"I suppose it is nothing to you that you lose her? No; It is nothing toyou that she disgraces her name? Oh, no!"
"_My_ name, I think."
"Our name! Is it possible for her to disgrace yours?"
Richard went white and his hand flew instinctively to his sword hilt.
Tracy looked at him.
"Do you think I would soil my blade with you?" he asked, very softly.
Richard's hand fell from the hilt: his eyes searched the other's face.
"You know?" he asked at last, quite calmly.
"You fool," answered his Grace gently. "You fool, do you think I havenot always known?"
Richard leaned against the mantel-shelf.
"You never thought I was innocent? You knew that night? You guessed?"
The Duke sneered.
"Knowing both, could I suspect other than you?" he asked insultingly.
"Oh, my God!" cried Carstares suddenly. "Why could you not have said sobefore?"
The Duke's eyes opened wide.
"It has chafed you--eh? I knew it would. I've watched you." He chuckledbeneath his breath. "And those fools never looked beneath the surface.One and all, they believed that John would cheat. John! They swallowedit tamely and never even guessed at the truth."
"You, at least, did not believe?"
"I? Hardly. Knowing you for a weak fool and him for a quixotic fool, Irather jumped to conclusions."
"Instead, you tried to throw the blame on him. I would to God you hadexposed me!"
"So you have remarked. I confess I do not understand this heroicattitude. Why should I interfere in what was none of my business? Whatproof had I?"
"Why did you raise no demur? What motive had you?"
"I should have thought it fairly obvious."
Richard stared at him, puzzled.
"Gad, Richard! but you are singularly obtuse. Have I not pointed outthat John was a quixotic fool? When did I say he was a weak one?"
"You mean--you mean you wanted Lavinia to marry me--because you thoughtto squeeze me as you willed?" asked Carstares slowly.
His Grace's thin nostrils wrinkled up.
"You are so crude," he complained.
"It suited you that Jack should be disgraced? You thought I should seizehis money. You--you--"
"Rogue? But you will admit that I at least am an honest rogue. Youare--er--a dishonest saint. I would sooner be what I am."
"I know there is nothing on God's earth more vile than I am!" repliedCarstares, violently.