I turned slowly away and went in search of the Duke.
I found him sitting fully dressed in an anteroom leading from his bedroom, with a great pile of letters before him, and an empty postbag.
He was leaning forward, his elbow upon the table, his head resting upon his right hand.

Engrossed as I was with my own terrible discovery, I was yet powerfully impressed by his unfamiliar appearance.

In the clear light which came flooding in through the north window he seemed to me older, and his face more deeply lined than any of my previous impressions of him had suggested.

His eyes were fixed upon the mass of correspondence before him, most of which was as yet unopened, and his expression was one of absolute aversion.

At my entrance he looked up inquiringly.
"What do you want, Ducaine ?" he asked.
"I am sorry to have disturbed your Grace," I answered.