I turned instantly. The Blue Domino had come back to me. "I have been searching for you everywhere," I said gallantly. "Oh! but that is a black one. Never mind; the fib was well meant." I led her over to a secluded nook, within a few feet of the door which gave entrance to the club cellars. This door I had been bearing in mind for some time. It is well to know your topography. The door was at the left of the band platform. There was a twin-door on the other side. We sat down. [Illustration: I led her over to a secluded nook. We sat down.] "Have you heard the news?" I asked. "No. Has some one been discovered making love to his own wife by mistake?" "It's serious. Anne of Austria and Queen Elizabeth have been robbed of some jewels." "A thief among us?" "A regular Galloping Dick. I'm a thief myself, for that matter." "You?" she drew away from me a bit. "Yes. My name is Procrastination." "Ah, my grave Capuchin, we do not steal time; we merely waste it. But is what you tell me true?" "I am very sorry to say it is. The jewels were worth something like ten thousand dollars." "Merciful heavens!" "It is true, infernally true,"--looking around to see if by chance Caesar had reappeared on the scene. (How was I to manage my escape? It is true I might hie me to the cellars; but how to get out of the cellars!) "Have you seen Julius Caesar?" I asked. "Caesar?" "Yes, Miss Hawthorne--" The Blue Domino swung about and leaned toward me, her hands tense upon the sides of her chair. "What name did you say?"--a strained note in her voice. "Hawthorne," I answered, taking out the slip of pasteboard. "See! it says that one blue domino was rented of Monsieur Friard at five-thirty this afternoon." "How did you come by that ticket?" she demanded. "It was a miracle. I purchased a mask there, and this ticket was wrapped up in my bundle by mistake." "It is a curious coincidence,"--her voice normal and unagitated. I was confused. "Then I am mistaken?"--my chagrin evident. (All this while, mind you, I was wondering if that cellar-door was unlocked, and how long it would take me to reach it before the denouement!) "One way or the other, it does not matter," said she. "Yet, if I could reach the cellars,"--absently. Then I bit my tongue. "Cellars? Who said anything about cellars? I meant that this is not the hour for unmasking or disclosing one's identity,"--coldly. "And yet, when Caesar whispered 'Beware the ten of hearts' you turned and shuddered. What have you to offer in defense?" "It was the horrid mask he wore." "Well, it wasn't handsome of him." "What did you mean by cellars?"--suddenly becoming the inquisitor in her turn. "I? Oh, I was thinking what I should do in case of fire,"--nimbly. "That is not the truth." "Well, no, it isn't. Can you keep a secret?" I whispered. "If it isn't a terrible one." "Well, I have no earthly business here. I am an impostor." "An impostor!"