The Duke was a very great man in his own country, and it was singular indeed that he should find a man to his liking, a man who seemed of his own caste and calibre, in the simple _privat-docent_ of a German university.

Perhaps Barker felt it too.

At all events, when the Duke sat himself down in Claudius's room, after begging permission to ring for lights, and made himself most evidently at home, Mr.Barker felt that he was in the way; and so, promising to call on Claudius again in the morning, he departed.

Claudius stood by the mantelpiece while the servant lit the gas.
"I am very glad to see you," he said, when the man had gone.
"I am glad of that, for I want your society.

The Countess Margaret has a headache, and Lady Victoria has gone to dine in her rooms, and to spend the evening with her." "I am very sorry to hear that the Countess is not well," said Claudius, "but I am very glad of anything that brings you here to-night.