"You have not seen him?" she whispered. "No; that is, therefore, why I am here to-night. Nothing has been done." "Yet Francis knows; he affects to laugh, but I believe him furious. I fear he has come here to meet my lord." She paused, panting. "I have done all that I could," answered Susannah. "I sent to Lyndwood House last night, but Rose was abroad. I sent again in the morning. He had returned, but was gone again. I was assured he would be at this masque. Marius had a ticket, and I took my lady's, who was weary." "Ah, you are very good to me," murmured Miss Boyle. "If I were not so distracted--so agitated--I might make some shift to thank you. Had it not been for you I should have lost courage and fled from town." "I entreat you," interrupted Susannah, "do not mock me, dear. And how are we to find Rose? I have no idea what he is wearing." Selina looked desperately down the ballroom, and her glance fell on Marius. "Does _he_ not know," she asked--"Captain Lyndwood?" "Oh, nothing, my dear. He never looks at the papers, and hardly sees anyone." Miss Chressham's eyes were bright through the holes of her mask. "He is drifting, I fear, like Rose--like all of them." Miss Boyle hung her head and was silent. The light and charming music of the gavotte repeated itself; the bright-hued dresses of the dancers formed graceful moving patterns on the polished floor; the glow of a thousand wax candles and the soft sound of laughing voices were diffused very pleasantly. Marius glanced covertly at his cousin and Miss Boyle. They were conversing together in low, earnest tones, neither taking any heed of him. He moved still further away, so as not to appear to court their notice, and walked languidly down the ballroom. The dance came to an end. The orange and red domino left her partner and came straight to Marius Lyndwood. She held out her hand, and he could not pretend that he did not know her, but he gave her greeting of the coldest. "I did not think to be here, Lady Lyndwood. Chance brought me." "How eager you are to explain that!" she answered in her clear, scornful tone. "All the evening you have had that speech on your tongue: 'I did not come because you asked me, because you told me the colour of your dress, but--chance brought me!' Well, since you are here, it is much the same, is it not?" "I came because Miss Chressham desired it," he answered stiffly, "and to see my lord. He is here?" "Is it you or your cousin who wishes to see my lord?" asked the Countess. "Your cousin, of course." And she laughed. "Is he here, my lady?" repeated Marius angrily. "Oh yes, he is here--courting Miss Trefusis, who is quite the fashion now. But shall we not be remarked?" Her hand slipped under his domino and clung to his velvet sleeve. "Take me out of the ballroom." She led him into an antechamber, a small place of mirrors and satin chairs, lit, not too brightly, with tall white candles.