world, probably something of a Don Juan, and likely makes
love as a pastime. I met many of his type when your Uncle was in the
Diplomatic Service--wealthy bachelors who made love to almost every
pretty woman they met, provided always, however, that the woman was
married or engaged, and there was no danger of being caught in the
matrimonial net. I should say, my dear, judging from my experience,
that Don Carlos probably would only have paid you compliments instead
of making love to you, if he had not known you were engaged."

"That sort of philanderer deserves to be kicked or horsewhipped, Aunt
Clarissa, for making a mockery of love."

"Oh, I don't know about that, my dear Myra. After all, as I have told
you, men of the Latin races make love almost indiscriminately by way of
paying a compliment, and pretty women in Spain, Italy, or France, would
feel quite insulted if the men to whom they were introduced did not
profess to be hopelessly in love with them. If you had lived abroad,
Myra, you would feel flattered rather than annoyed."

"Maybe--and maybe not," said Myra, with a toss of her red-gold head.
"If you are right, then Don Carlos is merely trying to amuse himself at
my expense. I have no use for a professional philanderer who imagines
that no woman can resist him. Him and his King of the Gypsies
prophecy! Pouf!"

Yet as she dressed for dinner a little later she found herself
recalling the passionate words of Don Carlos, remembering the ardent
light in his dark eyes, the vibrant note in his deep, musical voice,
found herself wondering, wondering, and wishing with all her heart that
Tony Standish was a little more like Don Carlos de Ruiz.

"I'm not scared of him, and I am certainly not going to lose my heart
to him," Myra whispered to her reflection in the mirror. "If Aunt
Clarissa is right, he is only making love to me for his own amusement,
and would sheer off if I took him seriously and expected him to marry
me. A pretty fool I should look if I fell in love with him, broke off
my engagement to Tony, and then Don Carlos levanted! But I'm not going
to fall in love with him.... He certainly is fascinating, and he would
be a wonderful lover if he were in earnest, but he can't make a fool of
Myra Rostrevor. I'll show the conceited creature that there is one
girl at least who does not find him irresistible, and I'll give him the
cold shoulder again at the first opportunity."

Yet again she had the oppor