nor than he
had worn that evening, for he was strangely perplexed by the presence at
the king's ball this night of the girl whom he had seen at the country
Inn. As soon as Chavernay had disappeared, Peyrolles, hurriedly
beckoning, gathered about him Navailles, Noce, and the others, and
addressed them in an eager whisper:

"Gentlemen, you are all devoted to the interests of the Prince de
Gonzague?"

Noce spoke for himself and his comrades: "We are."

Peyrolles went on: "Then, as you value his friendship, secure the person
of that girl whom Monsieur de Chavernay spoke to just now."

"Why?" Navailles questioned.

Peyrolles answered him, sharply: "Don't ask; act. To please our master it
should be done at once."

"How is it to be done?" asked Taranne.

Peyrolles looked about him. "Is there no other woman here who wears a
rose-colored domino?"

Navailles pointed to a group in an adjacent arbor. "Cidalise, yonder, is
wearing a rose-colored domino. She will do anything for me."

"Bring her," Peyrolles said, in a tone of command which he sometimes
assumed when he was on his master's business, and which no one of his
master's friends ever took it upon himself to resent. Navailles went
towards the arbor and came back with Cidalise upon his arm. Cidalise was
a pretty, young actress, wearing just such a pink domino as that worn by
Gabrielle.

Navailles formally presented her to Peyrolles. "Monsieur Peyrolles, this
is the divine Cidalise. What do you want of her?"

Peyrolles unceremoniously took the actress by the wrist, and pointed to
where Gabrielle and her escort were wandering.

"You see that girl in rose-color, escorted by two giants? Your friends
will gather about them and begin to hustle the giants. In the confusion
you will slip between the pair, who will then be left to march off,
believing that you are their charge, who will, however, be in the care of
these gentlemen. Do you understand?"

Cidalise nodded. "Perfectly. And if I do this?"

"You may rely upon the generosity of the Prince of Gonzague," Peyrolles
answered. If he said little, he looked much, and Cidalise understood him
as she accepted.

"It will be rare sport. Come, gentlemen."

By this time Gabrielle and her companions, having completed their second
circumnavigation of the pond, were going slowly across the open space
again. The crowd was very great about them, the noise and laughter made
everything confused. Gonzague's friends took advantag