For the Queen

"YOU are—Milord Cravon?"
I admitted the fact meekly, but with a lamentable absence of dignity, being, indeed, too utterly amazed for coherency. Whereupon my visitor raised her veil, flashed a brilliant smile upon me and sat down.
"I was sure of it," she remarked, speaking with great fluency, but with a strong foreign accent. "Milord's likeness to his brother is remarkable. I am very fortunate to discover you so early. It is but half an hour since I reached London."
That she had discovered me was obvious, but how or why was more than I could imagine. She was a complete stranger to me, she had entered my rooms unannounced, and the little French clock upon my mantelpiece had just struck midnight. However, she had mentioned my brother! I spoke of him at once.
"You know Reggie, then?" I inquired.
"I have met Mr. Reginald Lessingham once or twice," she admitted.
"At Marianburg?"
"At Marianburg—and elsewhere!"
"You have come from there?" I asked.
She nodded, and loosened her travelling cloak.
"I left Marianburg," she said, "exactly forty hours ago. It is rapid travelling, is it not? I am very tired and very hungry. If your servants have not all gone to bed, may I have some supper, please, and a glass of wine? Anything will do!"
I secretly pinched myself and then rang the bell. I had not fallen to sleep over my pipe and final whisky and Apollinaris. This remarkable and mysterious invasion of my solitude was an undoubted fact. By the time Groves appeared my visitor had removed her hat and was contemplating the arrangement of her hair in the mirror. Groves, who was a model servant, gave a momentary start of surprise and then looked steadily into vacancy. He received my confused orders in eloquent but respectful silence.
"Some supper, Groves—for one. Anything cold, and some wine!"
He disappeared. My companion succeeded in the replacement of a refractory curl, and with a parting glance at the mirror resumed her seat. I rose to my feet and began to collect my scattered wits.
"Do I understand," I began, "that you bring me a message from my brother?"
She shook her head.
"I have met your brother," she said, "but I have never yet spoken with him. He certainly does not know me or who I am."
I opened my lips to ask her bluntly what had brought her to my rooms at such an hour, but the words remained unspoken. Now that her hat was removed I was suddenly conscious that she was an exceedingly pretty woman. She lounged in my most comfortable chair perfectly at her ease, a charming smile upon her lips, her dark eyes meeting mine frankly and lit with a distinct gleam of humour. She was becomingly dressed, and although the dust of travel was upon her shoes and clothes, the details and finish of her toilette were sufficiently piquant to indicate her nationality. She was distinctly a very attractive woman. I felt my annoyance at her unexpected appearance decrease as my curiosity concerning her grew.
"Did I understand," I began, after a few moments' silence," that you had come from Marianburg to see me?"
She laughed outright, and showed a set of perfectly white teeth. It was a dazzling smile, and the teeth were magnificent.
"Not altogether, Milord Cravon. I have come on a matter of very great importance, though, and you are concerned in it."
I signified my interest and my desire to hear more. She seemed in no hurry, however, to complete her explanation.
"I am so hungry!" she remarked, with pathetic irrelevance.
I moved to the bell, but at that moment Groves re-entered, bearing a small table. He silently but deftly arranged some cold things upon the sideboard and produced wine and a corkscrew. "You need not wait, Groves," I said, avoiding his eyes. "Bring in some coffee when I ring." He left the room and I proceeded to the sideboard.
"What may I give you?" I asked. "There is some collared stuff, cold salmon, and galantine."