THE GRACIOUSNESS OF THE DUKE
At a quarter-past three that afternoon I was ushered into the presence
of the Duke of Rowchester. I had never seen him before, and his
personality at once interested me. He was a small man, grey-haired,
keen-eyed, clean shaven. He received me in a somewhat bare apartment,
which he alluded to as his workroom, and I found him seated before a
desk strewn with papers. He rose immediately at my entrance, and I
could feel that he was taking more than usual note of my appearance.
"You are Mr. Ducaine," he said, holding out his hand. "I am very glad
to see you."
He motioned me to a chair facing the window, a great uncurtained affair,
through which the north light came flooding in, whilst he himself sat in
the shadows.
"I trust," he said, "that you have quite recovered from your last
night's indisposition. My daughter has been telling me about it."
"Quite, thank you," I answered. "Lady Angela and Colonel Ray were very
kind to me."
He nodded, and then glanced at the papers on his desk.
"I have been going through several matters connected with the estate,
Mr. Ducaine," he said, "and I have come across one which concerns you."
"The proposed lease of the Grange," I remarked.
"Exactly. It seems that you arranged a three years' tenancy with Mr.
Hulshaw, my agent, and were then not prepared to carry it out."
"It was scarcely my own fault," I interposed. "I explained the
circumstances to Mr. Hulshaw. I was promised two pupils if I took a
suitable house in this neighbourhood, but, after all my plans were
concluded, their father died unexpectedly, and their new guardian made
other arrangements."
"Exactly," the Duke remarked. "The only reason why I have alluded to
the matter is that I disapprove of the course adopted by my agent, who,
I believe, enforced the payment of a year's rent from you."
"He was within his rights, your Grace," I said.
"He may have been," the Duke admitted, "but I consider his action
arbitrary. Not only that, but it was unnecessary, for he has already
found another tenant for the place. I have instructed him, therefore,
to send you a cheque for the amount you paid him, less the actual cost
of preparing the lease."
Now my entire capital at that moment was something under three
shillings. A gift of fifty pounds, therefore, which after all was not a
gift but only the just return of my own money, was more than
opportune--it was Heaven-sent. If I could have given way to my feelings
I should have sprung up and wrung the little man's hands. As it was,
however, I expect my face betrayed my joy. "Your Grace is exceedingly
kind," I told him. "The money will be invaluable to me just now."
The Duke inclined his head.
"I am only sorry," he said, "that Hulshaw should have exacted it. It
shows how impossible it is to leave the conduct of one's affairs wholly
in the hands of another person. Now there is a further matter, Mr.
Ducaine, concerning which I desired to speak to you. I refer to your
projected lecture last night."
"I beg that your Grace will not allude to it," I said, hastily. "It is
really of very little importance." The Duke had a habit which I began at
this time to observe. He appeared to enter into all discussions with
his mind wholly made up upon the subject, and any interruptions and
interpolations he simply endured with patience, and then continued on
his way without the slightest reference to them. He sat during my
remark with half-closed eyes, and when I had finished he went on, wholly
ignoring it--
"This is a strange little corner of the world," he said, "and the minds
of the people here are for the most part like the minds of little
children; they need forming. I have heard some remarks concerning the
war from one or two of my tenants which have not pleased me.
Accordingly, while Colonel Ray was here, I thought it an excellent
opportunity to endeavour to instruct them as to the real facts of the
case. It was not until after the affair was arranged--not, indeed,
until I was actually in the hall--that I heard of our misfortune in
selecting the evening which you had already reserved for your own
lecture. I trust that you will allow me to offer you the free use of
the hall for any other date which you may select. My people here, and I
myself, shall esteem it a pleasure to be amongst your audience."
I was quite overwhelmed. I could only murmur my thanks. The Duke went
on to speak for a while on general matters, and then skilfully brought
the conversation back again to myself and my own affairs. Before I knew
where I was I found myself subjected to a close and merciless
cross-examination. My youth, my college career, my subsequent
adventures seemed all to be subjects of interest to him, and I, although
every moment my bewilderment increased, answered him with the obedience
of a schoolboy.
It came to an end at last. I found myself confronted with a question
which, if I had answered it truthfully, must have disclosed my penniless
condition. I rose instead to my feet.
"Your Grace will excuse me," I said, "but I am taking up too much of
your time. It is not possible that these small personal details can be
of any interest to you."
He waved me back to my chair, which I did not, however, immediately
resume. I was not in the least offended. The Duke's manner throughout,
and the framing of his questions, had been too tactful to awaken any
resentment. But I had no fancy for exposing my ill-luck and
friendless state to any one. I was democrat enough to feel that a
cross-examination which would have been impertinent in anybody else was
becoming a little too personal even from the Duke of Rowchester.
"Sit down, Mr. Ducaine," he said. "I do not blame you for resenting
what seems to be curiosity, but you must take my word for it that it is
nothing of the sort. I can perhaps explain myself better by asking you
still another sort of question. Are you in a position to accept a post
of some importance?"
I looked at him in surprise, as well I might.
"Sit down, Mr. Ducaine," he repeated. "I have said enough, I hope, to
prove that I am not trifling with you."
"You have managed, at any rate, to surprise me very much, your Grace," I
said. "I am eager to receive employment of any sort. May I ask what it
was that you had in view?"
He shook his head slowly.
"I cannot tell you to-day," he said. "It is a matter upon which I
should have to consult others."
A sudden thought struck me.
"May I ask at whose suggestion you thought of me?" I asked.
"It was Colonel Ray who pointed out certain necessary qualifications
which you possess," the Duke answered. "I shall report to him, and to
some others, the result of our conversation, and I presume you have no
objection to my making such inquiries as I think necessary concerning
you?"
"None whatever," I answered.
The Duke rose to his feet. I took up my cap.
"If Colonel Ray is in," I said, "and it is not inconvenient, I should be
glad to see him for a moment."
"Colonel Ray left unexpectedly by the first train this morning," the
Duke answered, looking at me keenly.
I gave no sign, but my heart sank.
"If it is anything important I can give you his address," he remarked.
"Thank you," I answered, "it is of no consequence."
There was a moment's silence. It seemed to me that the Duke was
watching me with peculiar intentness.
"Ray stayed with you late last night," he remarked.
"Colonel Ray was very kind," I answered.
"By-the-bye," he said, "I hear that some stranger lost his life in the
storm last night. You found the body, did you not?"
"Yes," I answered. "There was a great deal of wreckage on the shore
this morning."
The Duke nodded.
"It was no one belonging to the neighbourhood, I understand?" he asked.
"The man was a stranger to all of us," I answered.
The Duke stood with knitted brows. He seemed on the point of asking me
some other question, but apparently he abandoned the idea. He nodded
again and rang the bell. I was dismissed.