His grace adjusted his monocle and carefully examined his three massive rings of yellow gold, handsomely set with jewels.
"If he does there'll be trouble," he said quietly.
"But if he's not creating a disturbance?"
"Ah, but he is. That's just it. He collects a crowd."
"How?"
The duke hesitated. "I suppose it's this that Kitty was afraid I'd tell you. You've been through a lot of nervous strain, with the fire and things, and she wanted to save you. I can see it."
Nina naturally was doubly interested. "You've gone too far now to turn back," she said. "You must tell me the rest. I have a right to know all."
"Well, it's this way"—the duke dropped his glass and turned to her, his voice very low—"it's just one cage that he's a penchant for. He stands before it, or paces up and down before it continuously." Then he paused.
Nina was growing annoyed. "What of it?" she asked.
"You know that story he's always telling you—that you're a reincarnated tigress. Well, this is the cage of a tigress."