I am in trouble--that is, I have been very much annoyed." "Ah, very sorry," said the Duke.
"It so happens that you are the only person in America, as far as I know, who can help me." "I ?" The Duke opened his eyes wide.

Then he reflected that it might be something concerning the Countess, and waited.
"You are a gentleman," said Claudius reflectively, and hardly addressing his visitor as he said it.
"Quite so," said the Duke.

"It's a very fine word that." "And a man of honour," continued Claudius in a meditative tone.
"The deuce and all, it's the same thing," said the Duke, rather puzzled.
"Yes; in some countries it is.

Now, what I want to ask you is this.
Could you, as a gentleman and a man of honour, swear in a court of law that you know me, and that I am the person I represent myself to be?
That is the question." The Duke was too much surprised to answer directly.

He made a great fuss over his cigar, and got up and shut the window.