At last I heard the door open, and the sound of friendly adieux in the passage. Lord Chelsford came in to me alone. He took up a position with his back to the fire, and looked at me thoughtfully. "Well, Mr. Ducaine," he said, "we have discussed this matter thoroughly, and we are all practically agreed that there is no reason why we should ask you to give up your position." I was almost overcome. It was a wonderful relief to me. "But surely the Duke--" I faltered. "The Duke is very loyal to his friends, Mr. Ducaine," he said, "but he is also a man with a nice sense of justice. You and he regard two incidents from entirely different points of view, but he does not for a moment suggest that your account of them is not an honest one. He looks upon you as a little nervous and overstrung by your responsibilities and disposed to be imaginative. He will not hear anything against the Prince of Malors." "My story is as true as God's Word," I declared. "I am inclined to believe in it myself, Mr. Ducaine," said Lord Chelsford. "There are indications of a strong revival of Royalist sentiment amongst the French people, and it is very possible that the Prince of Malors may wish to ingratiate himself by any means with the French army. This sort of thing scarcely sounds like practical politics, but one has to bear in mind the peculiar temperament of the man himself, and the nation. I personally believe that the Prince of Malors would consider himself justified in abusing the hospitality of his dearest friend in the cause of patriotism. At any rate, this is my view, and I am acting upon it. All danger from that source will now be at an end, for in an hour's time the Prince will be under the surveillance of detectives for the remainder of his stay in England." I breathed a sigh of relief. "I am to go back to Braster, then?" I asked. "To-night, if possible," Lord Chelsford answered. "Go on living as you have been living. And, listen! If you should have further cause to suspect the Prince of Malors or anybody else, communicate with me or with Ray. The Duke is, of course, a man of ability and an honourable man, but he is prejudiced in favour of his friends. Some of us others have had to learn our lessons of life, and men, in a sharper school. You understand me, Mr. Ducaine, I am sure." "I perfectly understand, sir," I answered. "There is nothing more which you wish to ask me?" "There is a suggestion I should like to make, sir, with regard to the disposal of my finished work," I told him. "Go on, Mr. Ducaine. I shall be glad to listen to it." There was a knock at the door. Lord Chelsford held up his finger. "Send it me in writing," he said in a low tone, "to-morrow.--Come in!" Ray entered. CHAPTER XIX MRS. SMITH-LESSING Ray and I left the building together. As we turned into Pall Mall he glanced at his watch.