“Sure,” said Moll, her heart going a little in spite of herself. “I looked and listened through the keyhole.” She confessed it, quite unabashed; nor did Hamilton regard the act as anything but “cricket,” in the modern meaning. Honour, with gentlemen of his kidney, was just a phrase to toss on swordpoints. “How,” he said, “did you know it was the Duke of York?” “I heard them say so.” “You are lying. You pretended to Lord Chesterfield that you did not know who the visitor was, and so you give yourself away.” “Do I? And a very pretty gift, too, though I say it.” “Ah! You are quite shameless, I see.” “Now, what cause have I for shame? Tell me that.” “What cause? You can ask that!” “O, I can ask anything.” “Enough of this equivocating. What did you mean by stating you heard _them_ say it was the Duke?” “Why, I meant it.” “Who were _they_?” “Just my lady and the other.” “O, the other! Who _was_ the other?” “Why, the one that wasn’t my lady, of course.” “Was it Kit?” “I never said so, you know.” “What do you say now?” “I say what I said before.” “Come; was it man or woman?” “How should I know? I’m ashamed of you, George.” His strong fingers quivered with an almost irresistible desire to shake the life out of her. Possibly--for she had a liking for him--he might have won the truth from her even now by a show of tenderness; but his temper, exacerbated by a recent disappointment, had got the better of him, and any further finessing was at the moment beyond his power. “Very well, my lady,” said he, drawing a deep breath. “I shall know how to deal with a traitor whom I had thought a confederate. I have done my part fairly by you----” “Wait there,” said the girl, stopping him. She had abundance of spirit, and carried the sharpest little set of claws at the ends of her velvet fingers. “You promised to let the King see me.” “I promised to let you see the King.” “O, well! isn’t that the same thing--if he’s got eyes? Anyhow, you haven’t done it.” “It was to have been the reward of your service to me; and in that, by God! you’ve failed, and I believe failed of purpose. I don’t reward traitors.” “How have I been a traitor?” “Don’t you know very well? But perhaps you’ve come to the conclusion that, saving the King, the Duke of York might suit you for second best.” “George!” “Don’t ‘George’ me, madam!” “You’ll make me dangerous.”