great favour?"

"I should like to," answered Eve, with some hesitation.

"And you?" said the Count, turning to Captain Bontnor.

"Oh yes," replied that sailor bluntly, "if it's possible."

"I want you," continued the Count de Lloseta, "to forget that this
is the first time we meet, and to look upon me as a friend--one of
the most intimate--of your father."

"My father," said the girl, "always spoke of you as such."

"Indeed, I am glad of that. Now, tell me, who have you in the world
besides Captain Bontnor?"

"I have no one. But--"

"We was thinking," put in the Captain, in ungrammatical haste, "that
Eve would come and live with me. It isn't a grand house--just a
little cottage. But such as it is, she'll have a kindly welcome."

"And, I have no doubt, a happy home", added the Count, with one of
his dark smiles. "I was merely wondering whether Miss Challoner
intended to live in the Casa d'Erraha or to let it?"'

Eve looked up in surprise, and Captain Bontnor's blue eyes wandered
from her face to the dark and courteous countenance of Cipriani de
Lloseta.