He rushed off, full of righteous indignation but still feeling he was
in a "frightfully awkward position," to interview Don Carlos, whom he
found wearing a silken dressing gown and stretched out luxuriously
among cushions on a settee in his suite at the Ritz.
"My dear Standish, how good of you to return my call so soon!" cried
Don Carlos, rising with a welcoming smile as Tony was shown in. "I am
truly delighted to see you. You know what a pleasure is an unexpected
visit from a friend when one is feeling bored. Sit down and make
yourself comfortable, my dear Standish, and let me mix you a drink."
"Er--no, thank you," said Standish, disarmed to some extent at the
outset, for he felt it would be boorish and "bad form" to have a row
with a man who seemed to hold him in high regard. "No, I won't have a
drink. As a matter of fact, Don Carlos, I have called to see you in
connection with--er--with a delicate personal matter."
"My dear Mr. Standish, I am flattered that you should make me your
confidant, and I shall be only too pleased if I can assist you."
"Assist me! Hang it all, sir, you--er--you don't seem to understand!"
spluttered Tony, taken aback again, but determined, nevertheless, to
"have it out" with the Spaniard. "I--er--I haven't called to take you
into my confidence or anything of the sort. I have come to demand an
explanation."
"An explanation?" Don Carlos raised his black eyebrows in seeming
bewilderment. "An explanation? Concerning what, Mr. Standish?"
"Concerning your outrageous conduct, sir," blurted out Tony, trying to
look fierce, but succeeding only in looking hot and embarrassed.
"Concerning Myra--Miss Rostrevor. She tells me you have persistently
been attempting to make love to her ever since you first met her, and
have even gone so far as to ask her to throw me over and elope with
you! What the deuce do you mean by it, sir? Miss Rostrevor, as you
are well aware, is engaged to be married to me. How dare you make love
to my fiancée?"