As was usual, the moment that dancing began and hilarity held sway, most of the guests slipped on a velvet mask, which partly hid the face and was supposed--owing to the certain air of mystery which it conveyed--to confer greater freedom of speech upon the wearer and greater ease of manner. There were but few of the rich Spanish doublets to be seen now: the more garish colours beloved of the worthy burghers of Flanders held undisputed sway. But here and there a dark figure or two--clad in purple and black of a severe cut--were seen gliding in and out among the crowd, and wherever they appeared they seemed to leave a trail of silence behind them. Mark was just about to make a serious effort at conversing with his fiancée, and racking his brain as to what subject of gossip would interest her most, when a man in sombre attire, and wearing a mask, came close up to his elbow. Mark looked him quietly up and down. "Laurence!" he said without the slightest show of surprise, and turning well away from donna Lenora so that she should not hear. "Hush!" said the other. "I don’t want father to knew that I am here ... but I couldn’t keep away." "How did you get through?" "Oh! I disclosed myself to the men-at-arms. No one seemed astonished." "Why should they be? Your escapade is not known." "Has everything gone off well?" queried Laurence. "Admirably," replied the other dryly. "I was just about to make myself agreeable to my fiancée when you interrupted me." "I’ll not hinder you." "Have you been home at all?" "Yes. My heart ached for our dear mother, and though my resolution was just as firm, I wanted to comfort her. I slipped into the house, just after you had left. I saw our mother, and she told me what you had done. I am very grateful." "And did you speak to father?" "Only for a moment. He came up to say ’good-night’ to mother when I was leaving her room. She had told me the news, so I no longer tried to avoid him. Of course he is full of wrath against me for the fright I gave him, but, on the whole, meseemed as if his anger was mostly pretence and he right glad that things turned out as they have done. I am truly grateful to you, Mark," reiterated Laurence earnestly. "Have I not said that all is for the best?" rejoined Mark dryly. "Now stand aside, man, and let me speak to my bride." "She is very beautiful, Mark!" "Nay! it is too late to think of that, man!" quoth Mark with his habitual good-humour; "we cannot play shuttlecock with the lovely Lenora, and she is no longer for you." "I’ll not interfere, never fear. It was only curiosity that got the better of me and the longing to get a glimpse of her." VII This rapid colloquy between the two brothers had been carried on in whispers, and both had drawn well away from the window embrasure, leaving the velvet curtain between them and donna Lenora so as to deaden the sound of their voices and screen them from her view.