"By Jove!" exclaimed Lord Strathern, "indirectly, he as good as told me so."
"So it seems," said Lady Mabel indignantly. "I am your daughter, and resent such boyish impertinence more even than you do. I will take the earliest opportunity to express to him my opinion on that point most emphatically."
Bradshawe was discreetly silent, drinking in every word. He did not actually hate L'Isle; he liked Lady Mabel well; but he loved the mischief a-brewing, and watched her game, for he saw plainly that she was playing one. Conway sat wondering what all this would lead to, anxious, yet afraid, to say a word in extenuation of poor L'Isle's offences.
"By the bye," exclaimed Lady Mabel, "I have promised Mrs. Shortridge my utmost aid in entertaining her guests to-morrow night; and the better to enable me to give it, Colonel L'Isle is pledged to be in constant attendance as my interpreter. I must write at once, and let him know that I shall dispense with his services."
"Write to the fellow at once," growled Lord Strathern, "and do not let him misunderstand the tenor of your note."
"But he has gone to Badajoz," said Bradshawe. "Still, if he has an appointment with you, Lady Mabel, he will assuredly be back in time."
"But, my lord," said Major Conway, "you have an order for him to attend Sir Rowland, at Alcantara the morning after, so that he would have to give up the pleasure of waiting on Lady Mabel at Mrs. Shortridge's, even though she did not discard him in this summary manner."
"Then Mabel shall summon him to attend her, according to promise, in spite of Sir Rowland's order!" thundered Lord Strathern, with all the perverseness of an angry man.
"But suppose he pleads Sir Rowland's order in excuse," urged Conway.
"It shall not serve him. Mabel shall treat it as a fresh piece of impertinence, and cut him forever."
"Suppose he attends Lady Mabel, and neglects Sir Rowland?"
"Then Sir Rowland shall know how lightly he holds his orders."
"That is being very hard upon L'Isle," said Conway.
"Not as hard as he deserves," said Lord Strathern with a bitter laugh.
"It is probably very important," urged Conway, "that Sir Rowland should know at once the real state of this Andalusian reserve. Much may depend upon it."