Yet perhaps the Duke had a right to know the truth.
"He is with the lady who occupied Braster Grange, sir, until last week," I answered.

"She passed under the name of Mrs.Smith-Lessing, but I believe that she is in reality my stepmother." The Duke stood a few paces from me, looking out of the window.

He held his cigarette between his fingers, and he stood sideways to me.

Nothing about his attitude or face was unusual.

Yet I felt myself watching him curiously.