And seizing the paragon by the throat, he shook him to and fro a dozen times or more, and then, throwing him aside, sprang to the door of the mushroom-house and endeavoured to tear it open.
"It's locked! It's bolted! Where's the key? Rodney, why don't you fetch the key?"
"Because I don't know where it is!" cried the miserable owner of Mitching Dean.
"And you call yourself a man!" roared the Duke. "She'll be dead in another minute!"
And he shook the door furiously.
"Try your hoe, Duke—try your hoe!" cried Mr. Rodney.
"By Jove! I will!"
And so saying, he tried it with such skill, address, and physical strength that the door gave way, and he beheld his Duchess in the early Victorian dressing-gown fainting upon the dibble-holes.
"Cleopatra!" he cried, and stood as if changed to stone.