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though he found it difficult to believe the evidence of his eyes。
He was not a demonstrative person； as a rule； but this little
communication astonished even him。 He read it again。 Then his
hands dropped to his sides； and he swore。
He took up the lock of hair which had fallen out of the envelope。
Was it possible that it could be his wife's； the duchess？ Was it
possible that a Duchess of Datchet could be kidnaped； in broad
daylight； in the heart of London； and be sent home； as it were； in
pieces？ Had sacrilegious hands already been playing pranks with
that great lady's hair？ Certainly； THAT hair was so like HER hair
that the mere resemblance made his grace's blood run cold。 He
turned on Messrs。 Barnes and Moysey as though he would have liked
to rend them。
〃You scoundrels！〃
He moved forward as though the intention had entered his ducal
heart to knock his servants down。 But； if that were so； he did not
act quite up to his intention。 Instead； he stretched out his arm；
pointing at them as if he were an accusing spirit：
〃Will you swear that it was the duchess who got into the carriage
outside Cane and Wilson's？〃
Barnes began to stammer：
〃I'll swear； your grace； that II thought〃
The duke stormed an interruption：
〃I don't ask what you thought。 I ask you； will you swear it was？〃
The duke's anger was more than Barnes could face。 He was silent。
Moysey showed a larger courage。
〃I could have sworn that it was at the time； your grace。 But now
it seems to me that it's a rummy go。〃
〃A rummy go！〃 The peculiarity of the phrase did not seem to strike
the duke just thenat least； he echoed it as if it didn't。 〃You
call it a rummy go！ Do you know that I am told in this letter that
the woman who entered the carriage was not the duchess？ What you
were thinking about； or what case you will be able to make out for
yourselves； you know better than I； but I can tell you thisthat
in an hour you will leave my service； and you may esteem yourselves
fortunate if； to…night； you are not both of you sleeping in jail。〃
One might almost have suspected that the words were spoken in
irony。 But before they could answer； another servant entered； who
also brought a letter for the duke。 When his grace's glance fell
on it he uttered an exclamation。 The writing on the envelope was
the same writing that had been on the envelope which had contained
the very singular communicationlike it in all respects； down to
the broomstick…end thickness of the 〃Private！〃 and 〃Very
pressing！！！〃 in the corner。
〃Who brought this？〃 stormed the duke。
The servant appeared to be a little startled by the violence of his
grace's manner。
〃A ladyor； at least； your grace； she seemed to be a lady。〃
〃Where is she？〃
〃She came in a hansom； your grace。 She gave me that letter； and
said； 'Give that to the Duke of Datchet at oncewithout a moment's
delay！' Then she got into the hansom again； and drove away。〃
〃Why didn't you stop her？〃
〃Your grace！〃
The man seemed surprised； as though the idea of stopping chance
visitors to the ducal mansion vi et armis had not； until that
moment； entered into his philosophy。 The duke continued to regard
the man as if he could say a good deal； if he chose。 Then he
pointed to the door。 His lips said nothing； but his gesture much。
The servant vanished。
〃Another hoax！〃 the duke said grimly； as he tore the envelope open。
This time the envelope contained a sheet of paper； and in the sheet
of paper another envelope。 The duke unfolded the sheet of paper。
On it some words were written。 These：
〃The duchess appears so particularly anxious to drop you a line；
that one really hasn't the heart to refuse her。
〃Her grace's communicationwritten amidst blinding tears！you
will find inclosed with this。〃
〃Knowles；〃 said the duke； in a voice which actually trembled；
〃Knowles； hoax or no hoax； I will be even with the gentleman who
wrote that。〃
Handing the sheet of paper to Mr。 Knowles； his grace turned his
attention to the envelope which had been inclosed。 It was a small；
square envelope； of the finest quality； and it reeked with perfume。
The duke's countenance assumed an added frownhe had no fondness
for envelopes which were scented。 In the center of the envelope
were the words； 〃To the Duke of Datchet；〃 written in the big； bold；
sprawling hand which he knew so well。
〃Mabel's writing；〃 he said； half to himself； as； with shaking
fingers； he tore the envelope open。
The sheet of paper which he took out was almost as stiff as
cardboard。 It； too； emitted what his grace deemed the nauseous
odors of the perfumer's shop。 On it was written this letter：
〃MY DEAR HEREWARDFor Heaven's sake do what these people require！
I don't know what has happened or where I am； but I am nearly
distracted！ They have already cut off some of my hair； and they
tell me that； if you don't let them have five hundred pounds in
gold by half…past five； they will cut off my little finger too。 I
would sooner die than lose my little fingerandI don't know what
else besides。
〃By the token which I send you； and which has never； until now；
been off my breast； I conjure you to help me。
〃HerewardHELP ME！〃
When he read that letter the duke turned whitevery white； as
white as the paper on which it was written。 He passed the epistle
on to Knowles。
〃I suppose that also is a hoax？〃
Mr。 Knowles was silent。 He still yielded to his constitutional
disrelish to commit himself。 At last he asked：
〃What is it that your grace proposes to do？〃
The duke spoke with a bitterness which almost suggested a personal
animosity toward the inoffensive Mr。 Knowles。
〃I propose； with your permission； to release the duchess from the
custody of my estimable correspondent。 I proposealways with your
permissionto comply with his modest request； and to take him his
five hundred pounds in gold。〃 He paused； then continued in a tone
which； coming from him； meant volumes： 〃Afterwards； I propose to
cry quits with the concocter of this pretty little hoax； even if it
costs me every penny I possess。 He shall pay more for that five
hundred pounds than he supposes。〃
II
The Duke of Datchet； coming out of the bank； lingered for a moment
on the steps。 In one hand he carried a canvas bag which seemed
well weighted。 On his countenance there was an expression which to
a casual observer might have suggested that his grace was not
completely at his ease。 That casual observer happened to come
strolling by。 It took the form of Ivor Dacre。
Mr。 Dacre looked the Duke of Datchet up and down in that languid
way he has。 He perceived the canvas bag。 Then he remarked；
possibly intending to be facetious：
〃Been robbing the bank？ Shall I call a cart？〃
Nobody minds what Ivor Dacre says。 Besides； he is the duke's own
cousi