le of
pleasure:

"Oh, Percy, dear!"

In the innermost recesses of their hearts there are a number of cold
women who adore a bold buccaneer!

She had made one stipulation with him before they landed, and this was
one which in the future--little as she knew it then--would rob her of
all her triumph over John Derringham, and plant an everlasting and
bitter sting in her breast.

She insisted that, as she did not wish to create a nine days' wonder, no
mention of his engagement to herself should be made public by Mr.
Hanbury-Green for at least a month after people were aware that she had
closed hers with John Derringham. All should be done with decency and in
order, so as not to militate in any way against her future position as
queen of the winning side.

And, knowing that he had already telegraphed the announcement that the
marriage arranged between the Right Honorable John Derringham and Mrs.
Vincent Cricklander would not take place, so that it should appear in
the Monday morning papers--Mr. Hanbury-Green felt he could safely comply
with her caprice and bide his time. He had not the slightest intention
of ever permitting a whim of hers to interfere with his real wishes in
any way, and having a full command of her own weapons and methods, he
looked forward to a time of uninterrupted bliss when once she should be
his wife. To dissemble for a month or so would not hurt him, and might
even amuse him as a new game.

So they entered Daniellis in subdued triumph, and said good night before
Arabella, with prim decorum, and then Cecilia mounted to make herself
look beautiful for the flinging of his _conge_ in John Derringham's
face.

CHAPTER XXXIII

When Halcyone left the Fortezza she was conscious of no feeling of
depression or grief. Rather a gladness and security filled her heart.
She had seen him with her mortal eyes--her dear lover--and he was in
truth greatly in need of all her care and tender thoughts. Her beliefs
were so intense in those forces of protection with which that God Whom
she worshiped so truly surrounded her, that she never for a moment
doubted but these invisible currents would be directed to the
disentangling of destiny's threads.

She made no speculations as to how this would be--God would find the
way. Her attitude was never one of pious resignation to a divine
chastisement. She did not believe God ever meant to chastise anyone. For
good or ill each circumstance was brought about by the