Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/268

 *tioned the matter to Mary." And she plucked at her dress in sudden alarm.

"Not yet, I think," said the Duke venomously. "He is too sure a hand to spring his mine before the time is ripe. Meanwhile we are forearmed; let us take every precaution against him."

"Oh, yes, we must!" Her eyes were tragic.

"A devilish mischance," said the Duke slowly, "a devilish mischance that he, of all men, has been able to hit the trail."

VI

When Harriet had gone from the room, the Duke surrendered again to his thoughts. By now they were almost intolerable. Pulled this way and that by a conflict of emotion that was cruel, he was brought more than once to the verge of a decision he had not the courage to make. The situation was forcing it upon him, yet so much was involved, so much was at stake that a weak man at bottom, he was ready to grasp at anything which held a slender hope of putting off the evil day. Two interests were vitally opposed; he sought to do justice to both, yet as far as he could see at the moment, any reconciliation between them was impossible.

He was in a state of bitter, ever-growing embarrassment, when Jack was unexpectedly announced.

His Grace was not able to detach himself sufficiently from the maelstrom within to observe the hue of resolution in the bearing of a rather unwelcome visitor.

"Good morning, sir," said the young man coolly, with an aloofness that came near to sarcasm. And then in a tone of very simple matter of fact, he said, "I have