Nalson disappeared.

I was alarmed.  If “the Duke” should prove to be an impostor, we were indeed ruined.

In five minutes,—­an hour, it seemed,—­Nalson stood before us.

“Is it he?” said Dalton, looking fixedly upon the face of the usher.

No reply.

“Speak the truth; you need not be afraid.”

“I cannot tell, Sir.”

“Nonsense! go and look again.”

“It is of no use, Mr. Dalton; you, who are as well acquainted with the personal appearance of his Highness as I am, you have been deceived,—­if I have.”

“Nalson, do you believe that this person is an impostor?” said Dalton, pointing at myself.

“Who?  Mr. De Vere, Sir?”

“If, then, you know at sight that this gentleman is my friend Mr. De Vere, why do you hesitate about the other?”

“But the imitation is perfect.  And there is Reve de Noir.”

“Yes, did Reve de Noir recognize you?”

“I have not caught his eye.  You know, Sir, that this Reve is not, and never was, like other men; he is a devil.  One knows, and one does not know him.”

“Were you at the door when the Duke entered?”

“I think not; at least—­I cannot tell.  When I first saw him, he was in the room, speaking with Madam Denslow.”

“Nalson, you have done wrong; no one should have entered unannounced.  Send the doorkeeper to me.”

The doorkeeper came; a gigantic negro, magnificently attired.

“Jupiter, you were at the door when the Duke of Rosecouleur entered?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Did the Duke and his man come in a carriage?”

“Yes, Sir,—­a hack.”

“You may go.  They are not devils,” said Dalton, musingly, “or they would not have come in a carriage.”

“You seem to have studied the spiritual mode of locomotion,” said I.

Dalton frowned.  “This is serious, De Vere.”

“What mean you?”

“I mean that Denslow is a bankrupt.”

“Explain yourself.”

“You know what an influence he carries in political circles.  The G——­rs, the S——­es, and their kind, have more talent, but Denslow enjoys the secret of popularity.”

“Well, I know it.”

“In the middle counties, where he owns vast estates, and has been liberal to debtors and tenants, he carries great favor; both parties respect him for his ignorance and pomposity, which they mistake for simplicity and power, as usual.  The estates are mortgaged three deep, and will not hold out a year.  The shares of the Millionnaire’s Hotel and the Poor Man’s Bank in the B——­y are worthless.  Denslow’s railroad schemes have absorbed the capital of those concerns.”

“But he had three millions.”

“Nominally.  This palace has actually sunk his income.”

“Madness!”

“Wisdom, if you will listen.”

“I am all attention.”

“The use of money is to create and hold power.  Denslow was certain of the popular and county votes; he needed only the aristocratic support, and the A——­ people would have made him Senator.”