“Yes, sir,” said the Duke demurely, “but, as it chances, I did fend for myself.”
“Gilly, don’t tell me you let the villains bleed you!” exclaimed his lordship.
“No, sir, I burned down my prison, and came off scatheless.”
Lord Lionel stared at him in great surprise. “Are you trying to humbug me, Gilly?” he asked suspiciously.
The Duke laughed. “No, sir. I thought I had to bestir myself, for I didn’t know that Gideon was coming hotfoot to the rescue. They were not very clever villains, perhaps, which was fortunate. But they did me a great deal of good!”
“Did you a great deal of good?” exclaimed Lord Lionel. “What nonsense you talk, boy! How came it about? Tell me the whole!”
If the Duke did not comply exactly with this request, he told Lord Lionel enough to astonish and shock him very much. But it was evident that he was also pleased to think that his nephew had behaved with such spirit, and he forgot, in his interest in the affair, to enquire how Gideon had come by the knowledge that Gilly had been kidnapped. But he was not at ail pleased to learn that nothing had been done to lay the villains by the heels, and roundly denounced such foolish clemency. “They must be brought to book!” he declared. “You will inform the magistrates, Gilly: you should have done so before you left the district, of course!”
“No, sir, I think not,” the Duke replied tranquilly.
“What you think is of no consequence!” said his lordship. “A pretty state of affairs it would be if all such rascals were to go unpunished! You owe a duty to society, as I have been for ever telling you! Now, do not argue with me, I beg of you!”
“Certainly not, sir: you know I can never bear to do so! I am very sorry for society, but my mind is quite made up. I beg your pardon, but I could not endure to have such a stupid story made known to the world!”