She stared up at Nolan vacantly for several moments, too dazed and prostrated for returning consciousness to bring any immediate appreciation of her surroundings and what had befallen her. Nolan did not speak, but waited patiently, knowing it then would be vain to question her. The woman broke the silence. She seemed to be slowly grasping the situation, for she suddenly faltered vacantly, scarce above a whisper: “Where am I?” Nolan saw that she could not be moved immediately. He asked, a bit indifferently: “Don’t you know where you are?” “No.” “Or how you came here?” “No. I----” “Wait a bit,” Nolan interrupted. “Your head will clear in a few more minutes. Then you’ll be able to tell me. What is your name? Can’t you remember that?” “Yes, of course,” she replied, with more strength. “My name is Mary Waldmere.” “Ah!” “I am Lady Waldmere, of----” She broke off abruptly, starting up from the pillow, only to sink back again, too weak to rise. A frightened look in her eyes, however, told that she was beginning to remember. “Where am I? Where is his lordship?” she cried, with lips quivering. “Why am I here? Who are you?” “Hush!” Nolan cautioned. “Don’t get excited, madam. It might not be good for you. Wait until you can recall all that happened to you. Then I’ll see what can be done for----” “Oh, oh, I remember--I remember it now!” cried Lady Waldmere, rising to her elbow. “I was seized and carried away by wicked men--and a woman! Tell me where I am. Tell me why I was brought here, and----” “You calm yourself,” Nolan interrupted, with some authority. “Keep cool and tell me the whole business. Do you know the men who brought you here?” “No, no; I do not,” moaned the woman. “Or the woman who was with them?” “No, nor the woman. She was veiled.” “How did they get away with you?” “With the help of their chauffeur,” Lady Waldmere brokenly explained. “He enticed me to the taxicab he was driving. I was told that a friend wished to see me. I did not know--did not suspect. I went with him to the taxicab door, leaving my husband waiting on the avenue.” “And then?” Nolan tersely questioned. “There were two men and a woman in the taxicab,” Lady Waldmere went on, quite hysterically. “The woman was veiled, as I told you. She held out her hand to me and I supposed that she knew me. I did not dream of anything wrong.” “Sure not,” Nolan nodded. “But when she grasped my hand, she seized it firmly and drew me into the taxicab. At the same time I felt the chauffeur push me from behind. I fell on the floor of the cab. One of the men seized me and held me, while the other covered my mouth with his hand.” “Brutes!” “I nearly fainted,” Lady Waldmere went on, moaning. “I knew, then, that I was being abducted. I tried to struggle and scream, when the taxicab sped away, but my efforts were futile. Then I felt a sharp pricking sensation in my shoulder----” “The needle of a syringe,” put in Nolan.