he had only been amusing himself with me, and I'll do
it yet--if I have not already done it. If he is actually in love with
me, I have the laugh on him now, in spite of what has happened."

"Myra, for goodness sake be sensible!" counselled Lady Fermanagh. "If
Don Carlos is actually in love with you and you make mock of him, his
love may turn to hate. And I warn you that the hatred of a Spaniard is
even more dangerous than his love."

"Pooh! I'm not afraid of him, and I don't understand why I have been
upsetting myself so much," exclaimed Myra, impulsively starting to her
feet. "I'll get even with him. I'll go to the Cavendish's dance after
all. Don Carlos is almost sure to be there, and I may get an
opportunity to punish him for his impertinence."

"Myra, I do wish you would drop this folly," said her aunt. "You must
realise you are running grave risks and imperilling your own happiness.
It seems to me, my dear, that as well as trifling with Don Carlos, you
are trifling with your own heart, and you are not playing fair with
Tony."

"I mean to get even with Don Carlos," Myra responded, stubbornly, with
an impatient toss of her red-gold head. "It will be amusing to see the
man who boasted that no woman could resist him chagrined and
broken-hearted because Myra Rostrevor has laughed at him and made his
boasts seem foolish."

"You have had your warning," exclaimed Lady Fermanagh abruptly. "Don't
expect any sympathy from me if you get burnt as a result of playing
with fire."

She swept out of the room, and as the door closed Myra made a moue,
flung herself down in the armchair again, and lit her cigarette.

"Damn him!" she said fervently.

CHAPTER VIII

So many people had been invited to the Cavendish ball that there was
scarce room to dance. Myra caught sight of Don Carlos several times,
and her heart beat a trifle fast when at last she saw him making his
way through the crowd towards her during an interval.

"May I have the pleasure and honour of dancing the next with you, Miss
Rostrevor?" he inquired, with his usual courtly bow. "The floor is
becoming less crowded now the news has gone round that supper is being
served."

Myra's first impulse was to snub him, but she refrained, rose without a
word as the music re-started, and they glided round together to the
lilting refrain of the band. Both were extremely graceful and
accomplished dancers, and several other couples ceased dancing to wat