cried Maraquito, flashing, up into a passion. "I
am the woman Cuthbert loves."

"He does not. He loves me. You, so old and--"

"Old!" shrieked Maraquito, snatching off her hat and cap. "I am young
and much more beautiful than you. Look at my hair." It came streaming
down in a glorious mass on her shoulders. "My face is as beautiful as
yours. I disguised myself to see you. I hate you!--I loathe you! I
forbid you to marry Cuthbert."

"How dare you--how dare--"

"I dare all things--even this." Maraquito raised her arm, and in her
hand Caranby saw a small bottle she had taken out of the bag. "What
will Cuthbert say to your beauty now?"

She flung the bottle straight at Juliet. It would have struck her in
the face, but Caranby, throwing himself between the two, received it
fair on his cheek. It smashed, and he uttered a cry. "Vitriol!
Vitriol!" he shrieked, his hands to his face, and fell prone on the
hearth-rug. His head struck against the bars of the grate, and a spurt
of flame caught his hair. Juliet seized him and dragged him away,
calling loudly for help.

"You devil--you devil!" cried Maraquito, striking the girl on the face.
"I dare not stay now. But I'll spoil your beauty yet. Wait--wait!"

She hastily put on her hat and ran out of the room. The servant of
Lord Caranby burst into the room, followed by some waiters. "Send for
the doctor," cried Juliet, trying to raise Caranby--"and that woman-"

"She has left the hotel," said a waiter, but at this moment there was a
loud shout in the street, followed by a shriek and a crash.

CHAPTER XXV

NEMESIS

In the midst of the confusion caused by Maraquito's wickedness Cuthbert
arrived. Juliet flew to him at once and flung herself sobbing into his
arms.

"Oh, Cuthbert--Cuthbert!" she cried, her head on his shoulder, "that
woman has been here. She tried to throw vitriol at me, and the bottle
broke on Lord Caranby's face. He has burnt his head also; he is dying."

"Good heavens!" cried Mallow, pressing her to his heart, "thank God you
are safe! How did Maraquito come here?"

"I don't know--I don't know," sobbed Juliet, completely unstrung; "he
asked me to see him, and she arrived disguised as an old woman. Oh,
where is the doctor!"

"He has just arrived, miss. Here he comes," said an excited waiter.

While the doctor examined Caranby's injuries, Cuthbert, very pale, led
Juliet out of the room, and taking her into an adjoining apa