按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Nobody minds what Ivor Dacre says。 Besides； he is the duke's own
cousin。 Perhaps a little removed； still； there it is。 So the duke
smiled a sickly smile； as if Mr。 Dacre's delicate wit had given him
a passing touch of indigestion。
Mr。 Dacre noticed that the duke looked sallow； so he gave his
pretty sense of humor another airing。
〃Kitchen boiler burst？ When I saw the duchess just now I wondered
if it had。〃
His grace distinctly started。 He almost dropped the canvas bag。
〃You saw the duchess just now； Ivor！ When？〃
The duke was evidently moved。 Mr。 Dacre was stirred to languid
curiosity。 〃I can't say I clocked it。 Perhaps half an hour ago；
perhaps a little more。〃
〃Half an hour ago！ Are you sure？ Where did you see her？〃
Mr。 Dacre wondered。 The Duchess of Datchet could scarcely have
been eloping in broad daylight。 Moreover； she had not yet been
married a year。 Everyone knew that she and the duke were still as
fond of each other as if they were not man and wife。 So； although
the duke； for some cause or other； was evidently in an odd state of
agitation； Mr。 Dacre saw no reason why he should not make a clean
breast of all he knew。
〃She was going like blazes in a hansom cab。〃
〃In a hansom cab？ Where？〃
〃Down Waterloo Place。〃
〃Was she alone？〃
Mr。 Dacre reflected。 He glanced at the duke out of the corners of
his eyes。 His languid utterance became a positive drawl。
〃I rather fancy that she wasn't。〃
〃Who was with her？〃
〃My dear fellow； if you were to offer me the bank I couldn't tell
you。〃
〃Was it a man？〃
Mr。 Dacre's drawl became still more pronounced。
〃I rather fancy that it was。〃
Mr。 Dacre expected something。 The duke was so excited。 But he by
no means expected what actually came。
〃Ivor； she's been kidnaped！〃
Mr。 Dacre did what he had never been known to do before within the
memory of manhe dropped his eyeglass。
〃Datchet！〃
〃She has！ Some scoundrel has decoyed her away； and trapped her。
He's already sent me a lock of her hair； and he tells me that if I
don't let him have five hundred pounds in gold by half…past five
he'll let me have her little finger。〃
Mr。 Dacre did not know what to make of his grace at all。 He was a
sober manit COULDN'T be that！ Mr。 Dacre felt really concerned。
〃I'll call a cab； old man； and you'd better let me see you home。〃
Mr。 Dacre half raised his stick to hail a passing hansom。 The duke
caught him by the arm。
〃You ass！ What do you mean？ I am telling you the simple truth。
My wife's been kidnaped。〃
Mr。 Dacre's countenance was a thing to be seenand remembered。
〃Oh！ I hadn't heard that there was much of that sort of thing about
just now。 They talk of poodles being kidnaped； but as for
duchesses You'd really better let me call that cab。〃
〃Ivor； do you want me to kick you？ Don't you see that to me it's a
question of life and death？ I've been in there to get the money。〃
His grace motioned toward the bank。 〃I'm going to take it to the
scoundrel who has my darling at his mercy。 Let me but have her
hand in mine again； and he shall continue to pay for every
sovereign with tears of blood until he dies。〃
〃Look here； Datchet； I don't know if you're having a joke with me；
or if you're not well〃
The duke stepped impatiently into the roadway。
〃Ivor； you're a fool！ Can't you tell jest from earnest； health
from disease？ I'm off！ Are you coming with me？ It would be as
well that I should have a witness。〃
〃Where are you off to？〃
〃To the other end of the Arcade。〃
〃Who is the gentleman you expect to have the pleasure of meeting
there？〃
〃How should I know？〃 The duke took a letter from his pocketit
was the letter which had just arrived。 〃The fellow is to wear a
white top hat； and a gardenia in his buttonhole。〃
〃What is it you have there？〃
〃It's the letter which brought the newslook for yourself and see；
but； for God's sake； make haste！〃 His grace glanced at his watch。
〃It's already twenty after five。〃
〃And do you mean to say that on the strength of a letter such as
this you are going to hand over five hundred pounds to〃
The duke cut Mr。 Dacre short。
〃What are five hundred pounds to me？ Besides； you don't know all。
There is another letter。 And I have heard from Mabel。 But I will
tell you all about it later。 If you are coming； come！〃
Folding up the letter； Mr。 Dacre returned it to the duke。
〃As you say； what are five hundred pounds to you？ It's as well
they are not as much to you as they are to me； or I'm afraid〃
〃Hang it； Ivor； do prose afterwards！〃
The duke hurried across the road。 Mr。 Dacre hastened after him。
As they entered the Arcade they passed a constable。 Mr。 Dacre
touched his companion's arm。
〃Don't you think we'd better ask our friend in blue to walk behind
us？ His neighborhood might be handy。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 The duke stopped short。 〃Ivor； this is my affair； not
yours。 If you are not content to play the part of silent witness；
be so good as to leave me。〃
〃My dear Datchet； I'm entirely at your service。 I can be every
whit as insane as you； I do assure you。〃
Side by side they moved rapidly down the Burlington Arcade。 The
duke was obviously in a state of the extremest nervous tension。
Mr。 Dacre was equally obviously in a state of the most supreme
enjoyment。 People stared as they rushed past。 The duke saw
nothing。 Mr。 Dacre saw everything； and smiled。
When they reached the Piccadilly end of the Arcade the duke pulled
up。 He looked about him。 Mr。 Dacre also looked about him。
〃I see nothing of your white…hatted and gardenia…buttonholed
friend；〃 said Ivor。
The duke referred to his watch。
〃It's not yet half…past five。 I'm up to time。〃
Mr。 Dacre held his stick in front of him and leaned on it。 He
indulged himself with a beatific smile。
〃It strikes me； my dear Datchet； that you've been the victim of one
of the finest things in hoaxes〃
〃I hope I haven't kept you waiting。〃
The voice which interrupted Mr。 Dacre came from the rear。 While
they were looking in front of them some one approached them from
behind； apparently coming out of the shop which was at their backs。
The speaker looked a gentleman。 He sounded like one； too。
Costume； appearance； manner； were beyond reproacheven beyond the
criticism of two such keen critics as were these。 The glorious
attire of a London dandy was surmounted with a beautiful white top
hat。 In his buttonhole was a magnificent gardenia。
In age the stranger was scarcely more than a boy； and a sunny…
faced； handsome boy at that。 His cheeks were hairless； his eyes
were blue。 His smile was not only innocent； it was bland。 Never
was there a more conspicuous illustration of that repose which
stamps the caste of Vere de Vere。
The duke looked at him