it is true, and the world is not exactly a playground for me.
Nevertheless, I am not an ascetic like Mannering. The world, the flesh
and the devil are very much to me what they are to other men. But in a
sense you have cornered me, and you shall have the truth. I want to marry
the Duchess of Lenchester myself."

She nodded.

"That's right," she said. "Now we know where we are. You want to marry
the Duchess, and therefore you don't want her to have Lawrence. You think
that I can stop it, and as I don't want him married, either, you come to
me. That is reasonable. Now how can I prevent it?"

"By a slight variation from your story," he answered. "In fact, words are
not needed. A suggestion only would be enough, and circumstances," he
added, glancing around, "are strongly in favour of that suggestion."

"You mean--"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Mannering is security for your lease," he remarked. "You pay in his
cheques to your bank every quarter. He occupies just that position which
in a general way is capable of one explanation only."

"Well?"

"Let the Duchess believe him, or continue to believe him, to be an
ordinary man--instead of a fool--and she will never marry him."