es heaved, melted, swam in confusion; all sound came dull
and hoarse upon my ear; while there--there--

There, in the blaze of light, radiant, lovely, a glorified and
triumphant queen, stepped forward before the eyes of that vast
multitude--my love, my Claire!

CHAPTER VI.

TELLS HOW THE BLACK AND YELLOW FAN SENT A MESSAGE; AND HOW I SAW A
FACE IN THE FOG.

As I sat stupefied our eyes met. It was but for an instant, but in
that instant I saw that she recognised me and mutely challenged my
verdict. Then she turned to Valentine.

The theatre rang with tumultuous plaudits as her song ended. I could
feel Tom's grasp at my elbow, but I could neither echo the applause
nor answer him. It was all so wildly, grotesquely improbable.

This then was my love, this the Claire whom I had wooed and won in
the shy covert of Pangbourne Woods--this deified and transfigured
being before whom thousands were hushed in awe. Those were the lips
that had faltered in sweet confession--those before which the breath
of thousands came and went in agitated wonder. It was incredible.

And then, as Tom's hand was laid upon my arm, it flashed upon me that
the woman he loved was my plighted bride--and he knew nothing of it.
As this broke upon me there swept over me an awful dread lest he
should see my face and guess the truth. How could I tell him?
Poor Tom! Poor Tom!

I turned my eyes upon Claire again. Yes, she was superb: beyond all
challenge glorious. And all the more I felt as one who has betrayed
his friend and is angry with fate for sealing such betrayal beyond
revoke.

Whether Claire misinterpreted my look of utter stupefaction or not, I
do not know; but as she turned and recognised Valentine there was a
tremor in her voice which the audience mistook for art, though I knew
it to be but too real. I tried to smile and to applaud, but neither
eyes nor hand would obey my will; and so even Claire's acting became
a reproach and an appeal to me, pleading forgiveness to which my soul
cried assent though my voice denied it. Minute after minute I sat
beneath an agonising spell I could not hope to break.

"Congratulate me, Jasper. What do you think of her?"

It was Tom's voice beside me. Congratulate him! I felt the meanest
among men.

"She is--glorious," I stammered.

"I knew you would say so. Unbeliever, did ever man see such eyes?
Confess now, what are Claire's beside them?"

"Claire's--are--much the same."