“I declare, that is too bad! If I were a man I’d pitch ’em both overboard, so I would. They look like a brace of sneak thieves anyhow. What can they want with Ingomar?” “That I don’t know; but you may be sure I’ll find out ere long, for I have got a clever detective on their track; in other words, I have got them spotted.” “If a hundred witnesses were to swear that Ingomar was a criminal, I wouldn’t believe it.” “Don’t believe anything unless you want to, but what would you think if it should turn out after all that Ingomar has murdered his rival in love?” “Oh, horrible! Don’t speak so, I beseech you!” “Such things have happened, and why not happen again?” “Yes, but Ingomar is not a man of that sort; I’d risk my life on it.” “Well, now, I have told you all I know, let’s hear about the black domino.” “I have found out scarcely anything, except the fact that she is very sad, and is often found weeping in her state-room. I have been watching her closely, though she seems to avoid me as much as she can. I think the old gentleman with the white beard is her uncle, and I heard her say to him this morning that she could not endure it much longer.” “Endure what much longer?” “That was all I heard; but she was weeping as if her heart would break, and the old gentleman tried to comfort her, and I heard him say that the matter should be settled in some way soon.” “What matter did he say should be settled?” “How should I know? I have told you all I heard.” “I’ll put my detectives on her track, too, and I’ll unravel this business, if it takes all the money I possess. See here, Scottie, did you know that I am dying with curiosity to know your real name?” “Indeed, I did not.” “Well it’s so; and why not relieve me?” “Because the queen would be offended if I were to do it.” “Tell me your real name, and the queen shall never know of it.” “You shall know me when I know you, and not before.” “Very well; that is fair, at all events, and I am content. But I see the queen beckoning us to come to our seats to listen to Ingomar’s story.” As soon as the maskers were seated the queen ordered Ingomar to resume. “The next morning after Lottie had promised to be my wife, I mentioned the subject to Doctor Dodson, as I considered it my duty to do so. “‘I am going to be married, sir,’ said I, ‘as soon as I get my diploma.’ “‘Ah, ha, indeed! and pray who’s to be the unlucky woman that you have resolved to render miserable for life?’ “‘I don’t intend to make any woman miserable, neither do I expect to marry any woman.’ I said this rather sharply, as I felt a little ruffled. “‘Ah, ha! and you don’t mean to marry a woman, yet you say you are going to be married. I suppose you expect to marry a wood-nymph or a fairy. I guess you do not aspire to an angel.’ “‘That’s exactly the state of my case; it’s an angel sure enough.’ “‘When did she light on this part of the globe?’ “‘Seven years ago.’