She was excessively agitated; but she managed to control herself sufficiently to speak calmly to the waiter, and say: "Be good enough to pay this man and put the item in my bill" The waiter obeyed and discharged the cab; for, of course, the name of Lady Vincent was as yet a passport to credit. Then she hurried to her room in a state of great agitation that nearly deprived her of all power to think or act. She rang the bell, which brought a waiter to her presence. "I would like to see the landlord of this hotel," she said. "I beg your pardon, my lady, but the proprietor lives out of town," returned the man. "Then send the clerk of the house, or the head waiter, or whoever is in charge here." "I will send the clerk, my lady," said the waiter, retiring. The clerk soon made his appearance. "Sir," said Claudia, "I sent for you to say, that while I was seeing Holyrood Palace, this forenoon, my pocket was picked of my purse, which contained a considerable amount of money; and I wish to ask you what steps I should take for its recovery?" "Have you any idea of the sort of person that robbed you, my lady?" "Not the slightest; all I know is that I had the purse with me when I paid the guide on entering the palace, and then I missed it when I reached home; and all I suspect is that it was purloined from me while I was in the picture gallery, standing before the portrait of James IV." "In what form was the money, my lady?" "Five and ten pound Bank of England notes." "Were the numbers taken?" "Oh, no; I never thought of taking the numbers." "Then, my lady, I very much fear that it will be difficult or impossible to recover the money. However, I will send for a detective, and we will make an effort." "Do, sir, if you please." The clerk retired. In a few moments Detective Ogilvie waited on Lady Vincent, and received her statement in regard to the robbery, promised to take prompt measures for the discovery of the thief, and retired. Then suddenly Claudia remembered her letter to her father It was now near the close of the short winter day. Her interview with the detective had occupied her so long that she had barely time to scribble and send off the few urgent lines with which the reader is already acquainted. Then she dined and resigned herself to repose for the remainder of the evening.