Hearts and Masks

She took the card, studied it, and finally returned it. There followed

an interval of silence.

"I have known the imposition from the first," she said.

"What!"

She touched the signet-ring on my little finger. "I have seen that

once before to-night. No," she mused, "you will not blow up the

post-office to-night, nor the police-station."

She lifted the corner of her mask, and I beheld the girl I had met in

Mouquin's!

"You?"

"Silence! So this is the meaning of your shuffling those cards? Oh,

it is certainly droll!" She laughed.

"And are you Miss Hawthorne?"

"I am still in the mask, sir; I shall answer none of your questions."

"This is the finest romance in the world!" I cried.

"You were talking about getting out," she said. "Shall I lend you my

domino? But that would be useless. Such a prestidigitator as Signor

Fantoccini has only to say--Presto! and disappear at once."

"I assure you, it is no laughing matter."

"I see it from a different angle."

An artist's model, and yet a guest at this exclusive function?

A commotion around the stage distracted us. Presently we saw Teddy

Hamilton mount the stage and hold up his hands.

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen!" he called.

Silence gradually fell upon the motley groups of masqueraders.

"A thief is among us. I have had all the exits closed. Everybody will

be so kind as to present cards at the main entrance. Three ten-spots

of hearts have been tallied on the comparing lists. We have been

imposed upon. The police are on the way. Very sorry to cause you this

annoyance. The identity of the holders of the cards will be known only

to those of us on the committee."

Silence and then a murmur which soon became a fuzzing like that of many

bees.

The Blue Domino suddenly clutched my arm.

"Please take me away, take me away at once! I'm an impostor, too!"

Two of us!

This was disaster. I give you my solemn word, there was nothing I

regretted so much as the fact that I hadn't gone to the theater.

But I am a man of quick thought and resource. In the inelegant

phrasing of the day, me for the cellars!

"Come," said I to the girl; "There's only one chance in a hundred, but

we'll take it together."

"Together? Where?"

"Why, to the cellars. I've a pocketful of matches. We can make a try.

For, if there's a thief around, and we are caught and proved

impostors--Well, I leave you to imagine!"