act in perfect
unison."

Marion looked up silently until her eyes met his glance; she grew icy
cold, but she could feel the quick throb of each pulse beat. Duncan
pressed her gently nearer, but she drew back and tossed her head
forcibly away. She laughed a hollow little laugh at the fear in her
heart, for here at least she was mistress of herself. Rhythmically their
steps moved on to the enchanting music. Marion closed her eyes and tried
to shut out the thoughts in her heart. In the darkness she seemed to be
carried softly on through space, like some spirit borne away in the arms
of dreamy happiness. Duncan drew her closer to his side; she felt a
delicious sense of joy, such as she had never known before, and, almost
dizzy, she glided on over the shining floor, her heart beating with
wild, delightful pleasure. The music stopped. For a moment they danced
on, but the dream had faded; she was back in the noisy, humming world of
people.

Marion had arrived so late that people were already flocking toward the
supper table. She had long before promised to take supper with Walter
Sedger, who was to lead the cotillon; but when he appeared, she
suggested that as Duncan was alone he had better join them. So the three
wandered down-stairs and entered the supper-room. The weird Hungarian
_Czardas_ was being played by the Tzigans in the hallway, and it seemed
to Marion that it did not harmonize with the clattering plates and the
laughter. She had once heard that fantastic melody in Buda, and then it
created strange sensations of unrest and aroused the wildest feelings of
her nature. In her present state of mind she felt thankful for the noisy
rattle of the supper-room.

The tables were placed in a large, oblong room, and were arranged for
parties of four or six, but Marion, being a patroness, was conducted to
a large, round table at the farther end, reserved for the managers and
their friends. She hoped that the presence of other people would spare
her the necessity of talking much, but at first she was obliged to
manufacture conversation, in order to keep her two companions amused.
Duncan made no attempt to conceal the fact that the presence of Sedger
was distasteful to him, and he amused himself by delivering occasional
satirical remarks upon the latter's conversation which did not tend to
improve the relations between the two men. Accidentally, however, both
Duncan and Sedger were drawn into the general talk of the table, and