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couldn't make it out in the least； and the people didn't seem to be
able to make me out either。 So when I couldn't find you anywhere I
came straight home again。〃
The duke was silent for a moment。 Then with funereal gravity he
turned to Mr。 Dacre。 He put to him this question：
〃Ivor； what are you laughing at？〃
Mr。 Dacre drew his hand across his mouth with rather a suspicious
gesture。
〃My dear fellow； only a smile！〃
The duchess looked from one to the other。
〃What have you two been doing？ What is the joke？〃
With an air of preternatural solemnity the duke took two letters
from the breast pocket of his coat。
〃Mabel； you have already seen your letter。 You have already seen
the lock of your hair。 Just look at thisand that。〃
He gave her the two very singular communications which had arrived
in such a mysterious manner； and so quickly one after the other。
She read them with wide…open eyes。
〃Hereward！ Wherever did these come from？〃
The duke was standing with his legs apart； and his hands in his
trousers pockets。 〃I would giveI would give another five hundred
pounds to know。 Shall I tell you； madam； what I have been doing？
I have been presenting five hundred golden sovereigns to a perfect
stranger； with a top hat； and a gardenia in his buttonhole。〃
〃Whatever for？〃
〃If you have perused those documents which you have in your hand；
you will have some faint idea。 Ivor； when it's your funeral； I'LL
smile。 Mabel； Duchess of Datchet； it is beginning to dawn upon the
vacuum which represents my brain that I've been the victim of one
of the prettiest things in practical jokes that ever yet was
planned。 When that fellow brought you that card at Cane and
Wilson'swhich； I need scarcely tell you； never came from mesome
one walked out of the front entrance who was so exactly like you
that both Barnes and Moysey took her for you。 Moysey showed her
into the carriage； and Barnes drove her home。 But when the
carriage reached home it was empty。 Your double had got out upon
the road。〃
The duchess uttered a sound which was half gasp； half sigh。
〃Hereward！〃
〃Barnes and Moysey； with beautiful and childlike innocence； when
they found that they had brought the thing home empty； came
straightway and told me that YOU had jumped out of the brougham
while it had been driving full pelt through the streets。 While I
was digesting that piece of information there came the first
epistle； with the lock of your hair。 Before I had time to digest
that there came the second epistle； with yours inside。〃
〃It seems incredible！〃
〃It sounds incredible； but unfathomable is the folly of man；
especially of a man who loves his wife。〃 The duke crossed to Mr。
Dacre。 〃I don't want； Ivor； to suggest anything in the way of
bribery and corruption； but if you could keep this matter to
yourself； and not mention it to your friends； our white…hatted and
gardenia…buttonholed acquaintance is welcome to his five hundred
pounds； andMabel； what on earth are you laughing at？〃
The duchess appeared； all at once； to be seized with
inextinguishable laughter。
〃Hereward；〃 she cried； 〃just think how that man must be laughing at
you！〃
And the Duke of Datchet thought of it。
The Minor Canon
It was Monday； and in the afternoon； as I was walking along the
High Street of Marchbury； I was met by a distinguished…looking
person whom I had observed at the services in the cathedral on the
previous day。 Now it chanced on that Sunday that I was singing the
service。 Properly speaking； it was not my turn； but； as my brother
minor canons were either away from Marchbury or ill in bed； I was
the only one left to perform the necessary duty。 The
distinguished…looking person was a tall； big man with a round fat
face and small features。 His eyes； his hair and mustache （his face
was bare but for a small mustache） were quite black； and he had a
very pleasant and genial expression。 He wore a tall hat； set
rather jauntily on his head； and he was dressed in black with a
long frock coat buttoned across the chest and fitting him close to
the body。 As he came； with a half saunter； half swagger； along the
street； I knew him again at once by his appearance； and； as he came
nearer； I saw from his manner that he was intending to stop and
speak to me； for he slightly raised his hat and in a soft；
melodious voice with a colonial 〃twang〃 which was far from being
disagreeable； and which； indeed； to my ear gave a certain
additional interest to his remarks； he saluted me with 〃Good day；
sir！〃
〃Good day；〃 I answered； with just a little reserve in my tone。
〃I hope； sir；〃 he began； 〃you will excuse my stopping you in the
street； but I wish to tell you how very much I enjoyed the music at
your cathedral yesterday。 I am an Australian； sir； and we have no
such music in my country。〃
〃I suppose not；〃 I said。
〃No； sir；〃 he went on； 〃nothing nearly so fine。 I am very fond of
music； and as my business brought me in this direction； I thought I
would stop at your city and take the opportunity of paying a visit
to your grand cathedral。 And I am delighted I came； so pleased；
indeed； that I should like to leave some memorial of my visit
behind me。 I should like； sir； to do something for your choir。〃
〃I am sure it is very kind of you；〃 I replied。
〃Yes； I should certainly be glad if you could suggest to me
something I might do in this way。 As regards money； I may say that
I have plenty of it。 I am the owner of a most valuable property。
My business relations extend throughout the world； and if I am as
fortunate in the projects of the future as I have been in the past；
I shall probably one day achieve the proud position of being the
richest man in the world。〃
I did not like to undertake myself the responsibility of advising
or suggesting； so I simply said：
〃I cannot venture to say； offhand； what would be the most
acceptable way of showing your great kindness and generosity； but I
should certainly recommend you to put yourself in communication
with the dean。〃
〃Thank you； sir；〃 said my Australian friend； 〃I will do so。 And
now； sir；〃 he continued； 〃let me say how much I admire your voice。
It is； without exception； the very finest and clearest voice I have
ever heard。〃
〃Really；〃 I answered； quite overcome with such unqualified praise；
〃really it is very good of you to say so。〃
〃Ah； but I feel it； my dear sir。 I have been round the world； from
Sydney to Frisco； across the continent of America〃 （he called it
Amerrker） 〃to New York City； then on to England； and to…morrow I
shall leave your city to continue my travels。 But in all my
experience I have never heard so grand a voice as your own。〃
This and a great deal more he said in the same strain； which
modesty forbids me to reproduce。
Now I am not without some knowledge of the world outsi