From the very first moment that she moved in her chair and turned to
us; from the instant that that movement of her head disarranged the
silk scarf which was wrapped round her throat, and laying it bare,
showed a broad red scar upon it, _I knew her_; knew her for my dear old
lady of Monmouth Street, Bath, at whose bidding I had crossed the
Atlantic and endured many perils. I knew her, and as I gazed upon her
her lips moved and formed two words--

"Mr. Anstruther!"

CHAPTER XXII

THE QUEEN'S ERROR

The Reverend Mother looked from Madame la Comtesse to me, and from me
back again to the Comtesse.

"Madame," she said, addressing her, "without doubt you are old friends;
here is a re-union of the most pleasant!"

We heard her words, both of us, I have no doubt, but we did not answer
her; my thoughts were back again in that basement room at Monmouth
Street. I saw "Madame la Comtesse," this healthy, bright looking old
lady, lying on the disordered bed, her clothes soaked in blood, a great
wound in her throat.

How did she come here?

How did she escape?

Those were the two questions which, for the moment, absorbed my whole
faculties.

Her face, as I gazed upon it, expressed first blank amazement and
alarm; then pleasure; finally the formation in a strong mind of a great
resolve; she was the first to recover her entire self-possession,
which, perhaps, she had really never lost.

"Mr. Anstruther," she said in English, extending her frail, delicate
looking hand, "I am delighted to meet you again."

She took my hand in both of hers, and still holding it looked up into
my face.

"You are well," she said, "I can see that, and happy. So you should be
with such a charming wife. Please present me to her."

Dolores wanted no presentation; I think she loved the dear old lady at
the very first sight. She went to her and gave her both her hands, and
the Comtesse drew her face down to hers and kissed her.

"Your good husband did me a great service once, my dear," she said,
"perhaps the greatest service a man can do a woman."

Dolores looked down at her wonderingly, and then at me.

"I wish I could tell you what it was, my dear," she continued, "but it
is a secret. Still, perhaps your husband will tell you, _when I have
told him_. I do not think that he realised the great benefit he did me
at the time, for the good reason that he did not know its extent."

Dolores nodded her head and smiled, but I am sure