CHAPTER XIII.
LUPIN WIRES The Duke stared at the pendant, his eyes full of wonder and pity.
"Poor little girl!" he said softly under his breath.
He put the pendant carefully away in his waistcoat-pocket and stood staring thoughtfully out of the window.
The door opened softly, and Sonia came quickly into the room, closed the door, and leaned back against it.

Her face was a dead white; her skin had lost its lustre of fine porcelain, and she stared at him with eyes dim with anguish.
In a hoarse, broken voice, she muttered: "Forgive me! Oh, forgive me!" "A thief--you ?" said the Duke, in a tone of pitying wonder.
Sonia groaned.
"You mustn't stop here," said the Duke in an uneasy tone, and he looked uneasily at the door.
"Ah, you don't want to speak to me any more," said Sonia, in a heartrending tone, wringing her hands.
"Guerchard is suspicious of everything.

It is dangerous for us to be talking here.

I assure you that it's dangerous," said the Duke.
"What an opinion must you have of me! It's dreadful--cruel!" wailed Sonia.
"For goodness' sake don't speak so loud," said the Duke, with even greater uneasiness.

"You MUST think of Guerchard." "What do I care ?" cried Sonia.