l had
decided upon the costuming of the guests. He had arranged that at least
forty of them should be dressed alike. Could there have been any secret
design in this? If so, Mr. Barnes was glad to be one of the forty.
Again, this would be better than to use the Aladdin costume, for the
reason that he had come to count Mr. Mitchel as so clever that it would
not have astonished the detective at all if it were known to him that
this Aladdin costume had been ordered. In that case the absence of such
a costume amongst the guests would confuse the conspirators. Mr. Barnes
had fully decided that more than one person was interested in the
approaching evening.

As early as nine o'clock the maskers began to arrive at the home of the
Van Rawlstons. The host appeared for the time in evening dress, and
received and welcomed his guests, all of whom wore wraps that covered
their costumes, thus hiding the disguises which they meant to use later
on. Mr. Barnes was on hand early, and loitered about the hall, in his
thief's garb, scanning the faces of all as they passed in. After a very
brief period of waiting he saw the Remsen party alight from their
carriage, escorted by Mr. Randolph. Soon after Mr. Thauret entered. He
handed a note to Mr. Van Rawlston who upon reading it at once shook him
cordially by the hand. Then almost as suddenly an expression of
suspicion passed across his face, and he looked toward Mr. Barnes, who,
however, turned away, refusing to notice his glance of inquiry.
Evidently the host, not knowing Mr. Thauret and remembering the
detective's words, had begun to suspect that perhaps the note which he
had just read was fraudulent. Mr. Barnes was fearful that he would make
some remark which would ruin everything, when to his intense relief Miss
Remsen came into the hall with her wraps still on and went directly up
to Mr. Thauret.

"How are you this evening, Mr. Thauret? I am glad you decided to come.
Mr. Van Rawlston, Mr. Thauret is a friend of Mr. Mitchel's."

That sufficed, and Mr. Van Rawlston seemed much relieved.

Mr. Thauret was not in costume, but he had brought with him a satchel,
and now asked where he might find a place to dress. He was turned over
to one of the liveried boys, who showed him to one of the rooms set
aside for the gentlemen. Mr. Barnes did not enter, for had he done so
without removing his mask it might have aroused suspicion. He however
kept watch near the door, and soon saw a man come out dr