he was, or in which direction her room lay; then she went
slowly--almost staggered--down the corridor, and, bursting into her
room, fell into a chair.

So sudden was her entrance, so tragic her collapse, that the nervous
Burden uttered a faint shriek.

"Oh, my lady! what is the matter?" she cried, her hand against her
heart.

Lady Luce sat with her chin in her hands, her eyes gleaming from her
white face, in silence for a moment; then she laughed, the laugh which
borders on hysteria.

"Congratulate me, Burden!" she said bitterly; "congratulate me! Lord
Angleford is engaged!"

Burden stared at her.

"To--to your ladyship?" she said, but doubtfully. "I do congratulate
you."

"You fool!" cried Luce savagely. "He is engaged to another woman. He has
jilted me! Oh, I think I shall go mad! Jilted me! Yes, it is that, and
no less. Oh, my head! my head!"

Burden hurried to her with the eau de Cologne, but Lady Luce pushed it
away.

"Keep out of my sight! I can't bear the sight of any human being!
Engaged! 'I am engaged to Miss Lorton!'"--she mimicked Drake's voice in
bitter mockery.

Burden started, and let the eau de Cologne bottle fall with a soft thud
to the floor.

"What--what name did your ladyship say?" she gasped, her face as white
as her mistress's, her eyes starting.

Lady Luce glared at her.

"You fool! Are you deaf? Lorton! Lorton!" she almost snarled at the
woman.

Burden stooped to pick up the bottle, but staggered and clutched a
chair, and Lady Luce watched her with half-distraught gaze.

"What is the matter with you? Why do you behave like a lunatic?" she
demanded. "Do you know this girl? Answer!"

Burden moistened her lips.

"Is it the young lady--who helped catch Ted--I mean the burglar, my
lady?" she asked hoarsely.

"I suppose so. Yes. Well? Speak out--don't keep me waiting. I'm in no
humor to be trifled with. You know her--something about her?"

Burden tried to control her shaking voice.

"If--if it is the same young lady who was at Lady Wolfer's----I was her
maid, you remember----"

"I remember, you fool! Quick!"

"Then--then I know something. She's very pretty--and young, with dark
hair----"

Lady Luce sprang to her feet.

"You idiot! You drive me mad. I've not seen her. But if it be the
same----Well--well?"

"Then--then Lord Angleford is to be pitied. He has been
deceived--deceived cruelly," said Burden, in gasps.

Lady Luce caught her by the shoulders and glared into