Hearts and Masks

But again I managed to slide under; I was not to be caught.

"It is my regret to say,"--frowning slightly, "that regularity in my

business is everything. It wants half an hour for my turn to come on.

If I tried a trick out of turn, I might foozle and lose prestige. And

besides, I depend so much upon the professor and his introductory

notes: 'Ladies and gents, permit me to introduce the world-renowned

Signor Fantoccini, whose marvelous tricks have long puzzled all the

crowned heads of Europe--'"

"Fantoccini,"--musingly. "That's Italian for puppet show."

"I know it, but the dime-museum visitors do not. It makes a fine

impression."

She laughed and slid the dime back to her uncle.

"I'm afraid you are an impostor," she said.

"I'm afraid so, too," I confessed, laughing.

Then the comedy came to an end by the appearance of our separate

orders. I threw aside the cards and proceeded to attack my dinner, for

I was hungry. From time to time I caught vague fragments of

conversation between the girl and her uncle.

"It's a fool idea," mumbled the old gentleman; "you will get into some

trouble or other."

"That doesn't matter. It will be like a vacation,--a flash of old

Rome, where I wish I were at this very moment. I am determined."

"This is what comes of reading romantic novels,"--with a kind of

grumble.

"I admit there never was a particle of romance on your side of the

family," the girl retorted.

"Happily. There is peace in the house where I live."

"Do not argue with me."

"I am not arguing with you. I should only be wasting my time. I am

simply warning you that you are about to commit a folly."

"I have made up my mind."

"Ah! In that case I have hopes," he returned. "When a woman makes up

her mind to do one thing, she generally does another. Why can't you

put aside this fool idea and go to the opera with me?"

"I have seen Carmen in Paris, Rome, London and New York," she replied.

(Evidently a traveled young person.) "Carmen is your favorite opera, besides."

"Not to-night,"--whimsically.

"Go, then; but please recollect that if anything serious comes of your

folly, I did my best to prevent it. It's a scatter-brained idea, and

no good will come of it, mark me."