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Miss Allonby was patient, yet resolute to keep to the one really important point. “But what has Frank been accused of doing when it never even entered his head?”

“He has been conspiring,” said the Duke, “and with conspicuous clumsiness. It appears, child, that it was their common idiocy which of late brought together some two hundred gentlemen in Lancashire. Being every one of them most unmitigated fools, they desired that sot at Avignon to come over once more and ‘take back his own,’ as the saying is. He would not stir without definite assurances. So these men drew up a petition pledging their all to the Chevalier’s cause and–God help us!–signed it. I protest,” the Duke sighed, “I cannot understand these people! A couple of penstrokes, you observe, and there is your life at the mercy of chance, at the disposal of a puff of wind or the first blunderer who stumbles on the paper.”

“Doubtless that is entirely true,” said Miss Allonby, “but what about Frank?”

Ormskirk shrugged his shoulders and began to laugh. “You are an incomparable actress, you rogue you. But let us be candid, for all that, since as it happens Lord Humphrey is not the only person in my employ. What occurred last night I now partly know, and in part guess, Degge played a bold game, and your Captain gambled even more impudently,–only the stakes, as it to-day transpires, were of somewhat less importance than either of them surmised. For years Mr. Vanringham has been a Jacobite emissary; now he tires of it; and so he devoted the entire morning, yesterday to making a copy of this absurd petition.”

“I do not understand,” said Miss Allonby; and in appearance, at least, she was no whit disconcerted.

“He carried only the copy. You burned only the copy. Mr. Vanringham, it develops, knew well enough what that bungling Degge had been deputed to do, and he preferred to treat directly with Lord Humphrey’s principal. Mr. Vanringham is an intelligent fellow. I dare make this assertion, because I am fresh from an interview with Mr. Vanringham,” his Grace of Ormskirk ended, and allowed himself a reminiscent chuckle.

She had risen. “O ungenerous! this Vanringham has been bribed!”

“I pray you,” said the Duke, “give vent to no such scandal. Vanringham’s life would not be worth a farthing if he had done such a thing, and he knows it. Nay, I have planned it more neatly. To-night Mr. Vanringham will be arrested–merely on suspicion, mind you,–and all his papers will be brought to me; and it is possible that among them we may find the petition. And it is possible that, somehow, when he is tried with the others, Mr. Vanringham alone may be acquitted. And it is possible that an aunt–in Wales, say,–may die about this time and leave him a legacy of some five thousand pounds. Oh, yes, all this is quite possible,” said the Duke; “but should we therefore shriek Bribery? For my own part, I esteem Mr. Vanringham, as the one sensible man in the two hundred.”

“He has turned King’s evidence,” she said, “and his papers will be brought to you–” Miss Allonby paused. “All his papers!” said Miss Allonby.

“And very curious they will prove, no doubt,” said his Grace. “So many love-sick misses write to actors. I can assure you, child, I look forward with a deal of interest to my inspection of Mr. Vanringham’s correspondence.”

“Eh?–Oh, yes!” Miss Allonby assented–“all his papers! Yes, they should be diverting, I must be going home though, to make ready for Lady Mackworth’s ball. And if I have nobody to dance with me, I shall know quite well whose fault it is. How soon will Frank be freed, you odious tyrant?”

“My child, but in these matters we are all slaves to red tape! I can promise you, however, that your Captain will be released from prison before this month is out, so you are not to worry.”