in five minutes, wearing an apprehensive
countenance.

"There's nobody out back, miss, near the road, where she said she was
to meet Mr. Savage, and I asked Thomas and some of the waiters,
and they all said they hadn't seen her."

"But in my costume and masked . . ."

"It's past one, miss, already, and everybody has unmasked."

"To be sure. I'm going to my room and get into another dress. Then
I'll look round for her myself."

"If you'll be so kind, miss--without letting on--"

"Of course."

"Mrs. Gosnold would be very indignant if any mistake was made."

Sally caught her cloak tightly about her, and because of its
unconventionality as a costume, resumed her mask against the chance of
meeting anybody in her passage through the corridor to the far wing of
the building.

She fairly ran in her impatience, and through this haste was brought
to the head of the main staircase at the precise moment when an
unmasked Harlequin was about to set foot upon the upper landing.

Mr. Savage was smiling quietly to himself and slapping his calves
lightly with his lath-sword; nothing in his manner excused the
suspicion that he was not perfectly satisfied with himself and all his
circumstances.

Somewhat reassured by the vision of this amiable countenance, Sally
paused, and won a glance of quizzical inquiry, with especial
application to the mask which she still wore in defiance of the rule.

But when she spoke in her natural voice that look was erased from the
features of Mr. Savage as chalk-marks may be erased from a blackboard.

"Oh, Mr. Savage, if you please--"

"Wha-at!" the man ejaculated blankly, stopping short and dropping his
make-believe weapon.

"I'm looking for Mrs. Gosnold. Have you seen her anywhere about?"

"Mrs. Gos--! Aunt Abby!" He choked and gasped. "But you--who are you?"

"I thought you must know my voice."

Sally removed her mask, and incontinently Savage fell back against the
banister-rail and grasped it for support.

"Miss Manvers! But--what--how the devil did you get back here?"

"I haven't been out."

She pulled up on the verge of frank explanation; it was quite possible
that Mrs. Gosnold might furiously resent betrayal of her stratagem.
And yet Savage's look of pure fright only augmented Sally's solicitude
for her employer.

"You haven't been out! But ten minutes ago--out there--behind the
trees--"

She shook her head and tried to smile a superior sort of a smile: "It
wasn't I who me