I couldn't really." It looked indeed like a blind alley; but in the end the duke yielded.
His heart was set on carrying through this scheme for regaining his duchess.

His mind was so rarely guilty of ingenuity that he could not bear to discourage it.

They set themselves, therefore, to making the presence of the Lump at Ricksborough Court plausible.

Fortunately he was too young to spoil their plan by indiscreet babble, had he been a babbling child.

To the minds of the servants at Ricksborough Court, minds so carefully trained in the board schools of England, his pregnant grunts would convey no meaning.
Then arose the question of a becoming outfit; and into this matter the Honourable John Ruffin threw himself with enthusiasm.