"How foolish!" said Doña Beatrice, turning her head. "Let the Chevalier lead you out, my dear. There are no men to rival Frenchmen at dancing." "If you will dance, cousin, let mine be the honour of leading you out," said Don Diego. Sir Nicholas had taken her hand; the pressure of his fingers was insistent. "Ah, but I was before you, Don Diego," he said. Don Diego looked angrily, and took a quick step forward, as though he would snatch Dominica's hand from its resting-place. His rose dropped unheeded to the ground. "Cousin, I understood you would not dance!" "You have let fall your pretty flower," Sir Nicholas pointed out gently. Don Diego turned with an ugly look in his face, forgetting his duty to a guest. His angry stare met an amused glance from cool blue eyes that did not waver. Sir Nicholas still held Dominica's hand, but one eyebrow was quizzically raised, as though to say: "Do you wish to quarrel? Say but the word!" Doña Beatrice interposed to put an end to an awkward moment. Her fan brushed Dominica's shoulder. "Be advised by me, my dear, and go with the Chevalier. Resolutions are made to be broken only." Don Diego seemed to recollect himself. He recovered his _sosiego_ and bowed. "I am less fortunate than the Chevalier, cousin. I shall ask for your hand later in the evening." "As you please, cousin." Dominica sent a fleeting glance upwards to Beauvallet's face, and dropped her eyes again. Obedient to the pull on her hand she went with him across the hall to the ballroom. "God pity me, I have borne a fool!" sighed Doña Beatrice. "You do not go well to work, my poor son." "She did it to flout me!" he said hotly. "If she did it promises very well," she replied. "But when a man like the Chevalier craves a boon there are few women will not grant it. For where he craves he might take, look you." "He is insufferable!" Diego said. "My sword itches to taste his blood." Doña Beatrice smiled more broadly. "I dare say the Chevalier has some skill with swords," she said. "I do not think--no, I do not think that you would be well advised to send him a challenge." Don Diego stayed glooming a moment. "One would think you wanted her to go with him," he complained. "I did," said his mother imperturbably. "The girl saw a very personable man, with more charm in his lightest smile, my poor son, than any other here to-night. She was tempted to be forsworn, and I bade her go. Had I intervened for you she would not have danced at all. Now you are sure of her, for she cannot refuse, having danced once." In the ballroom Dominica had little opportunity to speak to Sir Nicholas. She dreaded lest some overheard phrase might betray him; for the first few steps of the dance she could only look up eloquently into his face. They drew together a moment, and she whispered:--"You have come! How could you dare?" "Had you not my word, little doubter?"