"I didn't know that I could hate you so much!" she said quietly. "But I shall not forget this. I shall let you see before I am a day older that you are not quite the master you think you are: suppose I tell him how you have played with him." "Then before you are three hours older I shall precipitate a crisis that you will not like, Miss Holbrook. I advise you, as your best friend, to do what I ask." She shrugged her shoulders, drew the scarlet cloak more closely about her, and I left her gazing off into the strip of wood that lay close upon the inland side of the club-house. I was by no means sure of her, but there was no time for further parley. I dropped the blue cloak on a chair in a corner and hurried round to the door of the ball-room, meeting Rosalind and Gillespie coming out flushed with their dance. "The hour of enchantment is almost past. I must have one turn before the princess goes back to her castle!"--and Rosalind took my arm. "Meet me at the landing in two minutes, Gillespie! As a special favor--as a particular kindness--I shall allow you to take the princess home!" And I hurried Rosalind away, regained the blue cloak, and flung it about her. "Well," she said, drawing the hood over her head, "who am I, anyhow!" "Don't ask me such questions! I'm afraid to say." "I like your air of business. You are undoubtedly a man of action!" "I thank you for the word. I'm breathing hard. I have seen ghosts and communed with dragons. She's here! your _alter ego_ is on this very veranda more angry than it is well for a woman to be." "Oh," she faltered, "she found out and followed?" "She did; she undoubtedly did!" As we paused under one of the veranda lamps she looked down at the cloak and laughed. "So this is hers! I thought it didn't feel quite right. But that pair of gloves!" "It's in my pocket. I have stolen it!" I led the way to the lower veranda of the casino, which was now de-a sorted. "Stay right here and appear deeply interested in the heavens above and the waters under the earth until I get back." I ran up the stairs again and found Helen where I had left her. "And now," I said, giving her my arm, "you will not forget the rules of the game! Your fortunes, and your father's are brighter to-night than they have ever been. You hate me to the point of desperation, but remember I am your friend after all." She stopped abruptly, hesitating. I felt indecision in the lessening touch upon my arm, and I saw it in her eyes as the light from the ball-room door flooded us. "You have taken everything away from me! You are playing Reginald against me." "Possibly--who knows! I supposed you had more faith in your powers than that!" "I have no faith in anything," she said dejectedly. "Oh, yes, you have! You have an immense amount of faith in yourself. And you know you care nothing at all about Reginald Gillespie; he's a nice boy, but that's all." "You are contemptible and wicked!" she flared. "Let us go."