But Miss Stratton’s feelings ran in a different groove. While apparently quite happy in the company of Mr. Staines, she was careful not to agree to any scheme of enjoyment that involved retirement from the public thoroughfares. While there she felt herself safe, and did not hesitate to befool Mr. Staines so egregiously that he already regarded her as his willing prey. She was, however, by no means quite satisfied with her day’s work so far. During the course of her conversation she had casually mentioned her desire to inspect Gibraltar under pleasant guardianship. But the gentleman showed such a decided aversion to the idea of visiting that place that the prospect of luring him there seemed as yet but a remote one. Now, as her sole object in thus cultivating his society was to find an opportunity of persuading him to visit the fortress, in order that she might have his arrest effected upon English ground, it is not surprising that the prospect of failure in this direction should cause her some disquietude. A prolonged flirtation with the scoundrel would be unendurable. Still, she was determined to give the game a fair trial, and if it failed, she could but hope that as “Mr. Bootle” she would be more successful. Briny had been taken out with her, but could not be persuaded to show any liking for Mr. Staines. “I am sorry to be unable to give you my company this evening, but hope to spend several hours with you to-morrow. Had I known of your arrival, I would not have made the appointment to which I am bound to attend to-night. But we mean to have a jolly big day together to-morrow, eh?” Mr. Staines went his way, very well satisfied with the answer he got, though Miss Stratton’s comment upon his curious way of preferring his request might not have pleased him. “He is sorry to be unable to give me a share of his company this evening! Rather cool, forsooth, even for a vain fool like that. I doubt I have acted only too well. I should have coquetted and played with him, and made him think that, to please me, it would be necessary to accede to all my requests. Yet no! The man is too coarse to be captivated by modesty, and I do not despair by any means. Poor Harley! It is well for his peace of mind that he does not know how far I have to stoop to help him.” CHAPTER XIX. SERGEANT-MAJOR TWILEY HAS A SURPRISE. “So you are not playing to-night?” “No; I have been thinking over something you said to me last night, and fancy that a confidential conversation might prove profitable to both of us. Suppose we slip out and compare notes?” “I don’t mind. We can easily come back if we wish to do so.” The speakers were Gregory Staines and Mr. Bootle, the latter being the first to open the conversation. As they walked briskly onwards, he gradually betrayed his real character to his companion, or, rather, he would have done so had Mr. Bootle not thoroughly gauged it beforehand. “How long have you lived in this part of the world, Mr. Bootle?”