It was by no concert that an attack was made upon him from three quarters at once as he was preparing to leave Matching.  On the Sunday morning during church time, for on that day Lady Mary went to her devotions alone,—­Mrs Finn was closeted an hour with the Duke in his study.  ‘I think you ought to be aware,’ she said to the Duke, ’that though I trust Mary implicitly and know her to be thoroughly high principled, I cannot be responsible for her, if I remain here.’

‘I do not quite follow your meaning.’

’Of course there is but one matter on which there can, probably, be any difference between us.  If she should choose to write to Mr Tregear, or to send him any message, or even to go to him, I could not prevent it.’

‘Go to him!’ exclaimed the horrified Duke.

’I merely suggest such a thing in order to make you understand that I have absolutely no control over her.’

‘What control have I?’

’Nay; I cannot define that.  You are her father, and she acknowledges your authority.  She regards me as a friend,—­and as such treats me with the sweetest affection.  Nothing can be more gratifying than her manner to me personally.’

‘It ought to be so.’

’She has thoroughly won my heart.  But still I know that if there were a difference between us she would not obey me.  Why should she?’

‘Because you hold my deputed authority.’

’Oh, Duke, that goes for very little anywhere.  No one can depute authority.  It comes too much from personal accidents, and too little from reason or law to be handed over to others.  Besides, I fear, that on one matter concerning her you and I are not agreed.’

‘I shall be sorry if it be so.’

‘I feel that I am bound to tell you my opinion.’

‘Oh yes.’

’You think that in the end Lady Mary will allow herself to be separated from Tregear.  I think that in the end they will become man and wife.’

This seemed to the Duke to be not quite so bad as it might have been.  Any speculation as to results were very different from an expressed opinion as to propriety.  Were he to tell the truth as to his own mind, he might perhaps have said the same thing.  But one is not to relax in one’s endeavours to prevent that which is wrong, because one fears that the wrong may be ultimately perpetuated.  ‘Let that be as it may,’ he said, ’it cannot alter my duty.’

’Nor mine, Duke, if I may presume to think that I have a duty in this matter.’

’That you should encounter the burden of the duty binds me to you for ever.’

‘If it be that they will certainly be married one day—­’

‘Who has said that?  Who has admitted that?’