“I did. Do you often find doors open when they ought to be shut?”
“Almost every night, your Grace.”
“What do you do?”
“Knock, your Grace.”
“Good heavens,” murmured the Duke, “how this man throws away his opportunities!” Then he leant forward, and laying his hand on the policeman’s shoulder drew him nearer, and began to speak to him in a low tone.
“I couldn’t, your Grace,” urged the policeman. “If I was found out I should get the sack.”
“You should come to no harm by that.”
“And if your Grace was found out——”
“You can leave that to me,” interrupted the Duke.
Presently the policeman, acting on the Duke’s invitation, climbed into the window of the villa, and the conversation was continued across the table. The Duke urged, produced money, gave his word to be responsible for the policeman’s future; the policeman’s resistance grew less strong.