"The Duke?" she murmured.
"He wishes to see you," I repeated. "Shall I tell him that you will call at four o'clock this afternoon, or will you go back with me?"
"Do you mean this?" she asked in a low tone. "I do not understand it.
I have never seen the Duke in my life."
"I understand no more than you do," I assured her. "That is the message."
"I do not promise to come," she said. "I must think it over."
My father pushed her roughly away.
"Come, there's been enough of this fooling," he declared roughly. "Guy, sit down again, my boy. We must have another talk about this matter."
I turned upon him in a momentary fit of passion.
"I have no more to say, sir," I declared. "It seems that you are not content with ruining your own life and overshadowing mine. You want to drag me, too, down into the slough."
"You don't understand, my dear boy!"