He recalled the words of the Duchess as she went up the staircase.
What was it all about?
"Whose secrets did she keep ?" he asked, calmly enough.
"Your father's, yours, mine," she replied, in a whisper almost.
"Secret?
What secret?
Good Lord, such mystery!" He laughed mirthlessly.
She came close to him.

"I am sorry--sorry, Harry," she said with difficulty.

"It will hurt you, shock you so.

It will be a blow to you, but you must bear it." She tried to speak further, but her heart was beating so violently that she could not.

She turned quickly to the portfolio on the desk, drew forth the fatal letter, and, turning to the page which contained the truth concerning David, handed it to him.