were the workings of the Duke's mind when the young man told him
that Mrs Finn was acquainted with the whole affair. As the reader
is aware, nothing could have been more unjust.

'I mentioned her name,' said Tregear, 'because I thought she had
been a friend of the family.'

'That will do, sir. I have been greatly pained as well as
surprised by what I have heard. Of the real state of the case I
can form no opinion till I see my daughter. You, of course, will
hold no further intercourse with her.' He paused as though for a
promise, but Tregear did not feel himself called upon to say a
word in one direction or the other. 'It will be my care that you
shall not do so. Good-morning, sir.'

Tregear, who during the interview had been standing, then bowed,
turned upon his heel and left the room.

The Duke seated himself, and, crossing his arms upon his chest,
sat for an hour looking up at the ceiling. Why was it that, for
him, such a world of misery had been prepared? What wrong had he
done, of what imprudence had been guilty, that, at every turn of
life, something should occur so grievous as to make him think of
himself the most wretched of men? No man had ever loved his wife
more dearly than he had done; and yet now, in that very excess of
tenderness which her death had occasioned, he was driven to accuse
her of a great sin against himself, in that she had kept from him
her knowledge of this affair;--for, when he came to turn the matter
over in his mind, he did believe Tregear's statement as to her
encouragement. Then, too, he had been proud of his daughter. He