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 “But you said just now that you were going to take possession.”

“I have changed my mind. There are reasons which I cannot explain to you why my immediate neighborhood is likely to be dangerous for the present. I should be sorry to subject my fair cousin to any unpleasantness. Though not a word of this to her or anyone else, please.”

The cab was drawing up before the ducal mansion, and Forsyth forbore to put into words the astonishment which he looked. As the two men were about to ascend the steps to the entrance, a landau, which was being driven slowly by, drew to the curb, and a lady who, besides the servants, was the sole occupant, called out:

“Surely you’re not going to cut me, Mr. Forsyth. Too proud to know poor little me, eh, now that you’ve taken to calling on dukes?”

A murmur of annoyance escaped Forsyth, but perforce he went to the carriage and shook the daintily gloved hand held out to him.

“How do you do, Mrs. Talmage Eglinton?” he said, adding the reproving whisper, “That is the Duke.”