The Duke seized me by the arm, with a sudden air of excitement. Carford stepped forward and stood beside him. "_Je viens, tu viens_.... Yes! And any more?" cried the Duke. "Yes, your Grace," I answered, again amazed. "I completed what grammarians call the Singular Number by adding '_Il vient;_' whereupon--but I have told you." "_Il vient?_" cried the Duke and Carford all in a breath. "_Il vient_," I repeated, thinking now that all the three had run mad. Carford screened his mouth with his hand and whispered in the Duke's ear. The Duke nodded and made some answer. Both seemed infinitely stirred and interested. M. de Fontelles had stood in sullen silence by the table while I told the story of our quarrel; now his eyes were fixed intently on the Duke's face. "But why," said I, "that simple phrase worked such strange agitation in the gentleman, your Grace's wisdom may discover. I am at a loss." Still Carford whispered, and presently the Duke said, "Come, gentlemen, you've fallen into a foolish quarrel where no quarrel need have come. Pray be friends again." M. de Fontelles drew himself up stiffly. "I asked a promise of that gentleman, and he refused it me," he said. "And I asked an explanation of that gentleman, and he refused it me," said I, just as stiffly. "Well, then, Mr Dale shall give his promise to me. Will that be agreeable to you, Mr Dale?" "I'm at your Grace's commands, in all things," I answered, bowing. "And you'll tell nobody of M. de Fontelles' agitation?" "If your Grace pleases. To say the truth, I don't care a fig for his fierceness. But the explanation, sir?" "Why, to make all level," answered the Duke, smiling and fixing his gaze upon the Frenchman, "M. de Fontelles will give his explanation to me." "I cry agreed, your Grace!" said I. "Come, let him give it." "To me, Mr Dale, not to you," smiled the Duke. "What, am I not to hear why he was so fierce with me?" "You don't care a fig for his fierceness, Mr Dale," he reminded me, laughing. I saw that I was caught, and had the sense to show no annoyance, although I must confess to a very lively curiosity. "Your Grace wishes to be alone with M. de Fontelles?" I asked readily and deferentially. "For a little while, if you'll give us leave," he answered, but he added to Carford, "No, you needn't move, Carford." So I made my bow and left them, not well pleased, for my brain was on the rack to discover what might be the secret which hung on that mysterious phrase, and which I had so nearly surprised from M. de Fontelles. "The gist of it," said I to myself, as I turned to the kitchen, "lies, if I am not mistaken, in the third member. For when I had said _Je viens, tu viens_, the Duke interrupted me, crying, 'Any more?'"