he said. “Lafleur’s story of the gentleman at Avranches, with the description of him, struck me as strange; and for the rest—there were two things.”

He seated himself on a stool. I leaned against the wall.

“In the first place,” he continued, “I know my wife pretty well; in the second, a secret known to four maidservants—— Really, sir, you were very confiding!”

“I was doing no wrong,” said I; though not, I confess, in a very convinced tone.

“Then why the masquerade?” he answered quickly, hitting my weak point.

“Because you were known to be unreasonable.”

His smile broadened a little.

“It’s the old crime of husbands, isn’t it?” he asked. “Well, sir, I’m no lawyer, and it’s not my purpose to question you on that matter. I will put you to no denials.”

I bowed. The civility of his demeanor was a surprise to me.

“If that were the only affair, I need not keep you ten minutes,” he went on. “At least, I presume that my friend would find you when he wanted to deliver a message from me?”

“Certainly. But may I ask why, if that is your intention, you have delayed so long? You guessed I was at Avranches. Why not have sent to me?”

The duke tugged his mustache.

“I do not know your name, sir,” he remarked.