(3) Or had he discovered that she had helped the duchess in the second evasion of Lady Marion? (4) Had Mr. Wilkinson revealed how she had tricked him and the detective? Truly there were reasons why she should be afflicted by an uneasy conscience with regard to the duke. It was no wonder that his gloomy stare had made her uncomfortable. She tried to reassure herself by the consideration that if he had discovered anything, he would surely have been far grumpier with her; he would never have confined himself to a gloomy stare. She had just finished cutting the bread and butter when the latchkey of the Honourable John Ruffin grated in the keyhole. She stepped to the kitchen door; and as he entered she said: "Please, sir, the duke's here." The Honourable John Ruffin showed no surprise; he only said: "Ah, he must be wanting me to do something for him. I told you that he would warm to me when he did." "Yes, sir. But, please sir, he doesn't look very warm yet," said Pollyooly doubtfully. "He never does. It runs in the family--the Osterley chill. Bring us some tea," said the Honourable John Ruffin lightly; and he went down the passage. He came into the sitting-room briskly, and found the duke sitting in an easy chair, with his silk hat thrust well back on his head, in a fashion which gave him a far from ducal, an even raffish air. "How are you, Ruffin?" he said, with an amiable smile, but in a somewhat nervous and deprecatory tone. "How are you, Osterley? Got over the sulks?" said the Honourable John Ruffin lightly. "Sulks? I never sulk!" said the duke with some heat. "What do you call them then?" said the Honourable John Ruffin with a good display of the liveliest most unaffected interest. "I don't know what you're talking about!" said the duke coldly; but he flushed. It is likely that the Honourable John Ruffin would have raised him to a considerable temperature on this matter; but the entrance of Pollyooly, bearing the tea-tray, closed the discussion of it. The Honourable John Ruffin poured out the tea and handed the bread and butter to the duke. They ate some bread and butter and drank some tea; and then the duke said plaintively: "This is jolly good tea. Why don't I ever get tea like this?" "You ought to. You pay enough for it," said the Honourable John Ruffin in a tone which lacked sympathy. "I do. I believe I employ every incompetent jackass in London," said the duke bitterly. "And I expect you don't make any secret of your conviction at home," said the Honourable John Ruffin. "I don't," said the duke firmly; then yet more plaintively he added: "Oh, it's a dog's life for a man trying to run places like Ricksborough House and the court on his own!" "I expect it does try you a bit too high," said the Honourable John Ruffin. "It would any man," said the duke with conviction.