rtment,
made her drink a glass of port wine. "An old woman," he repeated, "it
must have been the disguised Maraquito then who was killed."

"Killed! She is not killed. She came here and--"

Juliet began to tell the story over again, for she was badly
frightened. Mallow interrupted her gently.

"Maraquito is dead," he said, "she was run over by a motor-car a
quarter of an hour ago."

"Was that her cry we heard?"

"I don't know," replied Cuthbert gloomily. "I was coming round the
corner of the street and saw a woman flying along the pavement. A car
was tearing towards me. I had just time to see the woman as she passed
and note that she was old. She caught a glimpse of my face, and with a
cry ran into the centre of the street. I never thought she was
Maraquito, and could not understand why she acted as she did. I cried
out in alarm, and ran forward to drag her back from before the
approaching motor. But it was too late, the car went over her and she
shrieked when crushed under the wheels. The impediment made the car
swerve and it ran into a lamp-post. The occupants were thrown out. I
fancy someone else is hurt also. Maraquito is dead. I heard a
policeman say so. I then saw a waiter gesticulating at the door of the
hotel, and fancied something was wrong; I ran along and up the stairs.
But I never expected to find you here, Juliet, much less to witness the
death of that wretched woman."

"I am sorry," faltered Juliet, as she sat with his arms round her, "I
don't know why she wanted to throw vitriol at me. She failed to hurt
me, and I think she has killed Lord Caranby, and--"

"I must see to my uncle," said Mallow, rising, "stay here, Juliet."

"No! no," she said, clinging to him, "let me go home. Get a cab. I
dare not stop. That terrible woman--"

"She will never hurt you again. She is dead."

"I wish to go home--I wish to go home."

Mallow saw that the poor girl was quite ill with fright; and small
wonder, considering the catastrophe of the last half hour. To have
vitriol thrown is bad enough, but when the act leads to two deaths--for
Maraquito was already dead, and it seemed probable that Lord Caranby
would follow--it is enough to shake the nerves of the strongest.
Mallow took Juliet down and placed her in a cab. Then he promised to
see her that same evening, and to tell her of Lord Caranby's progress.
When the cab drove away he went again upstairs. As he went he could
not help shudder