Her hair was finished now, and she rose from her seat. Hester helped her put on the beautiful dress, and Lady Georgina amused herself hopping round, pulling out the train, and ejaculating over it in various staccato exclamations of delight. A knock was heard at the door, and Rowton put in his head. “Is the dressing complete?” he asked. “Yes, pray come in,” called out Nance. Hester was putting the finishing touches to the beautiful robe. Nance turned and faced her husband. “My darling,” he cried, “powder does not look well by daylight.” “One moment,” said Lady Georgina. She went to the window, drew down the blinds, pulled the curtains across, and turned on the electric light. “Now,” she said, “speak the truth. Was there ever a bonnier, a more lovely resurrection?” “Hail! fair dame,” said Rowton. He fell suddenly on one knee with a fantastic gesture, and kissed the tip of Nancy’s slender hand. “You are complete but for your jewels,” he said. “I will fetch them.” “No; to-night will do,” she answered. “I think you can leave us now,” said Lady Georgina, turning to Hester, who was standing submissive and subdued in the background. “Yes, certainly, Hester, I do not require you any longer,” said Nance. “Thank you, madam,” replied the girl. She went softly across the room, opened the door, went out, and shut it behind her. Rowton was still busy examining the dress. “I am going for the jewels,” he repeated. “We must see the effect complete.” “It really is not safe, Mr. Rowton, to have jewels lying about at the present moment,” said Lady Georgina. “We were talking about those mysterious burglaries which are taking place in the neighbourhood just when you came in.” “Ah, of course,” said Rowton. “How clever burglars are in the present day! Have the police yet got the least inkling as to the scoundrels who have broken into Castle Stewart?” “Not they. Police, I think, are born without brains,” said Lady Georgina in a fretful tone. “But the Stewarts are not the only victims. The Frasers at Belton Priory have also had their place broken into.” “You don’t say so!” cried Rowton. “Yes, it is a fact. The attempted burglary took place last night, between ten and eleven o’clock. Fortunately, as I say, it was in this case only an attempted burglary. The old butler gave the alarm, and the ruffians decamped without doing much mischief. They had only just got into the butler’s pantry, and had not even begun to attack the safe. I am told that they made off with some spoons and a few other articles of plate, but nothing really worth speaking about. The case was very different at Castle Stewart, and, unless the police get quickly on their scent, the mischief will never be repaired. Poor Lady Arabella is, I hear, inconsolable. She has lost, among other treasures, her famous rose diamond.”