For a minute I regarded the duchess. And I smiled, and my smile turned to a laugh as I answered: "Oh, yes! I got the note." "I meant it," said she. "But I suppose I must forgive you now. You've been so brave, and you're so much hurt." And the duchess' eyes expressed a gratifying admiration of my powers. I fingered my arm, which lay comfortably enough in the bandages and the sling that Suzanne's care had provided for it. And I rose to my feet. "Oh, you mustn't move!" cried the duchess, rising also and coming to where I stood. "By Jove, but I must!" said I, looking at the clock. "The duke's got four hours' start of me." "What do you want with my husband now?" she asked. "I don't see why you should fight him; anyhow, you can't fight him till your arm is well." The duchess' words struck on my ear and her dainty little figure was before my eyes, but my thoughts were absent from her. "Don't go, Mr. Aycon," said she. "I must go," I said. "By this time he'll be at the convent." A frown gathered on the duchess' face. "What concern is it of yours?" she asked. "I--I mean, what good can you do?" "I can hardly talk to you about it--" I began awkwardly; but the duchess saved me the trouble of finishing my sentence, for she broke in angrily: "Oh, as if I believe that! Mr. Aycon, why are you going?" "I'm going to see that the duke doesn't--" "Oh, you are very anxious--and very good, aren't you? Yes, and very chivalrous! Mr. Aycon, I don't care what he does;" and she looked at me defiantly. "But I do," said I, and seeing my hat on the cabinet by the wall, I walked across the room and stretched out my hand for it. The duchess darted after me and stood between my hat and me. "Why do you care?" she asked, with a stamp of her small foot. There were, no doubt, many most sound and plausible reasons for caring--reasons independent of any private feelings of my own in regard to Marie Delhasse; but not one of them did I give to the duchess. I stood before her, looking, I fear, very embarrassed, and avoiding her accusing eyes. Then the duchess flung her head back, and with passionate scorn said to me: "I believe you're in love with the woman yourself!" And to this accusation also I made no reply. "Are you really going?" she asked, her voice suddenly passing to a note of entreaty. "I must go," said I obstinately, callously, curtly. "Then go!" cried the duchess. "And never let me see you again!" She moved aside, and I sprang forward and seized my hat. I took no notice of the duchess, and, turning, I walked straight toward the door. But before I reached it the duchess flung herself on the sofa and buried her face in the cushions. I would not leave her like that, so I stood and waited; but my tongue still refused to find excuses, and still I was in a fever to be off.