"You may allege whatever it may please you," he said at last, with affected sarcasm. "But a woman's honour is safe in my hands." "My wife's honour!" I cried, with fierce indignation, walking towards him threateningly. I could no longer stand by in silence when I recollected what Ella had said about being compelled to act according to the will of another. She had, no doubt, been under the thrall of this overdressed dandy. "Now that we have met," I exclaimed, "you shall explain to me, her husband." With a quick movement he strode forward as if to escape us, but in an instant I had gripped him by the shoulder with fierce determination, whole the Earl himself, apprehending his intention, placed his back against the door. "Speak!" I cried wildly, shaking him in my anger. "You shall tell us the true nature of the secret between you and my wife, and prove your statement to our satisfaction, or, by heaven, I'll thrash you as a cunning, cowardly cur!" CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. DUE EAST. "Bah!" retorted the Earl's visitor, contemptuously, shaking himself free with a sudden twist, and standing before me in defiance. "I understand," he cried, glancing towards the elder man before the door. "You believe, gentlemen, that from me you can ascertain a key to certain curious occurrences that have puzzled you. But I may as well undeceive you at once. I can tell you absolutely nothing." "But you shall tell us!" I cried, angrily. "I found you walking with my wife in Kensington Gardens, and followed you. It was apparent from her demeanour that she feared you." He smiled sarcastically, and answered with a flippant air: "Perhaps she did. If so, she certainly had cause." "Why? What power do you hold over her, pray?" I demanded. In his eyes was a mysterious glance. He was scarcely the brainless young dandy that I had imagined. "It is hardly likely that I shall divulge to you a secret. Remember that your wife comes of one of the highest families in Europe, and the slightest breath of scandal must reflect upon them." "At what scandal do you hint?" I asked, in fierce, breathless eagerness. "At what is best kept quiet," he answered, gravely. His enigmatical words maddened me. I felt that I could spring upon him and strangle him, for I knew instinctively that he was my wife's enemy-- the man of whom she lived in deadly fear. If only I could silence him, she might then relate to me those long-promised facts. "Then if you decline to prove that there is a concealed scandal, utter no more of your lying allegations," I blurted forth. He bowed deeply with mock politeness, and smiled grimly. "Come," exclaimed the Earl at last, in a conciliatory tone, advancing towards him and laying his hand upon his shoulder. "Let us get at once to the point. It is useless to quarrel. You decline to reveal to us the nature of your curious friendship with the Grand Duchess--eh?" "I do," he answered, firmly.