“I must have been both blind and mad not to see the plot that was being carried on; the significant faces of my servants alone might have told me. Whenever I found myself with the duke, whether by accident or not, there was sure to come some interruption, some servant on a purposeless errand, who would look at me and go away. One in particular became most distasteful to me from his constant surveillance, George Olte, the footman.
“I was deeply annoyed one morning. I had been speaking to the Duke of Launceston about some book, and he asked me to find it for him. I went into the library after breakfast for that purpose; he followed me, and we stood by the bookshelf together. I said to him:
“‘This is the book, and here is the engraving I was speaking of.’
“He leaned forward to look at it. At that very moment the footman, George Olte, entered the room. He started back, pretended to show great confusion and surprise, apologized in a stammering voice, and vanished.
“I looked at the duke and laughed.
“‘The man has been drinking,’ I said; ‘Sir Alfred ought to know of it.’
“But the duke did not even smile; he looked distressed, confused, then put down the book, and, with a murmured apology, quitted the room.
“‘The world is all alike this morning,’ I said to myself.
“It happened to be the very day the Duke of Launceston had fixed upon for his departure. After lunch, as I was walking through the hall, he stood with some letters in his hands. He was no more to me than any other guest in the house; but as he had been kind to me, and I had no dislike to him, I went up to him and expressed polite regret at his departure. Captain Pierrepont was near, giving some directions to Olte, the footman I particularly disliked. In a few minutes I became aware that their conversation had entirely ceased and they were listening to mine. Indignant at the insolence, and resolved to complain of it to my husband, I turned away, alas! The duke went, and I forgot in very few hours that such a person existed. I have better reason to remember it now. Can you, Mr. Eyrle, can you, Miss Hanson, imagine what my feelings were when I tell you that very day my husband sent me word that he wished particularly to see me in the library? I was doing something, I do not remember what, but it was something I did not care to leave. I sent my maid to ask if it would do in an hour’s time, when I had finished. The answer was most peremptory. No! Sir Alfred wished to see me at once on most important business. I knew no more what was hanging over my head than a child knows its future. When the library door opened I was surprised to see Captain Pierrepont standing by the table. Sir Alfred was seated in his favorite chair. I went up to him.
“‘Did you want me, Alfred, so urgently?’ I asked.