At length the latter spoke out what was in his mind. "To tell you the truth, my lord," he said frankly, "I think it is a mare's nest. I don't believe that any statement has been made." The Earl looked astonished. "May I ask why not?" he said. "Because, unless I am much mistaken," my lord answered smiling, "the Duke would have brought it straight to me. And I have heard nothing of it." "You have not asked the Duke?" "Of course not." "But--he was with Sir John," the Earl persisted steadily. "There is no doubt of that, is there?" "Oh, no." "Well, then, is not that in itself strange?" "I think not, there have always been friendly relations," my lord continued, "between the Duke and Sir John." "Just so," Lord Marlborough answered, taking a pinch of snuff. "Still, do those relations warrant the Lord Steward in visiting him now?" The Secretary looked a little startled. "Well, I don't know," he said. "But the Duke of Devonshire's patriotism is so well established----" "That he may steal the horse, while we look over the wall," Lord Marlborough answered, taking him up with a smile. "Be that as it may," he continued, "and I am sure that the same may be said of the Duke of Shrewsbury,"--here the two noblemen bowed to one another--"I think your Grace's information is somewhat faulty on this point. I happen to know that immediately after the interview a special messenger left Devonshire House for Loo; and that the matters he carried were reduced into writing by his Grace's own hand. That being so, Duke, you are better qualified to draw the inference than I am." My lord, at that, looked grave and nodded, being convinced; and I do not doubt that he felt the slight which the other Duke's silence implied. But though, of all the men I have ever met, he was the most sensitive, he was the last also, to wear his heart on his sleeve; and not only did he refrain from complaint of his colleague's conduct, but he hastened to dispel by a word or two the effect of his momentary gravity. "Ah, then I can guess what happened," he said, nodding his comprehension. "I have no doubt that Sir John made it a term that his discovery should be delivered to the King at first hand--and to no one else." Lord Marlborough rose. "Duke," he said firmly, "I think it is fair that I should be more frank with you. The reason you give is not the reason they are giving in the coffee-houses--for the Lord Steward's reticence." "No!" said my lord, with a faint note of scorn in his voice. "No," said the Earl. "On the contrary, they say at Will's--and for the matter of that at the St. James's too, that the statement is kept close because it touched men in power." "In power?" said my lord, with the same note in his voice. "In the Council, do you mean?" "Yes; three men." "Do they name them?" "Certainly," said my Lord Marlborough, smiling. "And they join with the three one who is not in power." "Ah!" "Myself."