She had heard with great satisfaction of the beauty's betrothal to Lord Clive, and fearful lest Laurie had missed hearing it, she repeated it to him with malicious delight, eliciting the quiet answer that Lord Clive was a very fortunate man. Jewel pouted charmingly, but he took no notice. Ever since last night he had been thinking of the words Lord Clive had said to Azalia Brooke: "It was when you were an American girl." She had answered: "Yes, before Lord Ivon sent Mr. Kelso to seek me." Tossing on a sleepless pillow between the dawn and the daylight, he had been ceaselessly asking himself: "What did they mean? I was under the impression that she had never been in America before." It seemed to him that he could not know rest nor peace until he found out what Azalia Brooke had referred to in her answer to Lord Clive. That afternoon found him in the office of the noted lawyer, Raynold Clinton. "I wish to ask you some questions," he said. "You were in England last winter, and you were intimate with Lord Ivon?" "Yes." "There is a mystery about Miss Azalia Brooke that I wish to penetrate. It is generally believed that she has never been in America before this time, but I think you could tell a different story if you would." The lawyer looked at him, surprised to see how white and eager his face looked. "My dear fellow, I can not see what concern this is of yours," he said, hesitatingly. "You are not in love with Miss Brooke, as she is engaged to Lord Clive and you to Miss Fielding. As for what is hinted about a mystery, Lord Ivon does not deny that his great-granddaughter is an American girl, although I admit that he does not care to dwell on the circumstance." "You will tell me all that you know, Mr. Clinton? Believe me, I have a vital interest in this matter." The lawyer could see that Laurie Meredith was terribly in earnest. His sparkling brown eyes were dark with feeling, his face pale with excitement. "Really, there is not much to tell," said the lawyer. "Lord Ivon had a younger son who ran away to America, and was disowned by his family. But his elder and second son both died, as also his grandchildren. Then he sent his lawyer to America to seek his disinherited son, or his descendants. He brought this girl back, the last descendant of the house of Ivon. 'Sole daughter of her father's house and heart.'" "Her name?" Laurie demanded, hoarsely. "Azalia Brooke," replied Mr. Clinton. "You are sure, quite sure, Mr. Clinton?" "That is what I was told," replied the lawyer, with so truthful an air that the listener could not doubt him. "Perhaps you can tell me where she lived before Lord Ivon's lawyer found her, Mr. Clinton?" "It was in the South. I do not remember the name of the place. Indeed, I am not sure I ever heard. It was not talked about much, because Lord Ivon seemed to have a marked distaste to the subject."