“I must be off now, Mrs. Plowden; I want to go and call on Sir Ernest at the hotel. He lent me a Derringer pistol to practise at a bottle with, and I forgot to give it back.”
Eva turned the full battery of her beautiful eyes upon him. She saw that the young gentleman was struck, and determined to make use of him. Women are unscrupulous when they have an end in view.
“I am so sorry you must go; but I hope you will come and see me again, and tell me some more about the war and the battles.”
“You are very kind,” he stammered. “I shall be delighted.”
He did not think it necessary to add that he had not had the luck to see a shot fired himself. Why should he?
“By the way, if you are going to see Sir Ernest, do you think you could give him a private message from me? I have a reason for not wishing it to be overheard.”
“O yes, I daresay I can. Nothing would give me greater pleasure.”
“You are very good.” Another glance. “Will you tell him that I wish he would take a fly and come to see me? I shall be in all this afternoon.”
A pang of jealousy shot through the cherubic bosom, but he comforted himself with the reflection that a fine woman like that could not care for a “blind fellow.”
“O, certainly, I will try.”