Holding his cup in his hand, the Duke walked to the window to look out at the lake which glittered golden in the sunshine.
“I have a feeling, Bevil,” he said, “that yesterday you were thinking it was rather quiet here and that nothing ever happens in the country. Well, your thoughts have certainly been confounded in the last twenty-four hours!”
“That is true,” the Major agreed. “But I suspect, Nolan, that however tragic Richard’s predicament may be, you are quite enjoying the challenge it affords you.”
“Challenge is the right word,” the Duke agreed. “It is a challenge and now I am also wondering how I may be involved in taking on another seriously ill man.”
As he spoke, the door opened and a flunkey announced,
“Doctor Emerson, Your Grace!”
The Duke turned with his hand outstretched.
