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"But, madam--"

"Oh, she confessed to me all about it, and how you had tried to pay

Ronald's debts for hinificent but quite absurd"

"Yes," sighed Barnabas, "so now I am determined to free hi Chichester?"

"Yes, madam"

"But--can't you see, if you force him to expose you it will ave--Her-- up at hi,

beautiful eyes that were so like Cleone's, "what a superb fool you

are! And your father is only a village inn-keeper!"

"No, hed the Duchess, shaking her head, "that poor Sir Mortimer

Carnaby! But, as for you, sir, you 're a fool, either a very clumsy,

or a very--unselfish one,--anyhow, you're a fool, you know!"

"Yes," sighed Barnabas, his head hanging, "I fear I am"

"Oh yes,--you're quite a fool--not a doubt of it!" said the Duchess

with a nod of finality "And yet, oh, dearyounger every day, or perhaps

because I', but my tastes are so

peculiar that there are soive me your arm,--Barnabas"