"Come to the light and let me look at you," Lady Wolfer went on, drawing Nell to the window; "though it's scarcely fair, after all you have gone through. Nell, who would have thought that we were entertaining a heroine unawares? We knew you were an angel, of course; but a heroine--a heroine of romance! You dear, brave girl!" Nell colored painfully. "The whole place, the whole county, by this time, to say nothing of London and every other place where a telegraph wire runs, is full of it." "Oh, I am sorry!" said poor Nell, aghast. Lady Angleford smiled. "It is the penalty one pays for heroism, Miss Lorton," she said; "and you must forgive me for being grateful to you for saving Lord Angleford's life." "Oh, but I didn't--indeed I didn't!" exclaimed Nell, in distress. "Oh, but indeed you did!" retorted Lady Wolfer. "Lord Angleford says so, and he ought to know. He says that but for you the wretch would have shot him--he was quite close." Nell's face was white again now, and the countess came to her aid. "We are forgetting one of the objects of our visit," she said. "You know how anxious we are about Mr. Falconer, Miss Lorton. I hope he is in no danger, my dear?" She took Nell's hand as she spoke, and pressed it, and Nell colored again under the sympathy in the countess' eyes. "When I heard that he had been injured, I wished with all my heart that the man had got clear off with the miserable diamonds--I was going to say 'my' miserable diamonds, but they are only mine for a time. But I am sure Lord Angleford joins me in that wish. All the diamonds in the world are not worth rescuing at such a price as Mr. Falconer--and you--have paid. I hope you can tell us he is better. We are all terribly anxious about him." Now, even in the stress and strain of the moment, Nell noticed a certain significance in the countess' tone, a personal sympathy with herself, conveyed plainly by the "and you," and it puzzled her. But she put the faint wonder aside. "I don't know," she said simply. "He is very ill--he was badly stabbed. He has been delirious most of the night----" "My poor Nell!" murmured Lady Wolfer, pressing her hand. "I hope the nurse you have in to help you is a good one," said the countess, as if she took it for granted that Nell was also nursing him. "If not, we will send to London for one; indeed, Sir William may bring one with him. I don't know what Lord Angleford telegraphed." "I wish we could do something for you, Nell," whispered Lady Wolfer. "Only last night, before the burglary, we were arranging that we would come down here and carry you--by main force, if necessary--up to the Hall. And now----But, dear, you must not lose heart! He may not be badly hurt; and the surgeons do such wonderful things now. Perhaps, when Sir William comes, he may tell you that there is no danger whatever, and that you will have him well again before very long."