‘You have just come up from Matching?’ he said.

’Yes; only the day before yesterday.  It is very good of you to come to me so soon.’

’Of course I came when you sent for me.  I am afraid the Duke felt his loss severely.’

’How should he not, such a loss as it was?  Few people knew how much he trusted her, and how dearly he loved her.’

‘Silverbridge has told me that he is awfully cut up.’

‘You have seen Lord Silverbridge then?’

‘Just at present I am living with him, at Carlton Terrace.’

‘In the Duke’s house?’ she asked, with some surprise.

’Yes, in the Duke’s house.  Silverbridge and I have been very intimate.  Of course the Duke knows that I am there.  Is there any chance of him coming to town?’

’Not yet, I fear.  He is determined to be alone.  I wish it were otherwise, as I am sure he would better bear his sorrow, if he would go about with other men.’

‘No doubt he would suffer less,’ said Tregear.  Then there was a pause.  Each wished that the other would introduce the matter which both knew was to be the subject of their conversation.  But Tregear would not begin.  ‘When I left them all at Florence,’ he said, ’I little thought that I would ever see her again.’

‘You had been intimate with them, Mr Tregear?’

’Yes; I think I may say that I have been intimate with them.  I had been at Eton and Christ Church with Silverbridge, and we have always been much together.’

‘I have understood that.  Have you and the Duke been good friends?’

‘We have never been enemies.’

‘I suppose not that.’

’The Duke, I think, does not much care about young people.  I hardly know what he used to do with himself.  When I dined with them, I saw him, but I did not often do that.  I think he used to read a good deal, and walk about alone.  We were always riding.’

‘Lady Mary used to ride?’

’Oh, yes; and Silverbridge and Lord Gerald.  And the Duchess used to drive.  One of us would always be with her.’

‘And so you became intimate with the whole family?’

‘So I became intimate with the whole family.’

‘And especially so with Lady Mary?’ This she said in her sweetest possible tone, and with a most gracious smile.

‘Especially so with Lady Mary,’ he replied.

’It will be very good of you, Mr Tregear, if you endure and forgive all this cross-questioning from me, who am a perfect stranger to you.’

‘But you are not a perfect stranger to her.’

’That is it, of course.  Now, if you will allow me, I will explain to you exactly what my footing with her is.  When the Duchess returned, and when I found her to be so ill, as she passed through London, I went down with her into the country,—­quite as a matter of course.’

‘So I understand.’