The avenue was three-quarters of a mile long, but at last, Raife Remington, at a bend in the drive, came in view of his home--a great, old, ivy-covered Tudor mansion, with quaint gables, high, twisted chimneys, and two pointed towers. At one end was the tall, stained-glass window of the private chapel, while at the other were domestic offices of later date, and in other forms of architecture. Passing the inner gate, and between the lawns, where the flower beds were gay with geraniums, the car entered the great open gateway, and drew up in the ancient courtyard, around which the grand old place was built--that same quiet courtyard where the horse's hoofs of King Henry the Seventh had so often echoed upon the uneven cobbles, where Sir Henry Reymingtoune, Chancellor to Elizabeth, had bowed low and made his obeisance to his capricious royal mistress, and where Charles the Second, in later days, had idled, surrounded by his elegant, silk-coated sycophants. The Remingtons had, ever since the fourteenth century, played their part in England's government: once a great and powerful family, and even to-day a notable and honourable house. As the car drew up at the door, Raife sprang out, and rushing through the great stone hall, the flags of which were worn hollow by the tread of generations, and where stood the stands of armour of dead Reymingtounes, he came face to face with old Edgson, grave and white-haired. "Ah, Master Raife!" cried the old man, "I'm so glad you've come, sir. Her ladyship is in the boudoir awaiting you." "What's happened, Edgson?" demanded the young man. "Please don't ask me, sir. Her ladyship will tell you," was the old servant's response, in a half-choked voice, and he turned away. A few moments later, Raife entered the small, cosy little room, with the high, diamond-pane windows, whereon were stained-glass escutcheons. Two women were there, his mother seated with her face buried in her hands, sobbing bitterly, and, beside her, her faithful companion, an elderly spinster named Miss Holt, who had been in the family for many years and had, indeed, been at school with Lady Remington. Miss Holt, who was on her knees trying to comfort Raife's mother, rose as the son entered. "Mother!" he cried, rushing towards her. "What's the matter? Tell me-- for heaven's sake! Edgson will tell me nothing." But all the response from the agonised woman was a long, low groan. "Miss Holt," he said, turning to her companion. "Tell me, what has happened?" The angular woman, whose face was pale and thin, raised a warning finger, and pointed in silence to the sobbing lady. Then she whispered: "Come into the next room, and I will tell you." Both passed into the inner room, and when Miss Holt had closed the door, she said: