With that I turned and strode from him. His mocking laugh came after me again, but I took no notice of it.
Should I tell Duke all? I shrunk from the mere thought. A coward even then, I dared not confess to him how I had betrayed my trust; what fearful suspicions of the nature of my failure lay dark on my heart. No—I must see Dolly first and force my sentence from her lips.
He put down the book he was reading from, as I entered the sitting-room.
“Well,” he said, cheerily, “what success?”
I sat away from him, beyond the radiance of the lamp, and affected to be busy unlacing my boots.
“I can’t say as yet, Duke. Do you mind postponing the question for a day or two?”
“Of course, if you wish it.” I felt the surprise in his tone. “Mayn’t I ask why?”
“Not now, old fellow. I missed my opportunity, that’s all.”
“Is anything wrong, Renny?”
“Not all right, at least.”