She is terribly upset."
CHAPTER XVI.
I was received with great warmth and cordiality by my friend, and it was made clear to me that my opportune appearance brought her great comfort and support.
"I never hoped for such good fortune as this," she began heartily. "I had no idea you were within miles, and was repining bitterly that I had let you get so far out of the way.
Now you appear in the very nick of time, just when I was almost in despair.
But wait. Can I still count upon your help?"
"Why, most certainly, Lady Blackadder."
"Lady Black—" She was looking at me very keenly, and, as I thought, was much startled and surprised. Then with a conscious blush she went on. "Of course, I might have guessed you would penetrate my disguise, but you must not call me Lady Blackadder.
I can lay no claim to the title."
"May I be forgiven if I trench on such a delicate subject, and assure you of my most sincere sympathy?
Everybody felt for you deeply.
I hope you will believe that I am, and ever shall be, at your orders and devoted to your service."
"Yes, yes, I am sure of it; I know I can depend upon you fully, and I mean to do so now at once.
You know, you have heard, that Lord Blackadder is here, and actually in this hotel?"
"I came with him.
I was watching that fellow, the detective Falfani, when his lordship came upon the scene.
We had words, a quarrel, almost a fight."
"Pfu! He would not fight!
I only wish you had thrashed him as he deserves.
But that won't help matters now.
How am I to escape him?"
"With the child?"
"To be sure.
Of course, I do not fear him in the least for myself."
"You want to keep the child?"
"Naturally, as I carried it off."
"And still more because you had the best right to it, whatever the Court might direct.
You are its mother."
Again she blushed and smiled, rather comically.
"I certainly shall not surrender it to Lord Blackadder, not without a struggle.
Yet he is very near getting it now."
"In there?" I nodded towards the next room. "It is a close thing.
How are you to manage it?"
"There would not have been the slightest difficulty; it was all but done, and then some one, something, failed me.
I expected too much perhaps, but I have been bitterly disappointed, and the danger has revived."
"Come, come, Lady Blackadder, keep up your courage.
Let us take counsel together.
We can surely devise some fresh plan.
Don't give way now; you have been so plucky all through. Be brave still."
"Thank you, Colonel Annesley, I will." She put out her hand with enchanting frankness, her fine eyes shining gratefully.
A man would have dared much, endured much, to win such gracious approval.
"It is getting late, but you must hear all I have to tell before we can decide upon the next step.
Will you listen to me?
I shall not bore you.
It is a long story.
First let me clear the ground a little.
I must disabuse your mind on one point.
I am not Lady Blackadder—no, no, do not misunderstand me—not on account of the divorce, but I never was Lady Blackadder.
She was Henriette Standish. I am Claire, her sister Claire."
"What a fool I've been!" I cried. "I might have guessed."