ant
escorts rushed precipitately from the room. The servants hurried in
with candles, but light was no sooner restored than the guests who
still remained at table rose, as if by general consent, and left the
dining-hall. Miss Paddington and Rayel were the last to leave the table.
When they had passed out into the drawing-room her father came and took
her arm, bowing coldly to my cousin. It was evident that our presence
was no longer desired in the house of the Paddingtons. And no wonder!

"Let us go," I said, proceeding to the coat room. The Count met us on
the way.

"You are a liar--a jackass!" he hissed into Rayel's ear.

Hastily drawing on our coats we stepped out into the chilly night air
and walked leisurely down the deserted avenue. Neither of us spoke for
some moments. Presently Rayel asked:

"What is a jackass?"

He stopped and took my hand as if expecting an answer of great moment.

"A man who always tells the truth in this world--he is a jackass," I
replied.

I was a little irritated by the trying experiences we had been through.
Perhaps that is why my answer savored so strongly of cynicism.

CHAPTER IX

Painful as had been our introduction to polite society, the reaction
which followed it was scarcely less so. Next day we stayed indoors until
evening, when we ventured out for a walk with fear and trembling lest
the newspapers had already increased our fame and our mortification. The
twilight of a cloudless autumn day was closing in upon the city, and the
keen, bracing winds which sweep over the American metropolis from the
sea brought the color to our faces. We walked down Broadway, now quite
deserted, in silence, and as we were passing Wallack's Theatre Rayel
stopped suddenly, and stood for a moment looking into the brightly
lighted foyer. Stepping in, he beckoned me to follow. I immediately saw
what had attracted his eye, for on an easel just inside the entrance was
the portrait of our woman. On a placard below the picture was the name
"Edna Bronson." Our surprise was mingled with sad regret at seeing it
playing a false part to serve the ends of an unscrupulous manager.

"Perhaps she is here! suddenly exclaimed Rayel.

"That is very unlikely," I answered, "but we shall see."

I bought tickets for the evening's performance and we hastened home,
strangely elated, to dress for the play.

Our seats were in one of the lower proscenium boxes and quite clearly
exposed to the gaze of the thous