Hearts and Masks

In other words, we had departed the scene of festivities none too soon.

I could readily understand why the door had been locked: it was not to

keep us in the cellars; rather it was to prevent any one from leaving

the ball-room by that route. Evidently our absence had not been

noticed, nor had any seen our precipitate flight. I sighed gratefully.

For several minutes we stood silent and motionless on the landing. At

length I boldly struck a match. The first thing that greeted my

blinded gaze was the welcome vision of a little shelf lined with

steward's candles. One of these I lighted, and two others I stuffed

into the pocket of my Capuchin's gown. Then we tiptoed softly down the

stairs, the girl tugging fearfully at my sleeve.

There was an earthy smell. It was damp and cold. Miles and miles away

(so it seemed) the pale moonshine filtered through a cobwebbed window,

It was ghostly; but so far as I was concerned, I was honestly enjoying

myself, strange as this statement may seem. Here was I, setting forth

upon an adventure with the handsomest, wittiest girl I had ever laid

eyes upon. If I extricated her neatly, she would always be in my debt;

and the thought of this was mighty pleasant to contemplate.

"Do you know the way out?"

I confessed that, so far as I knew, we were in one of the fabled

labyrinths of mythology.

"Go ahead," she said bravely.

"I ask only to die in your Highness' service,"--soberly.

"But I do not want you to die; I want you to get me out of this cellar;

and quickly, too."

"I'll live or die in the attempt!"

"I see nothing funny in our predicament,"--icily.

"A few moments ago you said that our angles of vision were not the

same; I begin to believe it. As for me, I think it's simply immense to

find myself in the same boat with you."

"I wish you had been an anarchist, or a performer in a dime-museum."

"You might now be alone here. But, pardon me; surely you do not lack

the full allotment of the adventurous spirit! It was all amusing

enough to come here under false pretenses."

"But I had not reckoned on any one's losing jewels."

"No more had I."

"Proceed. I have the courage to trust to your guidance."

"I would that it might be always!"--with a burst of sentiment that was

not wholly feigned.