She picked it up, and, as she did so, involuntarily observed the writing.

Almost mechanically she glanced at the contents.

Her heart stood still.

The first words scorched her eyes.
"Eglington--Harry, dearest," it said, "you shall not go to sleep to-night without a word from me.

This will make you think of me when...." Frozen, struck as by a mortal blow, Hylda looked at the signature.
She knew it--the cleverest, the most beautiful adventuress which the aristocracy and society had produced.