"It is not possible!" he exclaimed.
She took his arm. He almost dragged her along.
"Well, we are going to see," she said coolly. "Tell the man to
call a hansom."
They drove almost in silence through the Square to Pall Mall.
Brott leaped out onto the pavement directly the cab pulled up.
"I will wait here," Lady Carey said. "I only want to know that
Lucille is safe."
He disappeared, and she sat forward in the cab drumming idly with
her forefingers upon the apron. In a few minutes he came back.
His appearance was quite sufficient. He was very pale. The change
in him was so ludicrous that she laughed.
"Get in," she said. "I am going round to Dorset House. We must
find out if we can what has become of her."
He obeyed without comment. At Dorset House Lady Carey summoned
the Duchess's own maid.
"Marie," she said, "you were attending upon the Countess Radantz
to-night?"
"Yes, my lady."
"At what time did she leave?"
"At about, eleven, my lady."
"Alone?"
"Yes, my lady."
Lady Carey looked steadily at the girl.
"Did she take anything with her?"
The girl hesitated. Lady Carey frowned.
"It must be the truth, remember, Marie."
"Certainly, my lady! She took her small dressing-case."
Lady Carey set her teeth hard. Then with a movement of her head
she dismissed the maid.
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