I held my tongue, knowing very well that the Prince played his part solely that I might be entrapped into speech.  But Lady Angela seemed puzzled at my silence.  She looked at me for a moment inquiringly out of her soft dark eyes.  I made no sign.  She turned away to the Prince.

“If you are sure that you can walk without pain,” she said.  “We will not trouble you, Mr. Ducaine,” she added, as I moved to open the door.

So they left me alone, and I was not sure whether the honours remained with him or with me.  He had never for a moment lost his dignity, nor had he even looked ridiculous when calmly rearranging his tie and collar.  I laughed to myself bitterly as I prepared to follow them.  I was determined to lay the whole matter before the Duke at once.

As I reached the terrace I saw a man walking up and down, smoking a pipe.  He stood at the top of the steps and waited for me.  It was Colonel Ray.  He took me by the arm.

“I have been waiting for you, Ducaine,” he said.  “I was afraid that I might miss you, or I should have come down.”

“I am on my way to the Duke,” I said, “and my business is urgent.”

“So is mine,” he said grimly.  “I want to know exactly what has passed between you and the Prince of Malors.”

“I am not at all sure, Colonel Ray,” I answered, “that I am at liberty to tell you.  At any rate, I think that I ought to see the Duke first.”

His face darkened, his eyes seemed to flash threatening fires upon me.  He was smoking so furiously that little hot shreds of tobacco fell from his pipe.

“Boy,” he exclaimed, “there are limits even to my forbearance.  You are where you are at my suggestion, and I could as easily send you adrift.  I do not say this as a threat, but I desire to be treated with common consideration.  I appeal to your reason.  Is it well to treat me like an enemy?”

“Whether you are indeed my friend or my enemy I am not even now sure,” I answered.  “I am learning to be suspicious of every person and thing which breathes.  But as for this matter between the Prince and myself, it can make little difference who knows the truth.  He shammed a fall over the cliff and a sprained ankle.  Lady Angela and I started for the house to send a cart for him, but, before we were halfway across the Park, Grooton fetched me back.  I found the Prince examining the papers on which I had been working, and when I charged him with it he offered me a bribe.”

“And you?”

“I struck him!”

Ray groaned.

“You struck him!  And you had him in your power—­to play with as you would.  And you struck him!  Oh, Ducaine, you are very, very young.  I am your friend, boy, or rather I would be if you would let me.  But I am afraid that you are a blunderer.”

I faced him with white face.

“I seem to have found my way into a strange place,” I answered.  “I have neither wit nor cunning enough to know true men from false.  I would trust you, but you are a murderer.  I would have trusted the Prince of Malors, but he has proved himself a common adventurer.  So I have made up my mind that all shall be alike.  I will be neither friend nor foe to any mortal, but true to my country.  I go my way and do my duty, Colonel Ray.”