He began a sentence and left it unfinished.

He was in that condition when words are impotent.
"Can you tell me, Mr.Ducaine," he asked, "what possible argument Colonel Ray could have made use of to induce my son to consent to this extraordinary proceeding ?" "I know no more about the matter, your Grace," I answered.

"Perhaps Lord Blenavon felt that his intimacy with Mrs.Smith-Lessing had compromised him--that appearances were against him--" "Pshaw!" the Duke interrupted.

"Blenavon's intrigues are foolish enough, but they are beside the mark..

I want to know what further argument or inducement Colonel Ray used.