When Denry entered the dining-room of the Beau-Site, which had been cleared for the ball, his costume drew attention not so much by its splendour or ingenuity as by its peculiarity. He wore a short Chinese-shaped jacket, which his wife had made out of blue linen, and a flat Chinese hat to match, which they had constructed together on a basis of cardboard. But his thighs were enclosed in a pair of absurdly ample riding breeches of an impressive check and cut to a comic exaggeration of the English pattern. He had bought the cloth for these at the tailor’s in Montreux. Below them were very tight leggings, also English. In reply to a question as to what or whom he supposed himself to represent he replied: "A Captain of Chinese cavalry, of course." And he put an eyeglass into his left eye and stared about. Now it had been understood that Nellie was to appear as Lady Jane Grey. But she appeared as Little Red Riding Hood, wearing over her frock the forgotten cloak of the Countess Ruhl. Instantly he saw her, Denry hurried towards her, with a movement of the legs and a flourish of the eyeglass in his left hand which powerfully suggested a figure familiar to every member of the company. There was laughter. People saw that the idea was immensely funny and clever, and the laughter ran about like fire. At the same time some persons were not quite sure whether Denry had not lapsed a little from the finest taste in this caricature. And all of them were secretly afraid that the uncomfortable might happen when Captain Deverax arrived. However, Captain Deverax did not arrive. The party from the Métropole came with the news that he had not been seen at the hotel for dinner; it was assumed that he had been to Montreux and missed the funicular back. "Our two stars simultaneously eclipsed!" said Denry, as the Clutterbucks (representing all the history of England) stared at him curiously. "Why?" exclaimed the Clutterbuck cousin. "Who ’s the other?" "The Countess," said Denry. "She went this afternoon—three o’clock." And all the Métropole party fell into grief. "It’s a world of coincidences," said Denry, with emphasis. "You don’t mean to insinuate," said Mrs. Clutterbuck, with a nervous laugh, "that Captain Deverax has—er—gone after the Countess?" "Oh, no!" said Denry with unction. "Such a thought never entered my head." "I think you ’re a very strange man, Mr. Machin," retorted Mrs. Clutterbuck, hostile and not a bit reassured. "May one ask what that costume is supposed to be?" "A Captain of Chinese cavalry," said Denry, lifting his eyeglass.