The Duke folded his hands nervously together. He looked away from me into the fire.
"It is a very difficult position," he declared, "very difficult indeed. The Prince has been more than a friend to Blenavon. He has been his benefactor. Of course he will deny this thing with contempt. Let me think it out, Ducaine."
"By all means, your Grace," I answered, a little nettled at his undecided air. "So far as I am concerned, my duty in the matter ends here. I have, told you the exact truth concerning it, and it seems to me by no means improbable that the Prince has been in some way responsible for those former leakages."
The Duke shook his head slowly.
"It is impossible," he said.
"Your Grace is the best judge," I answered.
"The Prince was not in the house last night when the safe was opened, he objected.
"He probably has accomplices," I answered. "Besides, how do we know that he was not here?"
"Even if he were," the Duke said, raising his head, "how could he have known the cipher?"
I made no answer at all. It seemed useless to argue with a man who had evidently made up his mind not to be convinced.