Richard’s hand fell from the hilt: his eyes searched the other’s face.

“You know?” he asked at last, quite calmly.

“You fool,” answered his Grace gently. “You fool, do you think I have not always known?”

Richard leaned against the mantelshelf.

“You never thought I was innocent? You knew that night? You guessed?”

The Duke sneered.

“Knowing both, could I suspect other than you?” he asked insultingly.

“Oh, my God!” cried Carstares suddenly. “Why could you not have said so before?”

The Duke’s eyes opened wide.