.

THE CHALLENGE.
Rebuke awaited Captain Tremayne at the hands of Lady O'Moy, and it came as soon as they were alone together sauntering in the thicket of pine and cork-oak on the slope of the hill below the terrace.
"How thoughtless of you, Ned, to provoke Count Samoval at such a time as this!" "Did I provoke him?
I thought it was the Count himself who was provoking." Tremayne spoke lightly.
"But suppose anything were to happen to you?
You know the man's dreadful reputation." Tremayne looked at her kindly.

This apparent concern for himself touched him.

"My dear Una, I hope I can take care of myself, even against so formidable a fellow; and after all a man must take his chances a soldier especially." "But what of Dick ?" she cried.

"Do you forget that he is depending entirely upon you--that if you should fail him he will be lost ?" And there was something akin to indignation in the protesting eyes she turned upon him.
For a moment Tremayne was so amazed that he was at a loss for an answer.
Then he smiled.