"Yet I do not know," answered the Duke, who stood between the two with his eyes on the fire, and his back towards me. "If we go too fast, people may say, my lord, that we fear what they might disclose." The Earl laughed blandly. "You had little gain by Preston," said he, "and you kept him long enough." "My Lord Devonshire is anxious to go into the matter thoroughly." "Doubtless he has his reasons," Lord Marlborough answered, shrugging his shoulders. "The question is--whether your Grace has the same." "I know none why we should _not_ go into it," the Duke answered in measured tones which showed pretty clearly that in spite of his good-nature he was not to be led blindfold. "They can have nothing to say that will reflect on me. And I am sure," he continued, slightly inclining his head in courteous fashion, "that the same may be said of Lord Marlborough." "_Cela va sans dire!_" answered the Earl in a voice so unconstrained and with a gesture so proud and easy that if he lied--as some have been found ready to assert--he showed a mastery of that art alike amazing and incredible. "And of Lord Godolphin also." "By God, yes!" that peer exclaimed, in such a hurry to assent that his words tumbled over one another. "Just so. I say so, my lord," the Earl repeated with a faint ring of scorn in his tone, while Lord Godolphin wiped his forehead. "But innocence is no shield against calumny, and if these rogues can prolong their lives by a lie, do you think that they will not tell one? Or even ten?" "Ay, by God, will they!" cried Godolphin. "Or twenty. I'll lay thee long odds to that." My lord bowed and admitted that it was possible. "So possible," Lord Marlborough continued, lightly and pleasantly, "that it is not long since your Grace, unless I am mistaken, suffered after that very fashion. I have no mind to probe your secrets, Duke--God forbid! I leave such tasks to my Lord Portland! But, unless I am in error, when you last left office advantage was taken of some"--he paused, and then with an easy motion of his white hands--"some trifling indiscretion. It was exaggerated and increased tenfold, and placed in a light so false that"--he paused again to take a pinch of snuff from his box--"that for a time even the King was induced to believe--that my Lord Shrewsbury was corresponding with France. Most amusing!" The Duke did not answer for a moment; then in a voice that shook a little, "It is an age of false witnesses," he said. "Precisely," Lord Marlborough answered, shrugging his shoulders with charming _bonhomie_. "That is what I say. They do not greatly hurt you or me. We have clear consciences and clean hands; and can defy these ruffians. But the party must be considered." "There is something in that," said the Duke, nodding and speaking in his natural tone. "And smaller men, as innocent, but more vulnerable--they too should be considered." "True," said Lord Godolphin, nodding. "True, by God."