Mrs Hargrave smiled back; she was very attracted by this black-browed young Spaniard. "My dear friend, under the new regime, we shall all go to Court." "To the Court of Contraras, I suppose?" "Something of that sort," answered Violet, letting herself go a little. "And Madame Contraras, more aristocratic than any queen, will smile condescendingly, and the pretty daughter will turn up her nose at us." The conversation was getting dangerous. Mrs Hargrave must be checked in her impulsive moods, which, he honestly admitted, were very rare. "Ah, if I could see dear old Contraras in that position I would die happy," he exclaimed, with a splendid mendacity. Mrs Hargrave stole a quiet glance at him. "Yes, he is very wonderful, is he not? But I can't honestly say I like his womenkind. They have no sympathy with his aspirations." As they were speaking, a very gorgeous carriage rolled up. It contained the Duchess del Pineda and Valerie Delmonte. The Duke had not accompanied them. He had pleaded indisposition, but probably prudence had dictated his absence. Anyway, if certain things happened, it would be possible for him to plead a successful _alibi_. "Look, look!" cried Violet Hargrave, a little excitedly for her. "Valerie Delmonte!" Moreno, the kindly-hearted, felt a spasm of pity as he gazed on the face of the handsome, fanatical young Frenchwoman, whom that wily old Contraras had subjugated to his evil will. "Poor child!" he said aloud, for the benefit of his companion, "I can only hope she will not lose her nerve. It was a man's job, but she would insist upon having it." There was a little lull in the procession of carriages. And then there drove up one conveying Guy Rossett and a colleague. The Ambassador had already arrived, with his wife. Moreno stole a glance at his companion. She was heavily veiled, but he could see that her face had grown pale, that a sad look had come into her eyes. "Our admirable young diplomatist!" whispered the young man. "Well, Madrid is not a very safe place for him." "But he is in no danger to-night I take it?" came back the answer in a whisper as low as his own. "I should say not. For the present, we have left him out of our calculations; we are flying at higher game. He will hardly come within the sphere of Valerie's operations. His Chief may--I doubt even that." Mrs Hargrave made no comment. Presently Moreno spoke in the same low whisper. "You have no great affection for Mr Rossett, I take it?" "No, I have not any great affection for Mr Rossett." "And yet you were once very good friends." Mrs Hargrave stiffened a little. "You seem to know a great deal of my private affairs. Yes, we once were very good friends. He knew my husband long before I married him. I fancy I have told you that." Moreno was not to be daunted by her aloof attitude. He was never wanting in enterprise. "I should not be surprised if, at the present moment, you hated him."