The old man hoped she had done with Juliet also, for he was still uneasy.  The expression of her face was most malignant.  More than ever persuaded that she intended harm, Caranby again was about to summon his servant and forbid the entrance of the expected girl, when suddenly the door opened and Juliet; looking bright and happy, entered.  She started back when she saw the supposed old woman, who rose.  Caranby jumped off the sofa with an activity he had not shown for years, and got between Juliet and her enemy.  Maraquito burst into tears.  “Ah, you will be happy with Cuthbert,” she wailed, “while I-” a fresh burst of tears stopped her speech and she groped in the satin bag for her handkerchief.

Juliet looked amazed.  “Who is this, Lord Caranby?”

“Senora Gredos.”

“Maraquito!” cried Juliet, starting back with an indignant look.  “I never expected to meet that woman—­”

“You call me that?” cried Maraquito, flashing, up into a passion.  “I am the woman Cuthbert loves.”

“He does not.  He loves me.  You, so old and—­”

“Old!” shrieked Maraquito, snatching off her hat and cap.  “I am young and much more beautiful than you.  Look at my hair.”  It came streaming down in a glorious mass on her shoulders.  “My face is as beautiful as yours.  I disguised myself to see you.  I hate you!—­I loathe you!  I forbid you to marry Cuthbert.”

“How dare you—­how dare—­”

“I dare all things—­even this.”  Maraquito raised her arm, and in her hand Caranby saw a small bottle she had taken out of the bag.  “What will Cuthbert say to your beauty now?”

She flung the bottle straight at Juliet.  It would have struck her in the face, but Caranby, throwing himself between the two, received it fair on his cheek.  It smashed, and he uttered a cry.  “Vitriol!  Vitriol!” he shrieked, his hands to his face, and fell prone on the hearth-rug.  His head struck against the bars of the grate, and a spurt of flame caught his hair.  Juliet seized him and dragged him away, calling loudly for help.

“You devil—­you devil!” cried Maraquito, striking the girl on the face.  “I dare not stay now.  But I’ll spoil your beauty yet.  Wait—­wait!”

She hastily put on her hat and ran out of the room.  The servant of Lord Caranby burst into the room, followed by some waiters.  “Send for the doctor,” cried Juliet, trying to raise Caranby—­“and that woman-”

“She has left the hotel,” said a waiter, but at this moment there was a loud shout in the street, followed by a shriek and a crash.

CHAPTER XXV

NEMESIS

In the midst of the confusion caused by Maraquito’s wickedness Cuthbert arrived.  Juliet flew to him at once and flung herself sobbing into his arms.

“Oh, Cuthbert—­Cuthbert!” she cried, her head on his shoulder, “that woman has been here.  She tried to throw vitriol at me, and the bottle broke on Lord Caranby’s face.  He has burnt his head also; he is dying.”