I looked round, a confused effort at memory passing across my mind; my eyes fell at the instant upon the embroidered sleeve of the domino, where a rosebud worked in silver at once reminded me of Catrina’s secret. “Ah,” thought I, “La Senhora herself!” She was leaning upon the arm of a tall and portly figure in black; who this was I knew not, nor sought to discover, but at once advancing towards Donna Inez asked her to waltz. Without replying to me she turned towards her companion, who seemed as it were to press her acceptance of my offer; she hesitated, however, for an instant, and curtsying deeply, declined it. “Well,” thought I, “she at least has not recognized me.” “And yet, Senhora,” said I, half jestingly, “I _have_ seen you join a bolero before now.” “You evidently mistake me,” was the reply, but in a voice so well feigned as almost to convince me she was right. “Nay, more,” said I, “under your own fair auspices did I myself first adventure one.” “Still in error, believe me; I am not known to you.” “And yet I have a talisman to refresh your memory, should you dare me further.” At this instant my hand was grasped warmly by a passing mask. I turned round rapidly, and Power whispered in my ear,-- “Yours forever, Charley; you’ve made my fortune.” As he hurried on I could perceive that he supported a lady on his arm, and that she wore a loose white domino with a deep blue cape. In a second all thought of Inez was forgotten, and anxious only to conceal my emotion, I turned away and mingled in the crowd. Lost to all around me, I wandered carelessly, heedlessly on, neither noticing the glittering throng around, nor feeling a thought in common with the gay and joyous spirits that flitted by. The night wore on, my melancholy and depression growing ever deeper, yet so spell-bound was I that I could not leave the place. A secret sense that it was the last time we were to meet had gained entire possession of me, and I longed to speak a few words ere we parted forever.