to-night. No," she mused, "you will not blow up the
post-office to-night, nor the police-station."

She lifted the corner of her mask, and I beheld the girl I had met in
Mouquin's!

"You?"

"Silence! So this is the meaning of your shuffling those cards? Oh,
it is certainly droll!" She laughed.

"And are you Miss Hawthorne?"

"I am still in the mask, sir; I shall answer none of your questions."

"This is the finest romance in the world!" I cried.

"You were talking about getting out," she said. "Shall I lend you my
domino? But that would be useless. Such a prestidigitator as Signor
Fantoccini has only to say--Presto! and disappear at once."

"I assure you, it is no laughing matter."

"I see it from a different angle."

An artist's model, and yet a guest at this exclusive function?

A commotion around the stage distracted us. Presently we saw Teddy
Hamilton mount the stage and hold up his hands.

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen!" he called.

Silence gradually fell upon the motley groups of masqueraders.

"A thief is among us. I have had all the exits closed. Everybody will
be so kind as to present cards at the main entrance. Three ten-spots
of hearts have been tallied on the comparing lists. We have been
imposed upon. The police are on the way. Very sorry to cause you this
annoyance. The identity of the holders of the cards will be known only
to those of us on the committee."

Silence and then a murmur which soon became a fuzzing like that of many
bees.

The Blue Domino suddenly clutched my arm.

"Please take me away, take me away at once! I'm an impostor, too!"

Two of us!

This was disaster. I give you my solemn word, there was nothing I
regretted so much as the fact that I hadn't gone to the theater.

But I am a man of quick thought and resource. In the inelegant
phrasing of the day, me for the cellars!

"Come," said I to the girl; "There's only one chance in a hundred, but
we'll take it together."

"Together? Where?"

"Why, to the cellars. I've a pocketful of matches. We can make a try.
For, if there's a thief around, and we are caught and proved
impostors--Well, I leave you to imagine!"

"I will go with you," she replied resolutely.

The gods were with us. The door leading to the cellars was not locked.
I opened it, passed the girl before me, and closed the door.

"I am frightened!" she whispered.

"So am I," I offered, to reassure her. "You are not afraid o