He walked across the room, picked up his cloak, and took a card-case from the inner pocket of it. "If you don't mind, your Grace, I want you to show this permit to my men who are keeping the door, whenever you go out of the house. It's just a formality; but I attach considerable importance to it, for I really ought not to make exceptions in favour of any one. I have two men at the door, and they have orders to let nobody out without my written permission. Of course M. Gournay-Martin's guests are different. Bonavent has orders to pass them out. And, if your Grace doesn't mind, it will help me. If you carry a permit, no one else will dream of complaining of having to do so."
"Oh, I don't mind, if it's of any help to you," said the Duke cheerfully.
"Thank you," said Guerchard. And he wrote on his card and handed it to the Duke.
The Duke took it and looked at it. On it was written:
- "Pass the Duke of Charmerace."
"It's quite military," said the Duke, putting the card into his waistcoat pocket.
