The first thing I learned when I reached the appartement was that the
Duchesse had returned, and wished to see me. This was good news--and
without even telephoning to Maurice, I got into my one horse Victoria
and repaired to the Hotel de Courville--.
The Duchesse was sitting in her boudoir upstairs when I got in.--She had
a quaint expression upon her face. I was not certain that her greeting
was as cordial as usual--Has gossip reached her ears also?
I sat down near her and she took my crutch from me tenderly, her
instinct for "blessés" never failing her.
I thought I would begin at once before she could say anything which
might make questioning her impossible.
"I have been longing to see you, Duchesse, to ask you if you could help
me to find out who my secretary, Miss Sharp, is?--because I saw her here
in the passage one day, and I thought you might possibly be able to
identify her--."
"Tiens?"
"Her christian name is 'Alathea'--I heard her little sister call her
that once when I saw them and they did not see me, in the Bois--She is
a lady--and I feel Sharp is not her name at all."
The Duchesse put on her eyeglasses--.
"She has not shown a sign that she wishes you to know her history?"
"No--"
"Then, my son, do you think it is very good taste to endeavor to
discover it?"
"Perhaps not--" I was nettled--I hated that the Duchesse should be
displeased with me, then I went on--"I fear that she is very poor and I
know that her little brother died just lately, and I would give anything
in the world to help them in some way."
"Sometimes one helps more by showing discretion."
"You won't assist me then, Duchesse? I feel that you know Miss Sharp."
She frowned--.
"Nicholas--if I did not love you really, I should be angry.--Am I the
character to betray friends--presuming that I have friends--for a young
man's curiosity?"
"Indeed it is not curiosity--it is because I want to help--."
"Camouflage!"
I felt angry now.
"You assume that your secretary is a demoiselle du monde"--she went
on--"if you have reached that far--you should know that there is some
honor, some tenue left in old families,--and so you should treat her
with consideration, and respect her incognito.--All this is not like
you, my son!"