sat down himself; and Sonia handed him a cup of tea with so shaky a hand that the spoon clinked in the saucer.
"You've been fighting a duel?" said Germaine.
"What! You've heard already?" said the Duke in some surprise.
"I've heard," said Germaine. "Why did you fight it?"
"You're not wounded, your Grace?" said Sonia anxiously.
"Not a scratch," said the Duke, smiling at her.
"Will you be so good as to get on with those wedding-cards, Sonia," said Germaine sharply; and Sonia went back to the writing-table.
Turning to the Duke, Germaine said, "Did you fight on my account?"
"Would you be pleased to know that I had fought on your account?" said the Duke; and there was a faint mocking light in his eyes, far too faint for the self-satisfied Germaine to perceive.
"Yes. But it isn't true. You've been fighting about some woman," said Germaine petulantly.
"If I had been fighting about a woman, it could only be you," said the Duke.
