so deep was the effort of her mind.  ’You would say, “Senor Rey, you have drunk too much wine!” and he would answer with a laugh, too, “It is true, no doubt, as you say.  I am an old and a very foolish man, my dear Senorita Mallory!” and you would smile and think of it no more.’  The Glow-worm laughed in a lost, mirthless way, and held me tightly as she finished, ’But that very night, just the same, you would find yourself with him!  And he would laugh at you then and say, coming closer, “Forgive an old and foolish man."’

“I was startled at the way she said it,” Miss Mallory concluded. “’You mean he would have me anyway?’ I said....  ‘Yes,’ the Glow-worm replied wearily.  ’My lord gets what he desires—­all but his youth—­he cannot get that—­and his fear of hell—­he cannot get rid of that!  And he is afraid to die!’ She spoke the last triumphantly, as if it were the only happy thing she could think of....  That was last night—­and that is all....  To-morrow evening join me in the lobby a little before eight....  Here comes the servant and we must talk about orchids—­until I finish this sherbet——­”

The following evening Bedient met Miss Mallory in the main hall, and exceeding cleverness was required to impart her information, as they moved together among the crowd.

“The handsome man is here.  I saw him last night,” she said, without the faintest trace of excitement.  “I am beginning to share some of the Glow-worm’s fear of Senor Rey.  It’s all tremendously thrilling.  The place is a mine of terrors—­all the worse for this beautiful setting and the gardens....  The Sorensons are the horrible Russian pair.  I met them at dinner in the Flamingo Room, and after listening to the Senora, the courtesies of the Spaniard were like so many cold shuddery waves of dread.  Again last night, after the dinner, the Glow-worm drew me into her boudoir and poured into my ears months of accumulated toxins of hate and fear——­”

“I’m sorry they have frightened you,” Bedient said.  “Your kindness to me——­”

“Oh, I’m not really afraid,” she said hastily.  “It’s all very wonderful.  The Senora repays me with a most devoted attention—­services of her own hand, and not a little sweet and endearing in their way....  Presently she asked me if I had met the imposing Senor Framtree.  Of course I had not.  She said he had been here for many weeks, but she had only met him a few times—­always with the Senor....  ’He is the sort of man I am not allowed to meet alone,’ she said languidly, her eyelids drawn against the yellow light.  ‘But I have no choice—­no choice here,’ she went on, ‘though I feel sorry for him.’