to display
jealousy, did you?"

"I don't know, Tony," replied Myra evasively. "If the positions were
reversed and I were engaged to Don Carlos and you had been making love
to me, I expect he would have killed you by now, and perhaps strangled
me into the bargain."

"Englishmen don't do that sort of thing," remarked Tony, looking hurt.
"If you mean you would prefer me to behave like an emotional
foreigner----"

"Oh, Tony, dear, don't be absurd!" interrupted Myra, her mood changing.
"I see how you looked at the matter, and I know I should be glad you
have such faith in me. But don't you think Don Carlos may regard your
indifference to his rivalry as being almost in the nature of a
challenge?"

"I hadn't thought of it that way, Myra, but in any case I know you'll
be able to keep Don Carlos at a distance if he should try to make love
to you again," answered Tony. "Sure you're not vexed with me, dear?"

"I don't know whether I'm vexed or pleased, amused or scared, but I am
certainly thrilled," said Myra. "To think that Don Carlos, who boasted
that no woman could resist him, should confess to you, that he has lost
his heart to me!"

"I couldn't help feeling rather sorry for the poor chap," remarked
Tony. "I should feel ghastly if I had fallen in love with you after
you had become engaged to another man, and knew there was no hope."

"Don't be too sure there is no hope for Don Carlos," said Myra
provocatively; but Tony's look of piteous dismay caused her to relent
almost instantly, and she kissed him.

Long after Tony had gone, Myra sat lost in thought, her heart still
thrilling. Don Carlos's confession was, of course, a compliment and
tribute to her powers of fascination, and naturally Myra was flattered;
but she was also more than a little puzzled.

She could not quite fathom Don Carlos's motive for telling Tony
Standish he was in love with her, and she realised that Tony had been
cleverer than he knew. By telling her of Don Carlos's confession and
assuring her that he had complete faith in her he had, as it were,
placed her on her honour not to forsake him.

"I wonder what wise Aunt Clarissa would advise?" mused Myra. "I must
tell her that although she said I was playing with fire it is Don
Carlos, apparently, who has got burnt."

"You certainly appear to have reason to flatter yourself on your
success as a coquette, Myra," commented Lady Fermanagh drily, after
listening attentively to Myra's story of