ince. Many a soft voice has whispered some empty remark on his
impassiveness; more than once a jest-ing sarcasm has been uttered upon
his participation in the gayety around; but he has never replied, but
with folded arms patiently awaited the expected one. At last he is
joined by another, somewhat shorter and stouter, but dressed like him,
who, bending close to his ear, whispers,--

"Why are you standing here,--have you not seen her?"

"No; she has never passed this door."

"She entered by the stage, and has been walking about this hour. I saw
her talking to several, to whom, to judge by their gestures, her remarks
must have been pointed enough; but there she is,--see, she is leaning on
the arm of that Malay chief. Join her; you know the signal."

Paten started suddenly from his lounging attitude, and cleft his way
through the crowd, little heeding the comments his rude persistence
called forth. As he drew nigh where the yellow domino stood, he
hesitated and glanced around him, as though he felt that every eye was
watching him, and only after a moment or so did he seem to remember that
he was disguised. At last he approached her, and, taking her sleeve in
his hand, unpinned the little cross of tricolored ribbon and fastened it
on his own domino. With a light gesture of farewell she quickly
dismissed her cavalier and took his arm.

[Illustration: 392]

As he led her along through the crowd, neither spoke, and it was only at
last, as seemingly baffled to find the spot he sought for, she said,--

"All places are alike here. Let us talk as we walk along."

A gentle pressure on her arm seemed to assent, and she went on:--

"It was only at the last moment that I determined to come here this
evening. You have deceived me. Yes; don't deny it Paten is with you
here, and you never told me."

He muttered something that sounded like apology.

"It was unfair of you," said she, hurriedly, "for I was candid and open
with you; and it was needless, besides, for we are as much apart as if
hundreds of miles separated us. I told you already as much."

"But why not see him? He alone can release you from the bond that ties
you; he may be more generous than you suspect."

"He generous! Who ever called him so?"

"Many who knew him as well as you," cried he, suddenly.

With a bound she disengaged her arm from him, and sprang back.

"Do not touch me; lay so much as a finger on me, and I 'll unmask and
call upon this crowd for p