your
ladyship please to eat some luncheon? There is an hour before the motor
will be round. I know your ladyship's own footman, James, should go with
your ladyship, but if it is something serious, as an old servant, and,
if I may say so, a humble and devoted friend of his lordship's, I would
beg to accompany your ladyship instead."

"Yes, yes, Michelham," said Zara, and hurried from the room.

She sent a telegram when at last she reached the station--to the St.
James's Street rooms.

"What you thought was not true. Do not leave until I come and explain. I
am your own Zara."

Then the journey began--three hours of agony, with the constant
stoppages, and the one thought going over and over in her brain. He
believed she had a lover and a child, and yet he loved her! Oh, God!
That was love, indeed!--and she might not be in time.

But at last they arrived--Michelham and she--and drove to Tristram's
rooms.

Yes, his lordship had been expected at five, but had not arrived yet; he
was late. And Michelham explained that Lady Tancred had come, and would
wait, while he himself went round to Park Lane to see if Lord Tancred
had been there.

He made up a splendid fire in the sitting-room, and, telling Higgins not
to go in and disturb her even with tea, the kind old man started on his
quest--much anxiety in his mind.

Ten minutes passed, and Zara felt she could hardly bear the suspense.
The mad excitement had kept her up until now. What if he were so late
that he went straight to the train? But then she remembered it went at
nine--and it was only six. Yes, he would surely come.

She did not stir from her chair, but her senses began to take in the
room. How comfortable it was, and what good taste, even with the
evidences of coming departure about! She had seen two or three telegrams
lying on the little hall table, waiting for him, as she came in--hers
among the number, she supposed. A motor stopped, surely!--Ah! if it
should be he! But there were hundreds of such noises in St. James's
Street, and it was too dark and foggy to see. She sat still, her heart
beating in her throat. Yes, there was the sound of a latch key turning
in the lock! And, after stopping to pick up his telegrams, Tristram, all
unexpecting to see any one, entered the room.

She rose unsteadily to meet him, as he gave an exclamation of surprise
and--yes--pain.

"Tristram!" she faltered. It seemed as if her voice had gone again, and
the words would make