“Sir, I am persuaded I have no need to deny such a wicked charge!” said Mr. Snape, looking appealingly at his employer.
“The truth,” said the Duke, ignoring him, “is that I came upon your son, sir, near Baldock. He informed me that he had escaped from his tutor, and was desirous of going either to London, or to the sea-coast, where he had some notion of shipping on a barque as cabin-boy. He had had the misfortune to fall in with a couple of foot-scamperers, who had manhandled, and robbed him. He was in a sad case, and I took him back to the inn where I was putting-up.” He smiled. “Perhaps I should have insisted on his returning to you then and there, but I had a great deal of sympathy with him, for I was much beset by tutors myself.” He added reflectively: “And I don’t know that I could have made him do it, for he would undoubtedly have run away had I suggested any such thing. Altogether it seemed to me that he would be safer in my company than wandering alone about the country. I had intended to have taken him to London, but various unforeseen circumstances arose which made it imperative for me to come instead to Bath. That is the whole matter in a nutshell.”
Mr. Mamble, who had listened in fulminating wrath, expressed the opinion that he was a practised rogue, and besought the constable to do his duty. The constable, who had been slightly impressed by the Duke’s manner, said in an aloof way that he knew his duty without being told it, and asked the Duke for his full name.
“Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware,” responded the Duke coolly. “Would you wish me also to recite my titles to you?”
Mr. Mamble roared out: “Stow that foolery, will you? Your name’s Rufford!”
“No, that is merely one of my minor titles,” said the Duke.
The constable laid down his pen. “Now, look’ee here!” he said mildly. “If so be you’re his Grace of Sale, you’ll have to prove it, because it don’t seem a likely tale, and you don’t look like no Duke, nor you wouldn’t be staying at the Pelican!”
Mr. Snape smiled with malign satisfaction. “No doubt you have your visiting-card upon you, sir?” he said.
“Ay, that’s the dandy!” agreed the constable, brightening, and looking hopefully at the Duke.
The Duke, now quite confirmed in his dislike of Mr. Snape, said, flushing slightly: “No. I have not. I—I am travelling strictly incognito.”