"_One_ of the nice things," amended Gladys. "He has got several more--more, indeed, than any man I know. I never could understand, Stephanie, why you----" she broke off and jabbed her fork into her salad. "Why I didn't marry him instead of Henry Lorraine, you were about to say," Stephanie finished. "Neither do I--it is only another exhibition of our sex's perverseness. And I've been paying the penalty for it ever since--and it is a long account." She shrugged her shoulders expressively. "You're going to the Croyden's ball tonight, I suppose." "I am invited. I never miss anything at the Croyden's, if I can help it. They do things _well_. You're going, of course." "I don't know--I feel rather listless today." "Get over it," said Gladys briskly. "Your mother is away, so come and stay the night with me and we'll go together." With the result that at ten o'clock the Chamberlain car deposited them at the entrance of the Croyden country-house--a huge place, with great, wide piazzas on all four sides, but so arranged that they minimized the extent of the house and made it seem only of average size. In the dressing rooms they came upon Helen Burleston, Dorothy Tazewell and Arabella Rutledge. They all went down-stairs together, and greeted their host and hostess. Presently they were found by Devereux, Burgoyne and Cameron, and the eight of them strolled out on the west piazza. Burgoyne was with Gladys and Stephanie, and Gladys enquired: "Where is Miss Emerson, Sheldon; you and Devereux haven't both lost her, have you?" "We haven't found her yet, I fancy!" Burgoyne laughed,--"at least, I haven't." "Then it is safe to infer that she hasn't arrived. You're a good hunter, Sheldon." "Thank you, my lady--I appreciate the compliment from one who has so often been the quarry yet never has been caught. How many scalps dangle at your belt, I wonder?" "Not yours, at all events!" Gladys laughed. "No--not mine," Burgoyne returned sadly. "I have been prudent even though it has been at the expense of my happiness." "How cleverly you have concealed it!" Gladys retorted. "Until now, alas!" "Perhaps we may strike a bargain," she reflected. "A bargain!" he protested. "How sordid!" "How does Miss Emerson view the question--the general question, I mean?" "I haven't asked her!" "You haven't asked her _yet_," she corrected. "But I think--I think she would at least not style it a 'bargain,'" he replied. She tapped him with her fan. "Try it, Sheldon--try it, my boy!" she said. "'Faint heart never yet,' you know." "Brave heart has failed in some instances," he replied. "Witness your girdle and its appendages." "Precisely--but it's because they were brave that they hang there. They at least had a chance of winning, and they took the chance." "And lost!" he ended. They had entered the ballroom; and Porshinger, who was standing in a corner at the other side, sighted them and bore down in pursuit.