"No, madam."
"What! did you not put her room in order this morning?" she asked, sharply.
Again she was doomed to hear the simple, respectful, "No, madame."
More and more perplexed, and not a little alarmed, Mrs. Mencke hastened out into the hall, and was proceeding down stairs to seek Lord Cameron, when she met him just coming up to inquire for his betrothed.
He greeted her with his usual courteous manner; then, observing her troubled look, became suddenly grave.
"What is it?" he quickly asked. "I hope Violet is not ill."
"No—I do not know—I—I—have you seen her?" faltered and stumbled Mrs. Mencke, in a tone of distress.
"Seen her?" the young man replied, greatly surprised; for on this morning, of all others, Violet would, of course, be supposed to be invisible. "No; certainly not," he added, recovering himself. "Is she not in her room?"
"No, and it looks as if it had not been occupied during the night," Mrs. Mencke whispered, with pale lips.
"Do not tell me that," Lord Cameron said, sternly, his face growing ashen pale at the information.