An Unsullied Shield

His Grace, the Duke of Rutland, is dying and his family consisting of his wife and his only son are at his bedside. He admonishes his son to live up to the best traditions of his ancestors and the boy swears to he a worthy son of a worthy sire and takes his mother in his arms, indicating that he will he henceforth her refuge, whereupon the old duke passes away happily contented. We later see the Duke in a Monte Carlo Casino; he loses to such an extent that he is wiped out and can only continue playing on I.O.U's. Upon returning to London he borrows money from a notorious money lender whom he promises to pay back in thirty days. He forgets about the obligation, but a month later he is forcibly reminded of it by the money lender who threatens to expose him. He promises to settle the following day. Afraid of exposure he forges his mother's name to a check. Later sitting in front of several great paintings of his ancestors, conspicuous among which is a shield, he falls asleep and in his dr