Charlton, his lordship's private secretary, arrived
post-haste from London at midday, and took over many of the confidential
papers and other documents which were lying about upon the library
table.

He was anxious for the Earl to recover consciousness in order to obtain
instructions concerning the attitude to be adopted towards Austria,
regarding whom a ticklish point of policy had on the previous evening
arisen. The political horizon of Europe changes from hour to hour.

Our Ambassador in Vienna had wired in cipher urgently requesting a
response, and this only the Foreign Minister himself could give.

But the doctors would not allow him to be disturbed.

A warm, anxious day went by, and Jean found herself amid surroundings so
luxurious and artistic that she gazed about her open-mouthed in wonder.

As a nurse she soon showed her proficiency and her business-like
methods--a manner which at once impressed Sir Evered.

But, alas! The Earl of Bracondale still remained unconscious. His pulse
was feeble, his heart was just beating; the spark of life was still
aglow.

From all quarters of the world, from every one of the Chancelleries of
Europe, telegrams of regret arrived. Kings, statesmen, politicians of
all grades, and all parties, lawyers, diplomats; in fact, all classes,
sent messages, and all day long boys kept continually cycling up the
long drive through the park bearing sheaves of orange-coloured
envelopes, which were opened one after the other by the Honourable John
Charlton.

Not before the following afternoon did consciousness return to the
injured man, and then Jean's real work commenced.

His eyes, when they first opened, met her calm, anxious gaze.

He looked at her in astonishment, and then glanced at the other faces of
the doctors around.

Sir Evered spoke as he bent over him.

"You know me--eh? Come, you're a lot better now, my dear fellow. Just
drink this," and he took a glass from Jean's hand.

The prostrate man swallowed the liquid with an effort. Then, staring
about him with an air of astonishment, he said:

"Why--it's you, Evered. You!"

"Yes; I'm here looking after you, and with good nursing you'll soon be
quite right again."

His lordship drew a long breath, and for a few moments remained silent.
Then he asked, in a low, weak whisper:

"What's happened?"

"Oh, nothing very much. Don't bother about it," was the great
specialist's reply. "You were thrown out of your car, that's al