e Duke of Melford were bringing her to, the wife of
Rochester who had been staring at Jones in a terrified manner ran from
the room. She ran like a blind person with hands outspread.

Jones stood whilst the unfortunate lady was resuscitated. She returned
to consciousness sobbing and flipping her hands, and she was led from
the room by Venetia. Beyond the door Jones heard her voice roused in
lamentation:

"My boy--my poor boy."

Venetia had said nothing.

Jones had expected a scene, outcries, questions, but there was something
in all this that was quite beyond him. They had asked no questions,
seemed to take the whole thing for granted, Venetia especially.

The Duke of Melford shut the door.

"Your mother--I mean Lady Rochester's heart is not strong," said he,
going to the bell and touching it. "I must send for the doctor to see
her."

Jones, more than ever astonished by the coolness of the other, sat down
again.

"Look here," said he, "I can't make you all out--you've called me no
names--you haven't let me fully explain, the old lady is the only one
that seems to have taken the news in. Can't you understand what I have
told you?"

"Perfectly," said the old gentleman, "and it's the most extraordinary
thing I have ever heard--and the most interesting--I want to have a long
talk about it.--James," to the servant who had answered the bell,
"telephone for Dr. Cavendish. Her ladyship has had another attack."

"Dr. Cavendish has just been telephoned for, your grace, and Dr.
Simms."

"That will do," said his grace.

"Yes, 'pon my soul, it's quite extraordinary," he took a cigar case from
his pocket, proffered a cigar which Jones took, and then lit one
himself.

"Look here," said Jones suddenly alarmed by a new idea, "you aren't
guying me, are you?--you haven't taken it into your heads that I've gone
dotty--mad?"

"Mad!" cried the old gentleman with a start. "Never--such an idea never
entered my mind. Why--why should it?"

"Only you take this thing so quietly."

"Quietly--well, what would you have? My dear fellow, what is the good of
shouting--ever? Not a bit. It's bad form. I take everything as it
comes."

"Well, then, listen whilst I tell you how all this happened. I came over
here some time ago to rope in a contract with the British Government
over some steel fixtures. I was partner with a man named Aaron Stringer.
Well, I failed on the contract and found myself broke with less than ten
pounds in my p