“Suppose one happens to know her secret?”
“Her secret!”
“Her origin and early history.”
“What do you mean?”
“Is there really any need to ask the question?”
The Duke shook his head perplexedly. “I’m afraid I don’t follow you.”
“Well,” said Sir Dugald coolly, “it happens that you are the one man in the world who is in a position to answer the question I have ventured to ask.”
They looked at each other. A rather deadly silence followed.
“The question you have ventured to ask.” The Duke repeated the words slowly, but with a reluctance and a venom he could not conceal.
“You know perfectly well what I mean.” The tone, direct and cool, was exasperating.