Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/261

 The Duke shook his head perplexedly. "I'm afraid I don't follow you."

"Well," said Sir Dugald coolly, "it happens that you are the one man in the world who is in a position to answer the question I have ventured to ask."

They looked at each other. A rather deadly silence followed.

"The question you have ventured to ask." The Duke repeated the words slowly, but with a reluctance and a venom he could not conceal.

"You know perfectly well what I mean." The tone, direct and cool, was exasperating.

"Are you trying to blackmail me?" There was an ugly light in the Duke's eyes.

Sir Dugald laughed. "Why put the matter so crudely?" he said. "I am merely anxious that justice should be done. You ought to be grateful to Providence for giving you this opportunity."

"Opportunity?"

"To right the wrong that has been committed."

"I don't understand."

"I refer to Miss Lawrence's parentage."

"One fails to see that her parentage is any business of yours or mine."

"It is certainly business of yours," was the sardonic answer; "and it is going to be mine because I am determined that matters shall take their present course. Lady Muriel and I intend to marry, and Mr. Dinneford and Miss Lawrence ought to marry."

The Duke gazed at him with an air of blank stupefaction.

"I invite you to give the matter very careful consider