The detective gave the order and entered the cab.

The duke then made many suggestions, drawn from his own intimate knowledge of the tastes and habits of the duchess, to assist the detective in his search.

“You may safely leave the whole affair in my hands, sir.  I will act with so much discretion that no one in London shall suspect that the Duchess of Hereward is missing.  For the rest, I have no doubt that we shall soon find out the retreat of her grace.  A young lady, dressed in elegant deep mourning, and travelling unattended, would be sure to have attracted attention and aroused curiosity, even in the confusion of a crowded railway station.  We are safe to trace her, your grace,” said Detective Setter, confidently.

CHAPTER XXVII.

IN THE CONVENT.

Salome was tenderly nursed by the nuns during the nine days in which her fever raged with unabated violence.

At the end of that time, having spent all its force, the fever went off, leaving her weak as a child, in mind as well as in body.

As soon as she was convalescent the abbess had her carefully removed from the infirmary in which she had lain ill, to a spacious chamber, with windows overlooking the convent garden—­a gloomy outlook now, however, with its seared grass and withered foliage, shivering under the dreary November sky.

The room was very clean and very scantily furnished; the walls were whitewashed and the floor was painted gray.  The two windows were shaded with plain white linen; the cot bedstead, which stood against the wall opposite the windows, was covered with a coarse, white, dimity spread.

Between the windows stood a small table, covered with a white cloth, and furnished with a white, earthen-ware basin and ewer.  On each side of this table sat two wooden chairs, painted gray.

In one corner of the room stood a little altar, draped with white linen, and adorned with a crucifix, surrounded with small pictures of saints and angels.

In the opposite corner stood a small, porcelain stove, which barely served to temper the coldness of the air.

There were few articles of comfort, and none of luxury, in the room—­a strip of gray carpet, laid down beside the bed, an easy-chair with soft, padded back, arms, and seat, covered with white dimity, drawn up to the window nearest the stove, and a footstool of gray tapestry on the floor before it.  These comforts were allowed to none but invalids.

The abbess came in to see her every day.

One morning Salome said to her visitor: 

“Mother, I have left this affair with the Duke of Hereward incomplete.  I must complete it, that I may have peace.”

“I do not understand you, my child,” said the abbess, in some uneasiness.

“I have left him as in duty bound.  I must write to him to let him know why I left him; but I must not let him know the place of my retreat.  I think I heard you say that our father-director was going to Rome this week?”