Guerchard's permission ?" said the Duke haughtily.

"What has M.
Guerchard to do with me?
I am the Duke of Charmerace." And he opened the door.
"It was M.Formery's orders, your Grace," stammered the policeman doubtfully.
"M.

Formery's orders ?" said the Duke, standing on the top step.

"Call me a taxi-cab, please." The concierge, who stood beside the policeman, ran down the steps and blew his whistle.

The policeman gazed uneasily at the Duke, shifting his weight from one foot to the other; but he said no more.
A taxi-cab came up to the door, the Duke went down the steps, stepped into it, and drove away.
Three-quarters of an hour later he came back, having changed into clothes more suited to a Paris drawing-room.