CHAPTER XVI.
When Mr.Barker, who had followed the party to Newport, called on the Countess the following morning, she was not visible, so he was fain to content himself with scribbling a very pressing invitation to drive in the afternoon, which he sent up with some flowers, not waiting for an answer.

The fact was that Margaret had sent for the Duke at an early hour--for her--and was talking with him on matters of importance at the time Barker called.

Otherwise she would very likely not have refused to see the latter.
"I want you to explain to me what they are trying to do to make Dr.
Claudius give up his property," said Margaret, who looked pale and beautiful in a morning garment of nondescript shape and of white silken material.

The Duke was sitting by the window, watching a couple of men preparing to get into a trim dogcart.

To tell the truth, the dogcart and the horse were the objects of interest.