The reading of the mystery was beyond mortal powers to accomplish.
* * * * * About the middle of April, nearly four months after the tragedy, Lucian received a letter containing an invitation which caused him no little astonishment.

The note was signed Diana Vrain, and, having intimated that the writer had returned only that week from Australia, requested that Mr.Denzil would be kind enough to call the next day at the Royal John Hotel in Kensington.

Miss Vrain ended by stating that she had a particular desire to converse with Mr.Denzil, and hoped that he would not fail to keep the appointment.
Wondering greatly how the lady--who was no doubt the stepdaughter referred to by Mrs.Vrain--had obtained his address, and why she desired to see him so particularly, Lucian, out of sheer curiosity, obeyed the summons.

Next day, at four o'clock--the appointed hour--he presented himself as requested, and, on giving his name, was shown immediately into the presence of his correspondent, who occupied a small private sitting-room.
When Miss Vrain rose to greet him, Lucian was amazed to see how beautiful and stately she was.

With dark hair and eyes, oval face, and firm mouth, majestic figure and imperial gait, she moved towards him an apparent queen.