ing at the thought of the danger from which Juliet had
escaped. He remembered how Maraquito had threatened to spoil the
beauty of the girl, but he never thought she would have held to her
devilish purpose. Moreover, he could not understand how Maraquito in
disguise came to see Caranby. The disguise itself was an obvious
necessity to escape the police. But why should she have been with his
uncle and why should Juliet have come also? It was to gain an answer
to these questions that Cuthbert hurried to the sitting-room.

Lord Caranby was no longer there. The doctor had ordered him to be
taken to his bedroom, and when Mallow went thither he met him at the
door, "He is still unconscious," said the doctor, "I must send for his
regular medical attendant, as I was only called in as an emergency
physician."

"Is he very ill?"

"I think the shock will kill him. He is extremely weak, and besides
the shock of the vitriol being thrown, he has sustained severe injuries
about the head from fire. I don't think he will live. To whom am I
speaking?" asked the young man.

"My name is Mallow. I am Lord Caranby's nephew."

"And the next heir to the title. I fancy you will be called `my lord'
before midnight."

Mallow did not display any pleasure on hearing this. He valued a title
very little and, so far as money was concerned, had ample for his
needs. Besides, he was really fond of his uncle who, although
consistently eccentric, had always been a kind, good friend. "Will he
recover consciousness?"

"I think so," said the doctor doubtfully, "I am not quite sure. His
own medical attendant, knowing his constitution and its resisting
power, will be able to speak more assuredly. How did this happen?"

Cuthbert, for obvious reasons, explained as little as he could. "Some
old woman came to see my uncle and threw vitriol at Miss Saxon, the
young lady who was with him. He intercepted the stuff and fell into
the fire."

"What a demon! I hope she will be caught."

"She is dead," and Cuthbert related the accident in the street. The
doctor had strong nerves, but he shuddered when he heard the dreadful
story. Nemesis had been less leaden-footed than usual.

In due time Dr. Yeo, who usually attended Caranby, made his appearance
and stated that his patient would not live many hours. "He was always
weak," said Yeo, "and of late his weakness increased. The two severe
shocks he has sustained would almost kill a stronger man,