“Where is Mr. Holmcroft?” she asked, the moment the woman entered the room. “I saw him open the library door, my lady, just now, on my way upstairs.” “Was he alone?” “Yes, my lady.” “Go to him, and say I want to see him here immediately.” The maid withdrew on her second errand. Lady Janet rose restlessly, and closed the open window. Her impatient desire to make sure of Horace so completely mastered her that she left her room, and met the woman in the corridor on her return. Receiving Horace’s message of excuse, she instantly sent back the peremptory rejoinder, “Say that he will oblige me to go to him, if he persists in refusing to come to me. And, stay!” she added, remembering the undelivered letter. “Send Miss Roseberry’s maid here; I want her.” Left alone again, Lady Janet paced once or twice up and down the corridor--then grew suddenly weary of the sight of it, and went back to her room. The two maids returned together. One of them, having announced Horace’s submission, was dismissed. The other was sent to Mercy’s room with Lady Janet’s letter. In a minute or two the messenger appeared again, with the news that she had found the room empty. “Have you any idea where Miss Roseberry is?” “No, my lady.” Lady Janet reflected for a moment. If Horace presented himself without any needless delay, the plain inference would he that she had succeeded in separating him from Mercy. If his appearance was suspiciously deferred, she decided on personally searching for Mercy in the reception rooms on the lower floor of the house. “What have you done with the letter?” she asked. “I left it on Miss Roseberry’s table, my lady.” “Very well. Keep within hearing of the bell, in case I want you again.” Another minute brought Lady Janet’s suspense to an end. She heard the welcome sound of a knock at her door from a man’s hand. Horace hurriedly entered the room. “What is it you want with me, Lady Janet?” he inquired, not very graciously. “Sit down, Horace, and you shall hear.” Horace did not accept the invitation. “Excuse me,” he said, “if I mention that I am rather in a hurry.” “Why are you in a hurry?” “I have reasons for wishing to see Grace as soon as possible.” “And _I_ have reasons,” Lady Janet rejoined, “for wishing to speak to you about Grace before you see her; serious reasons. Sit down.” Horace started. “Serious reasons?” he repeated. “You surprise me.” “I shall surprise you still more before I have done.” Their eyes met as Lady Janet answered in those terms. Horace observed signs of agitation in her, which he now noticed for the first time. His face darkened with an expression of sullen distrust--and he took the chair in silence. CHAPTER XXIV. LADY JANET’S LETTER. THE narrative leaves Lady Janet and Horace Holmcroft together, and returns to Julian and Mercy in the library.