Van Zwieten clicked his heels together in foreign fashion, and bowed. "Miss Scarse, I am a wise man," he said, smiling; "wise men never talk. But if you will be wise also, and give me the right to tell you what I know, why then----" "How can I give you the right?" "By accepting me as your future husband." "No, a thousand times, no. I am engaged to Captain Burton." "Ah, Captain Burton! I quite forgot that young gentleman. I have something to say to him. He is, no doubt, still at his hotel. I will call." "If your object is to make him give me up, you may save yourself the trouble of calling," said Brenda, quietly. "We are engaged, and nothing you can say or do can break our engagement. "Ah! I think otherwise." "Mr. van Zwieten, will you understand once and for all that I refuse to have anything to do with you. I refuse to marry you." Van Zwieten shook his head. "I cannot accept your refusal. I have made up my mind that you shall marry me, and marry me you must. I have a strong will, Miss Scarse." "I also, and so has Captain Burton. You can't bully me into being your slave." "Pardon me, I should be the slave," said the Dutchman, blandly. "As for Captain Burton, poof! I will sweep him from my path. When he is in South Africa, I shall be there also." "He is not going to South Africa." "Oh, yes, I think so. He is a soldier, and your soldiers will have much to do in South Africa shortly." "Mr. van Zwieten, I believe you are a Boer spy." "Indeed! Why do you believe so?" "You seem to be so certain of the war. You are going out to the Transvaal----" "I am. You too, Miss Scarse--as my wife. Ah, do not look angry. You must accept the inevitable with a good grace. As to my being a spy, there is no need for me to act so low a part as that. I think there will be war because I read the sign of the times. Europe is with us----" "Did your friend Dr. Leyds tell you so?" she asked scornfully. "Perhaps. But this is idle talk. I am not what you think me. When the time comes you will know--what I intend you to know. So sure am I that you will be my wife, that I am content to return to London this day and leave you with Captain Burton." "The sooner you go the better pleased I shall be." "Ach! What English hospitality! How charmingly said!" Brenda turned on him with tears of rage in her eyes. "You force me to be rude," she said, almost breaking down in the face of this persistence. "I have never been spoken to as you speak to me. An English gentleman can take 'no' for an answer." "But I love you too much to accept such an answer." "If you loved me, you would not worry me so. Please go, Mr. van Zwieten. Oh! I wish my father were here to protect me!" cried poor Brenda, keeping back her tears with difficulty. "Call him, Miss Scarse. He has not gone out to-day, has he?" "He has gone to London."