Red Masquerade

live, openly betraying an infatuation with existence very like his own, and bot

e a pretty woman seldom courts comparison with anoth

in the public prints. Furthermore, Lady Diantha Mainwaring was moderately the talk of the town, in those prim, remotely ante-bellum days--thanks to high spir

to be neglected if ever opportunity offered to be presented to her. And though the first article of his creed proscribed women of such disastrous attractions as deadly dan

ir caste. As they had entered in a humour keyed to the highest pitch of gaiety consistent with good breeding, so with more half-stifled laughter they settled into

men unobserved as long as he liked, lifted his glan

so that he blazed with it, so that hatred fairly flowed, an invisible yet manifest

d unconscious of it or, if at all sensitive, dissembled superbly. The man was apparentl

rd, the man looked up, caught him in a stare and, mortal

st imperceptible narrowing of amused eyes--goading the other to the last stage of exasperation

while lending a civil ear to the garrulous tongue of a dealer of his acquaintance who, having edged nearer to indulge a failing for gossip, fo

assilyevski, you know

n inch, meaning to say he didn't know but at

all London has been talking about her jew

a sympathetic mouth. "An

ted from he

ed up. "And who, may o

ont row--chap with the waxed moustache and

what right has he go

him--though the Lord knows she had every reason, if half they tell is true. They say he's mad about

Lanyard interrupted, impatiently.

y-blow, they say, of a Russian grand duke and a Manc

the mongrel son of the alleged grand duke was aware he had become a subject of comment. So the emi

ke-up. All the same, he's spoiling my aftern

say, he hoped Lanyard was spoofing; but since one coul

! I'm afraid one couldn't