e decided to see how far he could
carry the deception.

"What warning could serve to prevent my seeing you?" he asked in a
hollow voice; then was surprised at the flush that stole upward to the
girl's dainty ear.

"You are indeed insane to jest at such a time," she breathed. "I would
never have known you without the flower. But come--we are in danger
here. Some one--is waiting. Will you follow me?"

"To the ends of the earth," he replied, gallantly.

Again she gave him a startled glance, half of pleasure, half of
deprecation; then, as he made a movement to accompany her, she checked
him.

"No, no! You must let me go ahead. They are everywhere. They may suspect
even my disguise. I--I am dreadfully afraid."

Van Dam scarcely knew how to answer this. So, like a wise man, he held
his tongue.

"Listen!" she continued. "I will walk slowly, and do you remain far
enough behind for your own safety--"

"My safety is as nothing to yours," he told her, but she shook her head
impatiently.

"Please! Please! They will never select you out of a thousand dominos,
and I am not sure they suspect me. But should they try to lift my mask,
you must escape at once."

"Would they dare?" Mr. Van Dam inquired, shocked at such a breach of
carnival etiquette.

"They would dare anything."

"But I couldn't allow it, really," he persisted. "If any hand is to lift
your mask, I insist that mine be the favored one."

She darted a doubtful look at him, being plainly perturbed at his tone,
then shook her head. "She told me you were reckless, but you are
quite--insane."

For a second time he discovered that delicious color tingeing her neck
and laughed, which disconcerted her even more. She hesitated, then
turned away and he fell in behind her.

But distance served only to enhance the girl's charms. Roly saw how
beautifully proportioned she was, how regally she carried herself, how
light and springy was her step. Although he had not seen her face, he
somehow felt agreeably certain that she possessed a witching beauty.

The circumspection with which she avoided the densest crowds made him
wonder anew at the character of the danger that could overhang a masked
maiden at mid-afternoon on a carnival day, for by this time he had
forgotten his first suspicion. He thought not at all that the peril
could be serious, or in any way involve him, for the magic of the Van
Dam name protected its owner like invisible mail. The effect of that
patrony