ut otherwise quite unlike. He was a fair man, I am
dark."

"But your grandfather--was he not dark?"

"I believe so," I answered, "but really--"

"You wonder at my questions, of course. Never mind me; think me a
witch, if you like. Do I not look a witch?"

Indeed she did, as she sat there. The diamonds flashed and gleamed,
lighting up the awful colour of her skin until she seemed a very
"Death-in-Life."

"I see that I puzzle you; but your looks, Mr. Trenoweth, are hardly
complimentary. However, you are forgiven. Here, take your talisman,
and guard it jealously; I thank you for showing it to me, but if I
were you I should keep it secret. Shall I see you again? I suppose
not. I am afraid I have made you miss some of the tragedy. You must
pardon me for that, as I have waited long to see you. At any rate,
there is the last act to come. Good-bye, and be careful of your
talisman."

As she spoke, she shut her fan with a sharp click, and then it
flashed upon me that it had never ceased its pendulous motion until
that instant. It was a strange idea to strike me then, but a
stranger yet succeeded. Was it that I heard a low mocking laugh
within the box as I stepped out into the passage? I cannot clearly
tell; perhaps it is but a fancy conjured up by later reflection on
that meeting and its consequences. I only know that as I bowed and
left her, the vision that I bore away was not of the gleaming gems,
the yellow face, the white hair, or waving fan, but of two coal-black
and impenetrable eyes.

I sought my place, and dropped into the seat beside Tom. The fourth
act was beginning, so that I had time to speculate upon my interview,
but could find no hope of solution. Finally, I abandoned guessing,
to admire Claire. As the play went on, her acting grew more and more
transcendent. Lines which I had heard from Tom's lips and scoffed
at, were now fused with subtle meaning and passion. Scenes which I
had condemned as awkward and heavy, became instinct with exquisite
pathos. There comes a point in acting at which criticism ceases,
content to wonder; this point it was clear that my love had touched.
The new play was a triumphant success.

"So," said Tom, before the last act, "Claire carries a yellow fan,
does she? I looked everywhere for you at first, and only caught
sight of you for an instant by the merest chance. You behaved rather
shabbily in giving me no chance of criticism, for I never caught a
glimp