Page:Under three flags; a story of mystery (IA underthreeflagss00tayliala).pdf/266

 "So am I," Ashley thinks, grimly, but he does not tell her why.

"I have seen nothing of Mrs. Harding since I arrived," he remarks.

Juanita's glance wanders about the room. "There she is," she indicates, "over by the staircase, the object of the devoted attentions of Count Gonzaga."

"Who the deuce is Count Gonzaga?" wonders Ashley, and he intimates as much to his companion.

"Have you not met the count? General Jacinto de Gonzaga is his military title. He is some sort of an assistant secretary of war and is representing the home government in Cuba for a short time. He seems desperately smitten with Isabel. She is very handsome, do you not think so, Senor Ashley?"

"Yes, very," replies Jack, absently. He is watching the pair by the staircase, and wondering what sort of a game Isabel Harding is now playing.

"She is coming this way," says Juanita. "Have you met her?"

"I have not had that pleasure," Ashley replies, unblushingly. "Not lately,' he mentally adds.

He turns away to admire some flowers and soon he hears Juanita's voice: "Isabel, allow me to present Mr. Ashley to you. Mr. Ashley, Mrs. Harding."

Ashley turns calmly and the two are face to face. She acknowledges the introduction with a composure equal to Ashley's own, and that young man permits a trace of admiration to mingle with the expression in his eyes which plainly says to the woman before him: "I know your game, my lady." And the answering flash from the midnight orbs is: "You have more than a match in me, Mr. Ashley. Beware!"

"We shall see," thinks Ashley, and then, led by Juanita, who sees nothing of the mutual recognition, the conversation drifts into the usual chatter of the ball-room.

"You remember, Isabel, that big horse we saw lunching so contentedly by the road this afternoon?" prattles Juanita.