“And he told you also that he was bound to secrecy.”
“He did.”
“Well, now to the point. When the newly married pair parted from Anglesea, on the day of their marriage, they never saw him again.”
“No?”
“No. You heard Anglesea relate how the old Prince Antonio Saviola supposed him—Anglesea—to have acted as second to Luigi Saviola on the occasion of his fatal duel with the Duc de Montmeri, and how he—Anglesea—had denied all knowledge of the tragedy?”
“Yes, I did hear, and I remembered that Anglesea was at that very time at college with me.”
“Well, then, Enderby, listen: If the bona-fide Anglesea did not officiate as Luigi Saviola’s second in that duel, his double, Byrne Stukely, did.”
“What!”
“Yes, Anglesea’s bête noir, evil genius, material counterpart, Byrne Stukely, did. He personated Anglesea in Paris, on the dueling ground, and at the death of Saviola, and in the apartments of Saviola’s widow!”
“Ah! what new infamy is this of which you tell me? I shall have to prosecute that villain if he should escape the law here!” exclaimed the earl.