It was seen that she had changed her dress--this done during the interlude of supper--and was now in the costume of a Carib queen, short skirt and low boddice. Robes rather gauzy and transparent; at which some present were not slow to speak disapprovingly. But these were in the minority; the wonderful beauty of the girl, with a knowledge that her ways and bringing up had not been as theirs, made the majority large and something more than lenient. And when she became engaged in the innocent occupation of flower-gathering, like a brilliant butterfly flitting from one to another, satire was silent; even the most Puritanical seeming to forget all about the thinness and scantiness of her attire. Then came the start, the listening attitude, the affectation of alarm, followed by the confused flight; in grand _voltes_ in side-bounds, as an antelope surprised by a panther. At length the circling retreat, round and round the ring of spectators, at first in a rapid whirl, till feigning exhaustion, her movements gradually became slower and feebler, as though she would drop to the earth. Every eye was now on the alert; they knew the _finale_ was near, and the recipient of the favour would soon be declared. It often means nothing beyond mere compliment; and as oft for delicate reasons, the favoured one is not the one wished for. But no such influences were likely to affect the present case, and the _denouement_ was looked for with a rare intensity of interest. The girl had drawn off one of her jewelled gloves--in those days they were so adorned--and held it with arm astretch, ready to be flung. Still, she went undulating on, at each turn of her face toward the spectators seeming to search among them. Many a one had wishes, and more than one a hope of seeing that glove tossed to him. For Clarisse Lalande had a large following of lovers. All save one to suffer disappointment, with more or less chagrin. And yet giving no gratification to him at whose feet it eventually fell, as the wise ones knew it would--Eustace Trevor. With less show of alacrity than resignation he took it up; this an exigency of the performance. After which, with open arms, he received the exhausted _danseuse_, her breasts heaving and panting as though they would burst the silken corset that so slightly confined them. Cold-blooded man he, many might have thought him. But had other breasts been thus near his own, another heart beating so close to his, he would have shown warmth enough. CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. GUARDIAN ANGELS.