heart beat angrily within him under the Niphetos rose.

'Io! come here!' cried the Lady Joan, as he returned to her Turkish room. 'Here is Sir Walter raving with jealousy of you; he says Etoile would hardly look at him, she seems so much in love with you.'

'But, indeed, I never——' began Sir Walter, in protest.

'Monsieur', I am not so happy,' said Ioris, with his coldest smile and airiest grace. 'No Muse will stoop to earth for me, and as for the tender passions—je suis un homme mort!'

'You do not look it,' said Sir Walter, with a smile.

Lady Joan frowned heavily.