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was there a more conspicuous illustration of that repose which
stamps the caste of Vere de Vere。
The duke looked at him and glowered。 Mr。 Dacre looked at him and
smiled。
〃Who are you？〃 asked the duke。
〃Ahthat is the question！〃 The newcomer's refined and musical
voice breathed the very soul of affability。 〃I am an individual
who is so unfortunate as to be in want of five hundred pounds。〃
〃Are you the scoundrel who sent me that infamous letter？〃
The charming stranger never turned a hair。
〃I am the scoundrel mentioned in that infamous letter who wants to
accost you at the Piccadilly end of the Burlington Arcade before
half…past fiveas witness my white hat and my gardenia。〃
〃Where's my wife？〃
The stranger gently swung his stick in front of him with his two
hands。 He regarded the duke as a merry…hearted son might regard
his father。 The thing was beautiful！
〃Her grace will be home almost as soon as you arewhen you have
given me the money which I perceive you have all ready for me in
that scarcely elegant…looking canvas bag。〃 He shrugged his
shoulders quite gracefully。 〃Unfortunately； in these matters one
has no choiceone is forced to ask for gold。〃
〃And suppose； instead of giving you what is in this canvas bag； I
take you by the throat and choke the life right out of you？〃
〃Or suppose；〃 amended Mr。 Dacre； 〃that you do better； and commend
this gentleman to the tender mercies of the first policeman we
encounter。〃
The stranger turned to Mr。 Dacre。 He condescended to become
conscious of his presence。
〃Is this gentleman your grace's friend？ AhMr。 Dacre； I perceive！
I have the honor of knowing Mr。 Dacre； though； possibly； I am
unknown to him。〃
〃You wereuntil this moment。〃
With an airy little laugh the stranger returned to the duke。 He
brushed an invisible speck of dust off the sleeve of his coat。
〃As has been intimated in that infamous letter； his grace is at
perfect liberty to give me into custodywhy not？ Only〃he said
it with his boyish smile〃if a particular communication is not
received from me in certain quarters within a certain time the
Duchess of Datchet's beautiful white arm will be hacked off at the
shoulder。〃
〃You hound！〃
The duke would have taken the stranger by the throat； and have done
his best to choke the life right out of him then and there； if Mr。
Dacre had not intervened。
〃Steady； old man！〃 Mr。 Dacre turned to the stranger。 〃You appear
to be a pretty sort of a scoundrel。〃
The stranger gave his shoulders that almost imperceptible shrug。
〃Oh； my dear Dacre； I am in want of money！ I believe that you
sometimes are in want of money； too。〃
Everybody knows that nobody knows where Ivor Dacre gets his money
from； so the allusion must have tickled him immensely。
〃You're a cool hand；〃 he said。
〃Some men are born that way。〃
〃So I should imagine。 Men like you must be born； not made。〃
〃Preciselyas you say！〃 The stranger turned； with his graceful
smile； to the duke： 〃But are we not wasting precious time？ I can
assure your grace that； in this particular matter； moments are of
value。〃
Mr。 Dacre interposed before the duke could answer。
〃If you take my strongly urged advice； Datchet； you will summon
this constable who is now coming down the Arcade； and hand this
gentleman over to his keeping。 I do not think that you need fear
that the duchess will lose her arm； or even her little finger。
Scoundrels of this one's kidney are most amenable to reason when
they have handcuffs on their wrists。〃
The duke plainly hesitated。 He wouldand he would not。 The
stranger； as he eyed him； seemed much amused。
〃My dear duke； by all means act on Mr。 Dacre's valuable suggestion。
As I said before； why not？ It would at least be interesting to see
if the duchess does or does not lose her armalmost as interesting
to you as to Mr。 Dacre。 Those blackmailing； kidnaping scoundrels
do use such empty menaces。 Besides； you would have the pleasure of
seeing me locked up。 My imprisonment for life would recompense you
even for the loss of her grace's arm。 And five hundred pounds is
such a sum to have to paymerely for a wife！ Why not； therefore；
act on Mr。 Dacre's suggestion？ Here comes the constable。〃 The
constable referred to was advancing toward themhe was not a dozen
yards away。 〃Let me beckon to himI will with pleasure。〃 He took
out his watcha gold chronograph repeater。 〃There are scarcely
ten minutes left during which it will be possible for me to send
the communication which I spoke of； so that it may arrive in time。
As it will then be too late； and the instruments are already
prepared for the little operation which her grace is eagerly
anticipating； it would； perhaps； be as well； after all； that you
should give me into charge。 You would have saved your five hundred
pounds； and you would； at any rate； have something in exchange for
her grace's mutilated limb。 Ah； here is the constable！ Officer！〃
The stranger spoke with such a pleasant little air of easy
geniality that it was impossible to tell if he were in jest or in
earnest。 This fact impressed the duke much more than if he had
gone in for a liberal indulgence of theunder the circumstances
orthodox melodramatic scowling。 And； indeed； in the face of his
own common sense； it impressed Mr。 Ivor Dacre too。
This well…bred； well…groomed youth was just the being to realize
aux bouts des onglesa modern type of the devil； the type which
depicts him as a perfect gentleman； who keeps smiling all the time。
The constable whom this audacious rogue had signaled approached the
little group。 He addressed the stranger：
〃Do you want me； sir？〃
〃No； I do not want you。 I think it is the Duke of Datchet。〃
The constable； who knew the duke very well by sight； saluted him as
he turned to receive instructions。
The duke looked white； even savage。 There was not a pleasant look
in his eyes and about his lips。 He appeared to be endeavoring to
put a great restraint upon himself。 There was a momentary silence。
Mr。 Dacre made a movement as if to interpose。 The duke caught him
by the arm。
He spoke： 〃No； constable； I do not want you。 This person is
mistaken。〃
The constable looked as if he could not quite make out how such a
mistake could have arisen； hesitated； then； with another salute； he
moved away。
The stranger was still holding his watch in his hand。
〃Only eight minutes；〃 he said。
The duke seemed to experience some difficulty in giving utterance
to what he had to say。
〃If I give you this five hundred pounds； youyou〃
As the duke paused； as if at a loss for language which was strong
enough to convey his meaning； the stranger laughed。
〃Let us take the adjectives for granted。 Besides； it is only boys
who call each other namesmen do things。 If you give me the five
hundred sove