member that I am her friend.
Yours is quite the proper attitude, but with me it doesn't matter. Now
I am going to ask you a plain question. Had you any engagement with
Lucille to-night?"

She watched him mercilessly. He was colouring like a boy. Lady Carey's
thin lips curled. She had no sympathy with such amateurish love-making.
Nevertheless, his embarrassment was a great relief to her.

"She promised to be here," he answered stiffly.

"Everything depends upon your being honest with me," she continued.
"You will see from my question that I know. Was there not something said
about supper at your rooms before or after the dance?"

"I cannot discuss this matter with you or any living person," he
answered. "If you know so much why ask me?"

Lady Carey could have shaken the man, but she restrained herself.

"It is sufficient!" she declared. "What I cannot understand is why you
are here--when Lucille is probably awaiting for you at your rooms."

He started from his chair as though he had been shot.

"What do you mean?" he exclaimed. "She was to--"

He stopped short. Lady Carey shrugged her shoulders.

"Oh, written you or something, I suppose!" she exclaimed. "Trust an
Englishman for bungling a love affair. All I can tell you is that she
left Dorset House in a hansom without the others, and said some thing
about having supper with some friends."

Brott sprang to his feet and took a quick step towards the exit.

"It is not possible!" he exclaimed.

She took his arm. He almost dragged her along.

"Well, we are going to see," she said coolly. "Tell the man to call a
hansom."

They drove almost in silence through the Square to Pall Mall. Brott
leaped out onto the pavement directly the cab pulled up.

"I will wait here," Lady Carey said. "I only want to know that Lucille
is safe."

He disappeared, and she sat forward in the cab drumming idly with
her forefingers upon the apron. In a few minutes he came back. His
appearance was quite sufficient. He was very pale. The change in him was
so ludicrous that she laughed.

"Get in," she said. "I am going round to Dorset House. We must find out
if we can what has become of her."

He obeyed without comment. At Dorset House Lady Carey summoned the
Duchess's own maid.

"Marie," she said, "you were attending upon the Countess Radantz
to-night?"

"Yes, my lady."

"At what time did she leave?"

"At about, eleven, my lady."

"Alone?"

"Yes, my lady."

Lady Carey