"Surely."
"My friends of the sewers have been very good to me, and they had to save their families from hunger.
"They're a queer people, wearing great heavy boots up to their thighs, and rough suits of canvas. They lent us such clothes the night before last, and Browne and I went with them to see the mines of dynamite under Whitehall. In course of a long, rather unpleasant ramble we came directly underneath the Chancellery and got our friends to break a passage upward into the building. Last night—taking our swords as a precaution, we visited the Chancellor's room, and found there a gentleman engaged at the telegraph. We had to wait some time before this gentleman noticed our presence. When he was at leisure Browne offered him the use of a sword. I found him an accomplished swordsman."
"Who was this gentleman?" asked Margaret, and Lord Sydney rose upon his knees.
"Madam," he said, gravely, "I engaged my commanding officer."
"You fought the Duke of Gloucester!'
"I killed him."
Sydney drew his sword, and pointing the blade at his own breast presented the hilt to his sovereign.
"You have killed Rupert!" Margaret laid her hands upon the hilt. "Heaven be my witness that now, and afterwards, I am ready to share the blame, and if there's punishment now or afterwards let it fall on me. What am I, Sydney, that I should have a friend like you, so loyal, so fearless, and so great? There, my dear friend, put away your sword. I knew that my cousin Gloucester was disloyal, and you have cleansed the dishonour of the Guard."
"I am forgiven?"