us to arrive at the truth, "I wonder
you employ him to write letters for you."

The woman raised herself on one rounded elbow and looked surprised at
this speech. "Really, I don't think I am so foolish," said she dryly.
"Why do you say that?"

Mallow looked puzzled. "Jennings wrote me a letter, asking me to come
here this evening at nine. He said you wished to see me."

Maraquito's eyes flashed. "I always wish to see you," she said,
sinking her voice to a tender tone, "and I am much obliged that Mr.
Jennings' note should have brought you here. But I gave him no
authority to write it."

"Have you seen Jennings lately?" asked Cuthbert, more and more puzzled.

"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
su