"I have not seen her since last night," answered Sophie, and presently the house rang with granny's cries of anger and distress. All went in haste to her rooms, and she reported that Liane had certainly run away, as she had many times threatened to do. All her clothes and little trinkets, together with her little hand bag, were missing. Granny's blended anger and grief were so superbly acted that her simple listeners did not doubt her truth. Mrs. Brinkley, thinking of the fine presents Liane had received from some unknown admirer, secretly doubted the story the girl had told her, and confided to Lizzie her belief that she had indeed eloped, and would most likely come to a bad end. CHAPTER XXVIII. A SWORD THRUST IN HIS HEART. A hopeless love must always evoke pity in a generous mind. Devereaux could not help being touched when he found Roma installed as his sister's guest, and comprehended that it was love for himself that had brought her there. Men, even the bravest and strongest, are pitiably susceptible to woman's flattery. Roma's persistent love, faithful through all the repulses it had received, was a subtle flattery that touched Devereaux's heart, cruelly wounded by Liane's rejection, and made him think better of himself again. Roma brought all the batteries of her fascination to bear on her recreant lover that first evening, and he submitted to be amused with charming grace, that thrilled her with renewed hope. Mrs. Carrington, too, lent her womanly aid to further the little byplay she saw going on between the estranged lovers. She knew that propinquity is a great thing in such a case, and believed that a reconciliation was certain. Of course, she did not know that Devereaux's heart belonged to Liane, or she would not have been so confident. Roma telegraphed for her maid the next morning, fully resolved to make the most of her visit, and after breakfast, when she saw Devereaux preparing to go out, in spite of her blandishments, she asked him to call on her mother at the hotel, and tell her that she would be Mrs. Carrington's guest during her short stay. She was more than ever determined to marry the young millionaire now, and thus make her position in life secure, even if by any untoward accident she should be ousted from her place as the Clarkes' daughter and heiress. Devereaux promised to do as she asked, and sallied forth, in reality tired of Roma's company, though too polite to show it. About the middle of the day he called at Mrs. Clarke's hotel to convey Roma's message, and was surprised to find her father there also. They greeted him most cordially, and Mrs. Clarke exclaimed: "Is it not tedious, waiting by the hour for a caller who never comes?" "Do you mean your daughter?" he asked, hastening to deliver Roma's message. "Then she has not heard of my accident yet?" exclaimed the lady. "No!" he replied, and with unwonted animation she hastened to pour out the whole story of yesterday.