 It has sometimes been suggested that “A can be loyal to B only if there is a third party C … who stands as a potential competitor to B” (Fletcher, 1993, 8). It is true that many, if not most, expressions of loyalty occur against the background of some challenge to B’s interests whose protection by A will be at some cost to A. Failures of loyalty often result in betrayal (of B, sometimes to C). Thus, defending one’s spouse in the face of criticism may also subject oneself to vilification (by C); refusing to leave one’s university for another (C) may involve a sacrifice of pay and other opportunities; and patriotic loyalty may involve volunteering for military service when one’s country is attacked (by C). Sometimes, however, the loyal friend will simply manifest the loyalty by being responsive to B’s need at some inconvenience. The loyal A will get up at 2.00am to fetch B when B’s car has broken down or will agree to be best man at B’s wedding even though it will involve a long flight and great expense. No third party is involved, but there will be a cost to A. The incentive to disloyalty is more likely to be found in the blandishments of self-interest or self-maximization than in external temptations to side with a competitor’s interests (Kleinig, forthcoming).