"Nothing but take yourself off as quick as you can? Stay--tell my man to call for Sir R. Musgrave, and be here at eleven. Let him be punctual, or egad! I'll know why." "Now we are by ourselves let us begin and discuss this affair," said L'Estrange. "To the devil with your discussions till we have got something aboard, as Wilson would say. There's your health, my dark-eyed beauty! and luck!" said the Captain, draining a bumper. "Now then, L'Estrange, discuss away--I've enough wine in me to settle my brain; I hate talking on nothing." "On the whole, then, Juana, our plans seem to have miscarried not a little," said L'Estrange. "Who would have thought of his lordship's pensioning you off so soon? I am sure he shows little taste." Juana sighed, without answering. "Egad! that's true, he does show little taste; but don't you get discouraged, my little Juana." "That unfortunate meeting of Lord and Lady Arranmore with the young lady abroad I fear will undo everything," said the Spaniard. "It _was_ unlucky! who the deuce would have thought of such a chance? Now, my brother will be swearing about her fidelity, and God knows what not." "It is these little chances that spoil everything, unless guarded against, and after that capital rumour we got afloat it is too bad." "You are plural mad to-night," replied the Captain; "'we', it was _I_, sir, that planned the paragraph, and _I_ who prevented old Ravensworth seeing the denial--it would have been long ere it entered your stupid head!" "Well, Captain, you need not wrangle; we will give you all the credit of being wise in evil! I envy not the distinction, I am sure, and am not sorry to get the infamy off my hands." "And d--d ready to profit by it," retorted the Captain. "Well, we won't wrangle, but get to business! Now, my Ahithophel! let us hear what you can counsel." "I would send Juana to Scotland, and get a meeting between her and Lord Wentworth." "Curse women, say I--they spoil everything--one is enough; God knows what mischief two may work--better keep Juana here." "You are _exceedingly_ polite, Captain de Vere.--I think it a very good plan, and one that ought certainly to be followed." "Don't be angry, dear!--don't look so jolly savage! Go, in the fiend's name, if you like, and lose everything: thank heaven I have yet a string that will not break should this fail." "And what if I do lose all, Captain de Vere? what is the use of this loveless grandeur? I would rather see and speak to Wentworth ten minutes than live a year in guilty, solitary splendour. You know not what a woman's heart is--let me go?"