Hearts and Masks
Page 25"It is true, infernally true,"--looking around to see if by chance
Caesar had reappeared on the scene. (How was I to manage my escape?
It is true I might hie me to the cellars; but how to get out of the
cellars!) "Have you seen Julius Caesar?" I asked.
"Caesar?"
"Yes, Miss Hawthorne--"
The Blue Domino swung about and leaned toward me, her hands tense upon
the sides of her chair.
"What name did you say?"--a strained note in her voice.
"Hawthorne," I answered, taking out the slip of pasteboard. "See! it
says that one blue domino was rented of Monsieur Friard at five-thirty
"How did you come by that ticket?" she demanded.
"It was a miracle. I purchased a mask there, and this ticket was
wrapped up in my bundle by mistake."
"It is a curious coincidence,"--her voice normal and unagitated.
I was confused. "Then I am mistaken?"--my chagrin evident. (All this
while, mind you, I was wondering if that cellar-door was unlocked, and
how long it would take me to reach it before the dénouement!) "One way or the other, it does not matter," said she.
"Yet, if I could reach the cellars,"--absently. Then I bit my tongue.
"Cellars? Who said anything about cellars? I meant that this is not
the hour for unmasking or disclosing one's identity,"--coldly.
and shuddered. What have you to offer in defense?"
"It was the horrid mask he wore."
"Well, it wasn't handsome of him."
"What did you mean by cellars?"--suddenly becoming the inquisitor in
her turn.
"I? Oh, I was thinking what I should do in case of fire,"--nimbly.
"That is not the truth."
"Well, no, it isn't. Can you keep a secret?" I whispered.
"If it isn't a terrible one."
"Well, I have no earthly business here. I am an impostor."
"Yes. And for the past few minutes, since I heard of the robbery, I've
been thinking how I could get out of here upon the slightest notice."
While the reckless spirit was upon me, I produced the fatal card and
showed the back to her. "You will find that yours is of a different
color. But I am not the Galloping Dick; it was only a hare-brained
lark on my part, and I had no idea it would turn out serious like this.
I was going to disappear before they unmasked. What would you advise
me to do?"