an outcast whose company she must perforce tolerate until relief came.

"It affected me because the sudden mention of his name recalled my own
disgrace. I quitted the army six months ago, Miss Deane, under very
painful circumstances. A general court-martial found me guilty of
conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. I was not even given a
chance to resign. I was cashiered."

He pretended to speak with cool truculence. He thought to compel her
into shrinking contempt. Yet his face blanched somewhat, and though he
steadily kept the pipe between his teeth, and smoked with studied
unconcern, his lips twitched a little.

And he dared not look at her, for the girl's wondering eyes were fixed
upon him, and the blush had disappeared as quickly as it came.

"I remember something of this," she said slowly, never once averting
her gaze. "There was some gossip concerning it when I first came to
Hong Kong. You are Captain Robert Anstruther?"

"I am."

"And you publicly thrashed Lord Ventnor as the result of a quarrel
about a woman?"

"Your recollection is quite accurate."

"Who was to blame?"

"The lady said that I was."

"Was it true?"

Robert Anstruther, late captain of Bengal Cavalry, rose to his feet. He
preferred to take his punishment standing.

"The court-martial agreed with her, Miss Deane, and I am a prejudiced
witness," he replied.

"Who was the--lady?"

"The wife of my colonel, Mrs. Costobell."

"Oh!"

Long afterwards he remembered the agony of that moment, and winced even
at the remembrance. But he had decided upon a fixed policy, and he was
not a man to flinch from consequences. Miss Deane must be taught to
despise him, else, God help them both, she might learn to love him as
he now loved her. So, blundering towards his goal as men always blunder
where a woman's heart is concerned, he blindly persisted in allowing
her to make such false deductions as she chose from his words.

Iris was the first to regain some measure of self-control.

"I am glad you have been so candid, Captain Anstruther," she commenced,
but he broke in abruptly--

"Jenks, if you please, Miss Deane. Robert Jenks."

There was a curious light in her eyes, but he did not see it, and her
voice was marvelously subdued as she continued--

"Certainly, Mr. Jenks. Let me be equally explicit before we quit the
subject. I have met Mrs. Costobell. I do not like her. I consider her a
deceitful woman. Your court-martial might hav