nodded and walked swiftly across to where Brott was standing.
He moved eagerly forward to meet her.

"Not dancing, Mr. Brott?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"This sort of thing isn't much in my way," he answered. "I was rather
hoping to see the Countess here. I trust that she is not indisposed."

She looked at him steadily.

"Do you mean," she said, "that you do not know where she is?"

"I?" he answered in amazement. "How should I? I have not seen her at all
this evening. I understood that she was to be here."

Lady Carey hesitated. The man was too honest to be able to lie like
this, even in a good cause. She stood quite still for a moment thinking.
Several of her dearest friends had already told her that she was looking
tired and ill this evening. At that moment she was positively haggard.

"I have been down at Ranelagh this afternoon," she said slowly, "and
dining out, so I have not seen Lucille. She was complaining of a
headache yesterday, but I quite thought that she was coming here. Have
you seen the Duchess?"

He shook his head.

"No. There is such a crowd."

Lady Carey glanced towards her escort and turned away.

"I will try and find out what has become of her," she said. "Don't go
away yet."

She rejoined her escort.

"When we have found a table," she said, "I want you to keep my place for
a few moments while I try and find some of my party."

They passed into the supper-room, and appropriated a small table. Lady
Carey left her partner, and made her way to the farther end of the
apartment, where the Prince of Saxe Leinitzer was supping with half a
dozen men and women. She touched him on the shoulder.

"I want to speak to you for a moment, Ferdinand," she whispered.

He rose at once, and she drew him a little apart.

"Brott is here," she said slowly.

"Brott here!" he repeated. "And Lucille?"

"He is asking for her--expected to find her here. He is downstairs now,
looking the picture of misery."

He looked at her inquiringly. There was a curious steely light in
her eyes, and she was showing her front teeth, which were a little
prominent.

"Do you think," he asked, "that she has deceived us?"

"What else? Where are the Dorsets?"

"The Duchess is with the Earl of Condon, and some more people at the
round table under the balcony."

"Give me your arm," she whispered. "We must go and ask her."

They crossed the room together. Lady Carey sank into a vacant chair by
the side of the Duche