The Duke was a hard man and a man of few words.

I felt that in making that speech he had departed a great deal from his usual course of action, and I knew that he meant it.
"I am very much obliged to your Grace," I answered.
"I think," he continued, "that Lord Cheisford and in fact all the others are inclined to accept you on my estimate.

We all of us feel that we are the victims of some unique and very marvellous piece of roguery on the part of some one or other.

I believe myself that we are on the eve of a discovery." "Thank Heaven!" I murmured.
"We shall only succeed in unravelling this mystery," the Duke continued deliberately, "by very cautious and delicate manoeuvring.

I have an idea which I propose to carry out.