Thus I found myself in Regent Street, when a carriage, borne by post-horses, whirled rapidly over the pavement--scattering to the right and left all humbler equipages--and hurried, as if on an errand of life and death, up the broad thoroughfare leading into Portland Place. But, rapidly as the wheels dashed by, I had seen distinctly the face of Fanny Trevanion in the carriage, and that face wore a strange expression, which seemed to me to speak of anxiety and grief; and, by her side--was not that the woman I had seen with Peacock? I did not see the face of the woman, but I thought I recognised the cloak, the bonnet, and peculiar turn of the head. If I could be mistaken there, I was not mistaken at least as to the servant on the seat behind. Looking back at a butcher's boy, who had just escaped being run over, and was revenging himself by all the imprecations the Diræ of London slang could suggest, the face of Mr Peacock was exposed in full to my gaze. My first impulse, on recovering my surprise, was to spring after the carriage; in the haste of that impulse, I cried "Stop!" But the carriage was out of sight in a moment, and my word was lost in air. After pausing for a moment, full of presentiments of some evil--I knew not what--I then altered my course, and stopped not till I found myself, panting and out of breath, in St James's Square--at the door of Trevanion's house--in the hall. The porter had a newspaper in his hand as he admitted me. "Where is Lady Ellinor? I must see her instantly." "No worse news of master, I hope, sir?" "Worse news of what?--of whom?--of Mr Trevanion?" "Did you not know he was suddenly taken ill, sir; that a servant came express to say so last night. Lady Ellinor went off at ten o'clock to join him." "At ten o'clock last night?" "Yes, sir; the servant's account alarmed her ladyship so much." "The new servant, who had been recommended by Mr Gower?" "Yes, sir--Henry," answered the porter staring at me. "Please, sir, here is an account of master's attack in the paper. I suppose Henry took it to the office before he came here, which was very wrong in him; but I am afraid he's a very foolish fellow." "Never mind that, Miss Trevanion--I saw her just now--_she_ did not go with her mother; Where was she going, then?" "Why, sir--but pray step into the parlour." "No, no--speak." "Why, sir, before Lady Ellinor set out, she was afraid that there _might_ be something in the papers to alarm Miss Trevanion, and so she sent Henry down to Lady Castleton's, to beg her ladyship to make as light of it as she could; but it seems that Henry blabbed the worst to Mrs Mole,--" "Who is Mrs Mole?"