irmness,
notwithstanding his deferential smile to Sir Terence.

"I spoke quite generally, sir," Tremayne assured him, partly under the
suasion of Sir Terence's interposition, partly out of consideration for
the ladies, who were looking scared. "Of course, if you choose to take
it to yourself, sir, that is a matter for your own discretion. I think,"
he added, also with a smile, "that the ladies find the topic tiresome."

"Perhaps we may have the pleasure of continuing it when they are no
longer present."

"Oh, as you please," was the indifferent answer. "Carruthers, may I
trouble you to pass the salt? Lady O'Callaghan was complaining the other
night of the abuse of salt in Portuguese cookery. It is an abuse I have
never yet detected."

"I can't conceive Lady O'Callaghan complaining of too much salt in
anything, begad," quoth O'Moy, with a laugh. "If you had heard the story
she told me about--"

"Terence, my dear!" his wife checked him, her fine brows raised, her
stare frigid.

"Faith, we go from bad to worse," said Carruthers. "Will you try to
improve the tone of the conversation, Miss Armytage? It stands in urgent
need of it."

With a general laugh, breaking the ice of the restraint that was in
danger of settling about the table, a semblance of ease was restored,
and this was maintained until the end of the repast. At last the ladies
rose, and, leaving the men at table, they sauntered off towards the
terrace. But under the archway Sylvia checked her cousin.

"Una," she said gravely, "you had better call Captain Tremayne and take
him away for the present."

Una's eyes opened wide. "Why?" she inquired.

Miss Armytage was almost impatient with her. "Didn't you see? Resentment
is only slumbering between those men. It will break out again now that
we have left them unless you can get Captain Tremayne away."

Una continued to look at her cousin, and then, her mind fastening ever
upon the trivial to the exclusion of the important, her glance became
arch. "For whom is your concern? For Count Samoval or Ned?" she
inquired, and added with a laugh: "You needn't answer me. It is Ned you
are afraid for."

"I am certainly not afraid for him," was the reply on a faint note of
indignation. She had reddened slightly. "But I should not like to see
Captain Tremayne or any other British officer embroiled in a duel.
You forget Lord Wellington's order which they were discussing, and the
consequences of infringing it."

Lady