The woman who did the duty of housekeeper obeyed the somewhat noisy summons, and a man handed her a sealed letter, saying: “For Lady Seabright. Hurry up, ma’am; there’s an answer wanted!” Nina received the letter from the housekeeper, and promptly conveyed it to her mistress. This is what Elaine read: Lady Elaine Seabright is requested by Sir Harold Annesley’s medical adviser to come to the Victoria Hotel at once if she wishes to see Harold alive. He has met with a street accident, and is fast sinking. His one desire is to see Lady Elaine before he dies. Her ladyship is advised to lose not an instant, but to accompany the bearer of this urgent appeal. A closed carriage has been sent for her exclusive use. She read the letter twice, and then stood white and rigid. Had this anything to do with Lady Annesley’s visit? What tragedy had been committed? “Nina,” she said, “Sir Harold is dying. He has sent for me. You must help me dress at once! I am going to him. Fetch my hat and cloak. That is all I shall want.” “My lady, must I accompany you?” the maid asked, after rapidly obeying the order. “No, Nina; I do not see the necessity for it. I may have to remain all night. Oh, merciful Heavens! How disaster follows upon the heels of disaster!” In a few minutes she was ready, and Nina followed her to the door. “How dark it is, my lady!” she said. A huge figure loomed forward, and a man’s voice said: “The kerridge is here, my lady. I ain’t had no time, your ladyship, to light my lamps; in fact, the order came so sudden that I clean forgot ’em.” “Lead the way,” commanded Lady Elaine. The man obeyed, and she saw a four-wheeled cab harnessed to a powerful horse. “Do not sit up for me,” she said to Nina, “I will telegraph to you in the morning.” She stepped into the carriage, the door was banged fast, and the next moment the horse plunged away under the stinging lash of the whip. Almost at the same instant Lady Elaine felt that she was not alone, and a terrible dread seized upon her. What did it mean? Against the purple darkness of the night, through one of the windows, she had clearly seen a man’s profile! Then, as her eyes became accustomed to the blackness about her, his form was apparent like a misty shadow. A cold chill seemed to rest upon her heart, but, by a desperate effort, she spoke: “Can you tell me if Sir Harold’s condition is as hopeless as the physician appears to think in the note he has sent to me?” She waited, but there was no reply. The strain was too awful to bear. She uttered a wild shriek, and a hand was clapped to her mouth, while a sinewy arm clasped her waist. She gasped for breath, and then relapsed into insensibility under the powerful fumes of something pressed to her palpitating nostrils. The man pulled the checkstring, and the carriage stopped.