the house just now, two men were waiting for
me in the vestibule. They went through me; but I didn't seem to have
what they wanted. I still retain possession of my watch and purse."

"So," I said, somewhat helplessly. "What's the next move on the board?"

"It is the last night of the supplementary opera season," answered
Indiman, "and we are going to dress and see what we can of
Tschaikowsky's 'Queen of Spades.' A novelty--first and only performance
outside of Russia, and Ternina heads the cast."

"There is Mademoiselle D.," remarked Indiman, as his glass swept
the semicircle of the parterre. "The fourth box from the end."

There were but three people in the party--the girl with the gray eyes,
an elderly man with a ribbon in his button-hole, and Jack Crawfurd,
whom everybody knows.

The curtain fell on the third act, and immediately Crawfurd made his
appearance in the omnibus-box where we were sitting.

"Come with me, mes enfants," he said, genially. "It seems that you and
the adorable Countess Gilda are old friends. She commands your instant
attendance. What, man! do you hesitate? I shall lose my head an our
sovereign lady be not instantly obeyed."

The girl with the gray eyes greeted us with smiling unconcern. "Do you
know my uncle?" she asked, and we were forthwith presented to his
Excellency Baron Cassilis, the Russian ambassador to the United States.
Then the Countess Gilda addressed herself squarely to Indiman.

"I am in your debt, Mr. Indiman, and you must permit me to discharge
the obligation. My dear uncle, your purse."

Indiman bowed and accepted the fifty-dollar bill tendered him.

"Now we are quits," she said, smiling.

"Not quite," he answered, hardily. He drew a half-dollar from his
waistcoat-pocket and offered it to her. A flood of color mantled her
brow, but she took the coin and slipped it into her glove. "Well?" she
asked, her small chin defiantly uptilted.

"I have only one question," said Indiman, earnestly. "Is there danger
for you?"

"None in the world."

"Then I am quite satisfied."

She softened at that. "Only a rather aggravating disappointment; it
does not matter now. But why will you men interfere in an unoffending
woman's affairs."

"I had no idea--"

"Of course not. However, we need not enter further into particulars.
Your friend in the orchestra-stall yonder will doubtless enlighten you
later on." A stout man with one ear distinctly larger than the other
deliberately