“It all depends on one’s personal taste, I suppose, my Lord,” Ventura responded.
“Then I can assure you,” Lord Lynke said, “she is very much to my taste. Besides, what else is there in this benighted hole? And for that matter I think I shall ask her to accompany us to Madrid. She will at least lessen the tedium of the journey.”
Ventura smiled scornfully.
“I am afraid, my Lord, you are already too late. She is leaving at dawn with her company for France and she has arranged with her lover, a gentleman who was supping at this table tonight, to bundle most of your clothes out of the window to him as soon as you are asleep.”
Lord Lynke stared at Ventura.
“The Devil take you, but that’s a lie!” he exclaimed.
“Why else is she so anxious to go upstairs?” Ventura enquired.
Juanita put up he
