Where is it? I can't see! In which column?" said Sara.

He pointed to a corner on the third page, where she read in black, rough
type:--

"_Lord Reckage was thrown from his horse at Hyde Park Corner this
afternoon. He was removed to Almouth House. His injuries are said to be
of a very dangerous nature._"

She crushed the paper in her hand, and the two stood looking at each
other, stupefied by the blow.

"I am going to him," said Robert.

"And I must go home," whispered the girl. "He always said that Pluto
would be the death of him."

They went down the stairs together without exchanging a word. Orange
walked with her to St. James's Square. Neither could speak. On parting,
she faltered,--

"Let me know ... how he is...."

CHAPTER XXIV

Lord Reckage had been carried through the hall of Almouth House, but not
up the famous staircase of which he was so proud. He looked at it as
they bore him to the library, and although he was still in a kind of
stupor, the terrified servants could read in his eyes the certain
knowledge that he would never behold the marble walls or the portraits
of his ancestors again.

"Are you in pain, my lord? is your lordship in pain?" sobbed the
housekeeper. His features were injured and his face was perfectly
pallid--so much changed that he could not have been immediately
recognised. Four doctors--one of them a passer-by at the time of the
accident--had assembled. They found one shoulder was severely injured,
and the right collar-bone broken. He complained of great pain in his
side.

"Am I going to die, Sir Thomas?" said he.

"Why should you die?" replied the distinguished surgeon. "But you have
had a nasty fall."

"Pluto shied at something," answered his lordship; "mind they don't
shoot him. I won't have him shot."

Then, for a few moments, he lost consciousness.

When Orange arrived, the physicians were looking very grave, and
telegrams had been despatched to all the young man's near relatives.

"He has called for you several times," said Sir Thomas; "and," he added,
dropping his voice, "is there any lady who could meet ... the family? I
fancy I caught a lady's name more than once. Could it have been----"

"Sara," suggested Orange, to relieve his embarrassment.

"It certainly sounded like Sara."

"Then I will send Lord Garrow a note--she is Lord Garrow's daughter--a
lifelong friend. Is there no hope?"

"He may have a pretty good night."

Robert bowed his head an