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 enemies that he knows of, and it was a wicked thing to do, because he’s a bit of a cripple and walks lame. It’s shook him a good deal.”

“I am not surprised at that,” said the Duke. “Possibly it was only intended as a practical joke, but you had better inform the constable in the village, and instruct him to inquire into the matter.”

The butler retired, and the Duke smiled grimly.

“Ziegler has begun to put in some of his fine work,” he muttered. “The initial blunder of his agents in mistaking a servant’s limp for mine won’t stop him long. I shall begin to like the excitement soon, I expect.”

But as the day wore to evening, and the evening to night, the sensation of being hunted vexed his nerves. He found himself prolonging his solitary dinner for the sake of the company of the butler and footman who waited upon him, and afterwards he abstained from the moonlit stroll on the terrace to which he felt tempted. It was not till the mansion had been barred and bolted for the night that he ceased to fumble frequently for the revolver which he had carried all day.

Before retiring he inquired of Manson if