, the affairs of the company. We have played
three days and have lost steadily. To-night will be the last chance. Win
or lose, to-morrow we shall return to Venice. I do not like the idea of
going to Monte Carlo at night; it is not exactly safe. But since beggars
mustn't be choosers, we must go. Again I warn you to speak to no one
while I am playing; and under no circumstance raise your veil. They have
begun to notice us, but it will end to-night. I was mad to think that I
could win. And by the way, Kitty, we shall not go back to the Campo
Formosa."

Kitty accepted this news brightly. If there was one place she hated, it
was the Campo. She had never been so lonely in all her days as in that
evil-smelling tenement in the Campo Santa Maria Formosa.

"Now run and dress," advised La Signorina. "Let me dream a little more,
while the sun sets. I can dream a pleasant dream sometimes."

And indeed the dream was not unpleasant, for her thoughts went back to
that night in New York. Did he really think of her, then? Was it
possible for a man to forget so bizarre an episode? Rather would it not
leave a lasting impression? She liked him. He had a clean, kindly face
and handsome eyes. How she had played with him! How she had tempted him!
And yet, through it all, a gentleman, a witty, interesting, amiable
gentleman, who never approached the innuendo, or uttered a
double-meaning. On her part she had taken great risks; but the fun had
been merry and harmless.

She recalled his liberal-minded patriotism and his sensible comparisons.
Surely he was right: the race of gentlemen had not yet died out in far
America. With what mystery had he invested her? With what charms had he
endued her? She smiled gently. It was pleasant to be made a heroine even
for the small space of two hours. He was an idle young man, after a
fashion; that was because he had not been waked up. But under his jest
and under his laughter she was sure that there was courage and purpose
and high emprise. Take care! she thought. Take care! Might not this
little dream carry her too far out to sea?... To have met a man like
this one in time! How gracefully, how boyishly, he had kissed her hand!
More than this, there had been an artless admiration in his upturned
eyes, an expression which a gentleman of the Old World would have
lacked. Why had she sent him that mask? Had it been a challenge, an
indirect challenge, daring him to follow and seek her? She really could
not answe