“You'd get into a police cell instead. A man's house is his castle, especially when it's a palace and he's a Duke.”
I was silenced. I knew the Cherub was right; but it seemed monstrous that in this twentieth century such tyranny should divide a girl from her lover.
When I had thought for a moment I said, “Anyhow, I shall go to the house and try to bribe a servant. Once in, I'd not come out without Monica. I've done two satisfactory things to-day by bribery and corruption, and I don't see why I shouldn't bring it off the third time.”
“The Duke's servants have been in the employ of the family for years, and their fathers and grandfathers before them. No money would bribe them to deceive their master and mistress,” said the Cherub.
[pg 267] “I shouldn't have thought either the Duke or his mother capable of inspiring such devotion.”
“It isn't devotion—it's fear. To an unfaithful servant in that house—well, almost anything might happen.”
“Have you any advice to give me, then?” I asked, in despair.
The Cherub shook his head. “The prudent thing would be to go away to-night, and trust Lady Monica's loyalty. She can't be forced into marrying the Duke, you know; and if she breaks the engagement he'll have to let her alone, for dignity's sake.”
“That might be prudent; but of course I won't do it.”
“Of course you won't,” returned the Cherub, as if it went without saying.