The news gripped me like a cramp in the heart, and I caught my breath and gritted my teeth as I stared at her. But the next instant I rallied. The pain and concern in her eyes seemed to explain what had so perplexed me in her manner. Her agitation when I told her the real purpose of my presence; her quick assumption of indifference, of mere acquaintanceship, her studious evasion of my references to our time in Paris, and her light surface talk on things of no concern to either of us. If my new wild hope was right, all this had been merely intended to school herself to refer lightly to the matter of her betrothal. I forced a smile. “Permit me to congratulate----” I began; but the words died on my lips as I turned and saw the two people whom she had mentioned. The man, Major Sampayo, I knew to be one of the vilest scoundrels who ever escaped the gallows. And his companion was the woman whose life I had saved from her revolutionary associates on the previous night. CHAPTER V INEZ With a big effort I managed to pull myself together, and much to Miralda’s surprise I covered my momentary confusion with a hearty laugh and a sentence spoken for the benefit of the other two who were now within earshot. “I’m afraid I’ve bored you frightfully, but I couldn’t resist sparing a few minutes from this concession-mongering business. And after your saying that the viscontesse remembers our chats in Paris, I shall certainly ask her to allow me to call.” I succeeded in speaking in the tone of a quite casual acquaintance, and I turned to find two pairs of eyes fixed intently upon me. Whether the fellow who now called himself Major Sampayo recognized me I could not tell, but his companion did, and I waited for her to decide whether we were to acknowledge that we had met. She made no sign and I made my bow to Miralda and was moving off when the major intervened. “Will you present me to your friend, Miralda?” I could have kicked him for the glib use of her name. I paused and turned with a smile, as if highly pleased by the request. If I knew myself, the kicking would come later. “Mr. Donnington, may I introduce Major Sampayo?” said Miralda, a little nervously. I bowed and smirked, but behind the entrenchment of English reserve I made no offer to take his hand. “I am glad to meet you, Mr. Donnington.” “I consider myself equally fortunate, Major Sampayo.” I saw then that he had an uneasy feeling that we had met somewhere before, and his eyes moved from side to side as he searched his memory to place my voice or face or name. “Is that really Mr. Donnington?” exclaimed his companion, with a delightful assumption of interested surprise. “My dear Miralda, please don’t leave me out.” “My friend the Contesse Inez Inglesia,” said Miralda.