I am not the Senate; I am simply an officer in our administration--a very humble officer of his Excellency our president, Mr.Tyler." My lady broke out in a peal of low, rippling laughter, her white teeth gleaming.

It was, after all, somewhat difficult to trifle with one who had been trained in intrigue all her life.
Calhoun laughed now in his own quiet way.

"We shall do better if we deal entirely frankly, Senora," said he.

"Let us then waste no time.
Frankly, then, it would seem that, now the Baroness von Ritz is off the scene, the Senora Yturrio would have all the better title and opportunity in the affections of--well, let us say, her own husband!" She bent toward him now, her lips open in a slow smile, all her subtle and dangerous beauty unmasking its batteries.

The impression she conveyed was that of warmth and of spotted shadows such as play upon the leopard's back, such as mark the wing of the butterfly, the petal of some flower born in a land of heat and passion.