"For goodness sake don't try to do anything of the sort, Myra,"
counselled Lady Fermanagh. "Don Carlos is very much a man of the
world, and you would be playing with fire. I should judge that he
knows women better than most men. And in any case, my dear, it isn't
safe to trifle with a Spaniard."
"And it isn't safe to trifle with a Rostrevor Don Carlos de Ruiz will
find to his cost," retorted Myra, with a sudden laugh. "My mind is
made up, and I shall start on my conquest to-night."
She took special pains over her toilette that evening, and her maid
found her unusually exacting. She chose a very decollété evening frock
of jade green shot with blue that matched the blue of her eyes but
contrasted beautifully with her red-gold hair, and with it she wore a
necklace of emeralds and turquoises.
"By Jove! Myra, dear, you are looking lovelier than ever to-night!"
exclaimed Tony Standish, admiringly and adoringly, when she went down
into the great hall of Auchinleven Lodge before dinner. "You look
simply wonderful, darling. Wonderful!"
"Thank you for these few kind words, good sir," Myra answered
smilingly, in bantering tones, and dropped a mock curtsey. "I hope Don
Carlos will be equally complimentary. You see, Tony, I am afraid he is
rather vexed with me for complaining to you about him and snubbing him,
so I have decided to let him fall in love with me again and make you
furiously jealous."
"Righto!" laughed Tony. "But don't overdo it, old thing, or I may do a
bit of the Othello business, don't you know. I believe I could be as
fiercely passionate as any Spaniard if I tried."
"Why not try?" responded Myra lightly. "Incidentally, I fancy Othello
was a Moor, and not a Spaniard."
"Well, the Moors had something to do with Spain, so it amounts to the
same thing. Talking of Spain, Myra, reminds me that Don Carlos has
consented to be one of my yachting party for our Mediterranean trip in
the winter, and has invited all of us to spend a week or so with him at
his place, El Castillo de Ruiz, somewhere in the Sierra Morena."
"Really! That will give me plenty of time to complete my conquest,"
commented Myra, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously. "I suppose it
isn't good form to make a fool of one's host, but Don Carlos will
deserve anything he may get."