t the imminent risk of his own. It is true the affair happened
long ago, when they were both boys; but it seems to me that if anyone
had exposed himself to a death by fire to rescue me from a burning
building, I should remember it to the latest day of my life."

"Pardon me, Miss Merlin. The circumstance to which you allude was beyond
my control, and Mr.--a--Word's share in it without my consent; his
service was, I believe, well repaid by my father; and the trouble with
me is not that my memory is defective, but rather that it is too
retentive. I remember the origin of--"

"Our acquaintance with Mr. Worth!" interrupted Claudia, turning deadly
pale and speaking in the low tones of suppressed passion. "Yes, I know!
there was a stopped carriage, rifled hampers, and detected thieves.
There was a young gentleman who dishonored his rank, and a noble working
boy who distinguished himself in that affair. I remember perfectly well
the circumstances to which you refer."

"You mistake, Miss Merlin," retorted Burghe, with a hot flush upon his
brow, "I do not refer to that boyish frolic, for it was no more! I refer
to--"

"Mr. Burghe, excuse me. Mr. Worth, will you do me the favor to tell the
band to strike up a quadrille? Lord Vincent, I presume they expect us to
open the ball. Bee, my dear, you are engaged to Mr. Worth for this set.
Be sure when he returns to come to the same set with us and be our
vis-a-vis," said Claudia, speaking rapidly.

Before she had finished Ishmael had gone upon her errand, and the band
struck up a lively quadrille. Claudia gave her hand to Lord Vincent, who
led her to the head of the first set. When Ishmael returned, Bee gave
him her hand and told him Claudia's wish, which, of course, had all the
force of a command for him, and he immediately led Bee to the place
opposite Lord Vincent and Hiss Merlin.

And Captain Burghe was left to bite his nails in foiled malignity.

But later in the evening he took his revenge and received his
punishment.

It happened in this manner: New quadrilles were being formed. Claudia
was again dancing with Lord Vincent, and they had taken their places at
the head of one of the sets. Ishmael was dancing with one of the poor
neglected "wallflowers" to whom Bee had kindly introduced him, and he
led his partner to a vacant place at the foot of one of the sets; he was
so much engaged in trying to entertain the shy and awkward girl that he
did not observe who was their vis-a