The detective jumped down and opened the door, saying,

“Excuse me, your grace; but, I think, perhaps I ought to go in first to ensure you an interview with the woman?”

“By all means go in first, officer.  I will remain here in the cab until you return to summon me,” answered the duke.

Detective Setter went up to the door and knocked, and then waited a few seconds until the door was opened, and he was admitted by an unseen hand.

A few minutes elapsed, and then detective Setter reappeared, and came up to the cab and said: 

“She will see you at once, early as it is, your grace, I do not know what in the world possesses the old woman; but she is chuckling in the most insane manner in the anticipation of meeting you ‘face to face,’ as she calls it.”

“Well, we shall soon see,” said the duke, as, with a resigned air, he followed Mr. Setter into the house.

The detective led him up stairs to the gaudy parlor which had once been Rose Cameron’s sitting-room.

There was no one present; but the detective handed a chair to the duke, and begged him to sit down and wait for Mrs. Brown’s appearance.

The duke threw himself into the chair, and gazed around him upon the garish scene, until a chamber door opened, and Mrs. Brown, in her Sunday’s best suit, sailed in.  The duke arose.

Mrs. Brown came on toward him, courtesying stiffly, and saying: 

“Good morning to you, Mr. Scott!  It is a many months since I have had the pleasure of seeing you in this house.”

The duke was not so much amazed at this greeting as he might have been, had he not heard the astounding testimony of Rose Cameron.  So he answered quietly: 

“I do not think, madam, that you ever ‘had the pleasure’ of seeing me ’in this house’ or, in fact, anywhere else.  I have never seen you in my life before.”

“Oh! oh! oh! here to the man!  He would brazen it out to my very face!” exclaimed Mrs. Brown.

The duke started and flushed crimson as he stared at the woman.

“Oh, I am not afeard of you!  Deuce a bit am I afeard of you!  You may glare till your eyes drop out, but you’ll not scare me!  And you may be the Markiss of Arondelle and the Duke of Hereward, too, for aught I know, or care either!  But you were just plain Mr. John Scott to me, and also to that poor, wronged lass whom you have betrayed into prison, if not unto death!  And now, Mr. John Scott, as you wished to see me (and I can guess why you wished to see me,) and as I have no objection to see you, besides having something of importance to tell you, perhaps you will send that man off,” said Mrs. Brown pointing to the detective.

“No.  I prefer that Mr. Setter should stay here, and be a witness to all that passes between us,” answered the duke.

“All right.  It is no business of mine, and no shame of mine.  Only I thought as you mightn’t like a stranger to hear all your secrets, and I wish to spare your feelings,” said the woman.