"The Countess is gone to bed, and Miss Skeat and my sister are reading English history." "Besides," put in Claudius, "you know I never play." "Well," said Barker, with a sigh, "then I will play with you, and Claudius can go to sleep where he is." They cut and dealt.

But Claudius did not feel at all sleepy.

When the game was well started he rose and went out, making to himself the same reflection that Margaret had made, "Why is my friend so anxious to amuse me to-day ?" He seldom paid any attention to such things, but his strong, clear mind was not long in unravelling the situation, now that he was roused to thinking about it.
Barker had guessed the truth, or very near it, and the Duke and he had agreed to keep Claudius and Margaret apart as long as they could.
He went aft, and descended to the cabin.

There sat Miss Skeat and Lady Victoria reading aloud, just as the Duke had said.

He went through the passage and met the steward, or butler, whom he despatched to see if the Countess were in the ladies' cabin.