"A few nights ago. But he said nothing about you. He simply played cards for a time and then took himself off." "Are you leaving England?" "I am. Being an invalid as you see, I have no amusement but card-playing. Now that the Puritan authorities have stopped that, I cannot stay in this dull country to be bored. But who told you?" "Jennings said you were making preparations to leave." "In this letter he wrote you?" asked Maraquito, frowning. "Yes. I am sorry I did not bring the letter with me. But I can show it to you on another occasion. He also said you had something to tell me." Maraquito fastened her brilliant eyes on his face. "Mr. Jennings seems to know much about my affairs and to take a deep interest in them. But I assure you, I never gave him any authority to meddle." "Then why did he write and bring me here?" Senora Gredos frowned and then her face cleared. "The man is such a secretive creature that I don't trust him," she said; "and yet he declared himself to be my friend. He knows I like you, and hinted that he should be glad to bring us together." "Jennings is a gentleman in spite of his profession," said Mallow in cutting tones. "I scarcely think he would take so great a liberty." "Is it a liberty?" asked Maraquito softly. "I consider it to be one. Jennings knows that I am engaged." "Stop!" she cried, gripping her fan so tightly that her knuckles grew white. "Do you dare to tell me this?" "Senora--Maraquito--don't let us have a scene. I told you before that I could not give you the love you asked." "And I told you that I would have that love in spite of your unwillingness," said the woman doggedly. "You have scorned me, and I ought to have sufficient pride to let you go your own way. But I am such an infatuated fool that I am content to let you tread on me." "I have no wish to do that, but--" "You do--you do--you do!" she said, vehemently. "Why can you not love me? I would be a better wife than that doll you--" "Drop that, Maraquito. Leave Miss Saxon's name out of the question." "I shall talk of Miss Saxon as long as I like," cried Maraquito, snapping the fan and growing flushed. "You scorn me because I am an invalid--" "I do not. If you were perfectly restored to health I would give you the same answer." Mallow was on his feet by this time. "I think it would be wise of me to go." But Senora Gredos, stretching out her hand, caught him by the coat convulsively. "No! no! no!" she muttered fiercely. "I did not ask you to come here. I did not send for you. But now that you are here, you will stop. We must understand one another." "We do understand one another," said Cuthbert, who was growing angry at this unreasonable attitude. "You must know that I am engaged to Miss Saxon!" "You will never marry her--never!" cried Maraquito passionately; "oh, cruel man, can you not see that I am dying of love for you." "Maraquito--"