“ ’Twould have been superb. I suppose Miss Beauleigh has told you most of the tale, but there is one thing that she could not have told you, for she did not know it: the man I fought with was Belmanoir.”

“Thunder and turf! Not the Duke?”

“Yes. Tracy.”

“Zounds! Did he know ye?”

“I cannot be certain. I was masked, of course, but he said he thought he did. ’Twas at that moment he fired his pistol at me.”

“The dirty scoundrel!”

“M’m⁠—yes. ’Tis that which makes me think he did not know me. Damn it all, Miles, even Tracy would not do a thing like that!”

“Would he not? If ye ask me, I say that Tracy is game enough for any kind of devilry.”