He spoke in Spanish, a language as strange to Fitz as Italian, so after a few minutes, Fitz rose and left the Italian and Spaniard together.
The Spaniard looked up wistfully.
"Do you know that gentleman?" he asked.
"No," said the Italian.
"I do," said a stranger who stood near, and who was none other than the club newsmonger, Tommy Gossip. "That is Lord Boisdale, eldest son of Lord Lackland. He's engaged—or going to be—to Miss Violet Mildmay."
The Spaniard bowed, smiled and departed.
At that moment Violet entered on the arm of Howard Murpoint.
The Spaniard saw Lord Fitz approach and take her from Mr. Murpoint and frowned.
"Is it true?" he murmured to himself. "Is she going to marry him? Has she forgotten me?"
Then he sighed and sauntered off with a melancholy smile to a retired alcove.