And then, if you wish to know what I think, he must have found his fiancee rather trying," said the Duke, with his charming smile.
"After all, it's pitiful--heartrending, you must admit it, that, on the very eve of his marriage, he was such a fool as to throw off the mask.
And yet at bottom it's quite logical; it's Lupin coming out through Charmerace.

He had to grab at the dowry at the risk of losing the girl," said Guerchard, in a reflective tone; but his eyes were intent on the face of the Duke.
"Perhaps that's what one should call a marriage of reason," said the Duke, with a faint smile.
"What a fall!" said Guerchard, in a taunting voice.

"To be expected, eagerly, at the Princess's to-morrow evening, and to pass the evening in a police-station ...

to have intended in a month's time, as the Duke of Charmerace, to mount the steps of the Madeleine with all pomp and to fall down the father-in-law's staircase this evening--this very evening"-- his voice rose suddenly on a note of savage triumph--"with the handcuffs on! What?
Is that a good enough revenge for Guerchard--for that poor old idiot, Guerchard?
The rogues' Brummel in a convict's cap! The gentleman-burglar in a gaol! For Lupin it's only a trifling annoyance, but for a duke it's a disaster! Come, in your turn, be frank: don't you find that amusing ?" The Duke rose quietly, and said coldly, "Have you finished ?" "DO you ?" cried Guerchard; and he rose and faced him.
"Oh, yes; I find it quite amusing," said the Duke lightly.
"And so do I," cried Guerchard.
"No; you're frightened," said the Duke calmly.
"Frightened!" cried Guerchard, with a savage laugh.
"Yes, you're frightened," said the Duke.

"And don't think, policeman, that because I'm familiar with you, I throw off a mask.