She laughed and blew him a kiss as her husband encircled her Grecian waist and steered her out into the fox-trotting throng, her flimsy draperies fluttering like the wind-blown tunic of a Tanagra dancing figure. The stamp and jingling din of Nautch girls rang in his ears as he turned away and looked out over the shifting crowd. Everywhere he recognized people he had met or heard about, men eminent or notorious in their vocations, actors, painters, writers, architects, musicians—men of science, lawyers, promoters, officers of industry commissioned and non-commissioned, the gayer element of the stage were radiantly in evidence, usually in the dancing embrace of Broad and Wall Streets; artistic masculine worth and youth pranced proudly with femininity of social attainment; the beautiful unplaced were there in daring deshabille, captivating solid domestic character which had come there wifeless and receptive. Suddenly he saw Stephanie. She was leaning back against the side of the arena, besieged by a ring of men. Gales of laughter swept her brilliant entourage of gods and demons, fauns and heroes, all crowding about to pay their eager court. And Stephanie, laughing back at them from the centre of the three-fold circle, her arms crossed behind her, stood leaning against the side of the amphitheatre under a steady rain of rose petals dropped on her by some young fellows in the box above her. Through this rosy rain, through the three-fold ring of glittering gods, she caught sight of Cleland—met his gaze with a soft, quick cry of delight. Out through the circle of chagrined Olympians she sprang on sandalled feet, not noticing these protesting suitors; and with both lovely, rounded arms outstretched, her jewelled hands fell into Cleland’s, clasping them tightly in an ecstacy of possession. "I couldn’t find you," she explained breathlessly. "I was so dreadfully afraid you hadn’t come! Isn’t it all magnificent! Isn’t it wonderful! Did you see the pageant? Did you ever see anything as splendid? Slip your arm around me; we can walk better together in this crush——" passing her own bare arm confidently over his shoulder and falling into step with him. "I saw you in the pageant," he said, encircling with his arm the silken body-vestment of her slender waist. "Did you? Did you see Helen and me come out of our golden chrysalids? Was it pretty?" "Charming and unexpected. You are quite the most beautiful thing on the floor to-night." "Really, Jim, do you think so? You darling boy, to say it! I’m having a wonderful time. How handsome you are in your dress of a young oriental warrior!" "I’m the fourth Caliph, Ali," he explained. "I had this costume made in Paris." "It’s bewitching, Jim. You _are_ good looking!—you adorable brother of mine. Do you like my paste emeralds? You don’t think I’m too scantily clad, do you?" "That seems to be the general fashion——"