“There might still be some who knew you in the old days, who would be but too ready to expose the deception.”
“I’ll take the risk of that.” Holles laughed in his eagerness, in his reaction from the hopelessness that had been settling upon him during Albemarle’s lengthy exposition. “I’ve lived on risks.”
The Duke eyed him gravely. “And I?” he asked.
“You?”
“I should be a party to that deception....”
“So much need not transpire. You can trust me not to allow it.”
“But I should be a party none the less.” Albemarle was graver than ever, his accents more deliberate.
Slowly the lines of Holles’s face returned to their habitual grim wistfulness.
“You see?” said the Duke sadly.