Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/265

 moment to burst upon him. It was of vital importance that certain facts should be kept from certain people; otherwise there could be little doubt that the private cosmos of Albert John, fifth Duke of Bridport, would fall about his ears.

Alone with his fluttered thoughts, the Duke spent a bad half-hour trying to marshal them in battle array. Face to face with a situation dangerous, disagreeable, unforeseen, it would call for much tactical skill to fend off disaster. Never in his life had he found it so hard to choose a line of action. At last, the prey of doubt, he rang for Harriet Sanderson.

She came to him at once and he told her promptly of Sir Dugald's visit. And then, his eyes on her face, he went on to tell her there was reason to fear that a secret had been penetrated which he had always been led to believe was known only to her and to himself.

Watching her narrowly while he spoke he saw his words go home. She stood a picture of dismay.

"I wonder if the man really can know all?" he said finally.

At first she made no attempt to answer the question; but after a while, in a low, rather frightened voice, she said, "I don't think he can know possibly."

He searched her troubled eyes, almost as if he doubted. "Perhaps you will tell me this." He spoke in a tone of growing anxiety. "Would you say there is anything like a marked family resemblance?"

"A very strong one, I'm afraid."

"It is confined, I hope, to the picture at the top of the stairs?"

"Oh, no—at least to my mind"