I suppose it is nothing to you that you lose her? No; It is nothing to you that she disgraces her name? Oh, no!"
"My name, I think."
"Our name! Is it possible for her to disgrace yours?"
Richard went white and his hand flew instinctively to his sword hilt.
Tracy looked at him.
"Do you think I would soil my blade with you?" he asked, very softly.
Richard's hand fell from the hilt: his eyes searched the other's face.
"You know?" he asked at last, quite calmly.
"You fool," answered his Grace gently. "You fool, do you think I have not always known?"
Richard leaned against the mantel-shelf.
"You never thought I was innocent? You knew that night? You guessed?"
The Duke sneered.
"Knowing both, could I suspect other than you?" he asked insultingly.
"Oh, my God!" cried Carstares suddenly. "Why could you not have said so before?"
The Duke's eyes opened wide.
"It has chafed you-eh? I knew it would. I've watched you." He chuckled beneath his breath. "And those fools never looked beneath the surface. One and all, they believed that John would cheat. John! They swallowed it tamely and never even guessed at the truth."