"Just now I was talking with a pretty girl and Dick suddenly forced his way through the crowd, going in the direction of the buffet. I had no idea on what a serious mission he was bound, of course, and so I called him to introduce him to the pretty girl, who had with her an aunt, a veritable witch, as hideous as a Medusa, and who, in addition, is afflicted with a wooden leg. Dick gave the aunt only a glance. That was enough, but he was all smiles for her pretty niece, who, I must admit, is somewhat of a flirt. Anyhow she rolled her eyes so eloquently at him that he forgot all about the important errand on which he was bound. Just at that moment the musicians struck up a _schottische_, and, on the spur of the moment, he asked the pretty girl to dance. She declined, with an arch smile, but, pointing to the old witch, said her aunt would be delighted. Poor Dick! There was no help for it. The Medusa got up, seized him in her claws, and, the last thing I saw of the poor youth, they were doing a sort of Bunny Hug, the wooden leg of his lady partner marking time on the waxed floor." "Please stop! If you go on--I shall expire." Ray was nearly in convulsions of laughter in which all joined. When Helen had somewhat regained her composure, she said: "I think it's unkind to make fun of the poor woman. Who is she?" "I haven't the least idea. Perhaps Dick will tell us." At that moment the youth emerged from the throng and came towards them, his linen mussed, his hair dishevelled. But in one hand he held grimly a plate of ice cream. Looking shamelessly at Ray, he smiled: "I've got it--at last." "Where have you been all this time?" she demanded innocently. "Oh, I've been having no end of a good time!" Steell burst out laughing. "Did she ask you to call, Dick?" "If she had I'd have killed her." "How did the artificial leg work?" "She jammed it on my foot once. How it did hurt!" Ray, by this time, was almost in hysterics, and Helen and the others, catching the contagion, the whole group were soon shaken by uncontrollable laughter. The orchestra struck up a quadrille. A man came rushing up to Ray. "My dance, I believe." With a comical expression of resignation, the young girl allowed herself to be led away, while Helen and Mrs. Brewster-Curtis took seats to watch the figures. "Come, Dick," said Steell in an undertone. "Let's go and smoke a cigar." Leading the way he went into the smoking-room, where cigars and liquors were laid out. Turning to the youth, he inquired eagerly: "Well--what about the Signor? What have you found out?" Dick lit a cigarette and then calmly he said: "Everything." "What--to be specific." "He's all and more than we expected." "In other words--a crook?" "Yes, and a dangerous one." "What's his game?" "Confidence man, bank robber, blackmailer." "How did you find out?"