"You're acting like a fool, Mrs. Veilsturm," he observed, tranquilly; "first you broke a fan, now you break a glass--silly, my dear, very silly! It doesn't hurt Lady Errington, but only yourself. By-the-way," glancing at his watch, "it's seven o'clock. I wonder when dinner will be ready, I'm dreadfully hungry." His partner, however, was not listening to him, but a sudden thought seemed to have struck her, for the fire died out of her eyes and her complexion resumed its usual rich hue of health. After a pause, a gratified smile broke over her face, and bending down she picked up the fan. "I'm sorry I broke this," she said, quietly, advancing towards the Major; "it was such a pretty fan. Dolly Thambits gave it to me. Never mind, I'll make him give me another." She spoke quite cheerfully, and the Major stared at her in silent surprise at this sudden change from intense anger to languid tranquillity. "Upon my word, you puzzle me, Maraquita," he said doubtfully. "A moment ago you were like a devil, now you are within reasonable distance of an angel. What is the meaning of this change?" The beautiful widow put one slender foot on the fender, looked in the glass, touched some ornaments in her hair, then replied, in a wonderfully calm manner: "Simply this, that I see my way to punishing Lady Errington." "The deuce you do." "Yes; she is newly married, and, no doubt, loves her husband--he's a fool, for I've seen him in London, so through her husband I'll punish her." "Oh, I see," said the Major, grimly; "you intend to make love to the husband." "What acute penetration, my dear Griff! That's exactly what I intend to do." "No good," answered the man, shaking his head. "Errington is newly married, and can see no beauty in any woman save his wife." "He's a fool I tell you," retorted Mrs. Veilsturm, coolly, "and I never met a man yet I couldn't twist round my finger. He may be difficult to manage in his character of a newly married man, but I'll gain my ends somehow." "And then?" queried Major Griff. "And then," echoed Cleopatra, viciously, "when I've estranged him from her and possibly led to a divorce, I'll have my revenge." "At the cost of your own position." "Don't you be afraid. I'll look after that! I'll keep my position and ruin her happiness at the same time." "You're playing with fire." "Fire that will burn them, not myself! Come, dinner is ready, give me your arm." "One moment! When do you intend to begin the business?" "That depends on Sir Guy Errington. As a newly married man, I dare say I can do nothing with him. Newly married men sometimes get tired of honey. When he does, then I will step in." "Suppose he does not get tired?" "But he will. I tell you he's a fool." CHAPTER XVI. THE EVENTS OF EIGHTEEN MONTHS. "Time flies onward with tireless wings. Divers gifts to us all he brings, Joy and sorrow On every morrow, A thousand pleasures, a thousand stings.