Minnie followed her up stairs in silence.

“You silly child!” she cried.  “Are you mad?  What made you come down?  You broke your promise!”

“Well—­well—­I couldn’t help it, and he is so deliciously rude; and do you know, Kitty dearest, I really begin to feel quite fond of him.”

“Now listen, child.  You shall never see him again.”

“I don’t see why not,” whimpered Minnie.

“And I’m going to telegraph to papa.  I wouldn’t have the responsibility of you another week for the world.”

“Now, Kitty, you’re horrid.”

CHAPTER XVII.

THE BARON’S ASSAULTS.

On the eventful afternoon when the Baron had effected an entrance into the heart of the enemy’s country, another caller had come there—­one equally intent and equally determined, but not quite so aggressive.  This was the Count Girasole.  The same answer was given to him which had been given to the Baron, but with far different effect.  The Baron had carelessly brushed the slight obstacle aside.  To the Count it was an impenetrable barrier.  It was a bitter disappointment, too; for he had been filled with the brightest hopes and expectations by the reception with which he had met on his last visit.  That reception had made him believe that they had changed their sentiments and their attitude toward him, and that for the future he would be received in the same fashion.  He had determined, therefore, to make the most of this favorable change, and so he at once repeated his call.  This time, however, his hopes were crushed.  What made it worse, he had seen the entrance of the Baron and the Reverend Saul, and knew by this that instead of being a favored mortal in the eyes of these ladies, he was really, in their estimation, placed below these comparative strangers.  By the language of Lord Hawbury on his previous call, he knew that the acquaintance of the Baron with Mrs. Willoughby was but recent.

The disappointment of the Count filled him with rage, and revived all his old feelings and plans and projects.  The Count was not one who could suffer in silence.  He was a crafty, wily, subtle, scheming Italian, whose fertile brain was full of plans to achieve his desires, and who preferred to accomplish his aims by a tortuous path, rather than by a straight one.  This repulse revived old projects, and he took his departure with several little schemes in his mind, some of which, at least, were destined to bear fruit afterward.

On the following day the Baron called once more.  The ladies in the mean time had talked over the situation, but were unable to see what they were to do with a man who insisted on forcing his way into their house.  Their treatment would have been easy enough if it had not been for Minnie.  She insisted that they should not be unkind to him.  He had saved her life, she said, and she could not treat him with rudeness.  Lady Dalrymple was in despair, and Mrs. Willoughby at her wit’s end, while Ethel, to whom the circumstance was made known, was roused by it from her sadness, and tried to remonstrate with Minnie.  All her efforts, however, were as vain as those of her friends.  Minnie could not be induced to take any decided stand.  She insisted on seeing him whenever he called, on the ground that it would be unkind not to.