When they reached the splendid palace in the West End known as Mivart’s Hotel, the ladies alighted, and were shown into an elegant reception room, where they sat down. Drusilla then called a hall waiter, gave him her enveloped card, and directed him to take it at once to Lord Killcrichtoun. “Lord Killcrichtoun is not in town, madam,” replied the man. “Not in town!” exclaimed Drusilla, disappointment and terror seizing her heart and blanching her face. “I thought he was in town! I saw him last night at the American Embassy. Does he not stop here?” “Yes, madam; my lord has apartments here, but he left suddenly this morning by the early train for Southampton.” “For Southampton!” echoed Drusilla, in surprise and dismay, and with the vague fear that his journey thither was in some fatal way the occasion of General Lyon’s and Dick’s sudden departure for that port. “Yes, madam,” answered the imperturbable waiter, “my lord left by the eight o’clock train, taking his servants with him.” “When will he return?” “Can’t possibly say, madam. My lord set no day for his return. But if you will excuse me, I will make so bold as to say I do not think he will be gone long. He took nothing but a small portmanteau with him.” Drusilla reflected a moment and then sealing her envelope, and handing it to the waiter with a crown piece she said: “Will you be so kind as to send this to his address at Southampton?” “Why, madam, if you would not mind risking the note, I might send it at a venture to the Dolphin Tavern at Southampton, where it might chance to meet my lord, as that is the house he usually has his letters and papers sent to when down there. But I am not quite certain now about his address, seeing that he never left any orders this time where to send his letters. But if this is not very valuable you might run the risk of sending it to the Dolphin.” “I thank you, send it immediately to the Dolphin. It is not of itself of any worth, except as a message to Lord Killcrichtoun. If it does not find him it might as well be lost,” said Drusilla, rising to go. But Anna had also something to say to the waiter. Laying her hand upon Drusilla’s arm, she pressed her back into her seat, and then turning to the man, she inquired: “Has any one beside ourselves been here to inquire for Lord Killcrichtoun?” “Yes, madam, many persons.” “Gentlemen or ladies?” “No ladies, madam. Three gentlemen were in to see him very early this morning, before he went away.” “Ah, but I mean since he went away.” “Oh, yes, madam, quite a number.” “Again, gentlemen or ladies?” “Neither one nor the other, madam; _men_.” “Men! Ah! what sort of men?” “Common roughs, madam.” “Yes! yes! did any of these men have a child with them?” “Beg pardon, madam?” “I ask you if either of these rough-looking men had a child with him, a fair-haired, blue-eyed little boy, of about two years old.” “No, madam, certainly not.” “You are sure?” “Perfectly sure, madam.”