Red Masquerade

ise Providence, in especial on its failure so to fashion the body of man as to enable

t, and publicly, at that. For the freak he had just indulged was rank quixotism, something which had as

as conceivably have been everyday vanity or plain cussedness: a noble impulse to serve a pretty lady in distress, a spontaneo

cided), his impelling motive h

, it proved notably successful; in

ably lifted the curse of his superficial foppishness, but he was putting a spoke in Prince Victor's wheel. And whosoever did that, by chance, out of sheer voluptuousness, or with malice prepense, won immediate title to

m Lady Diantha did nothing to

on Lanyard made that young man wonder if he were mistaken in believing that the eyes of the prince shone in

e tribute of a quiet smile, in direct ackn

ousand

dred," Lan

a bid designed to s

thous

ce he uttered: "O

teen

to parrot the bid when Victor sprang to his feet, his features working, his limbs shaking so that the legs of the

ent

rd said:

u, sir--?" He aimed a respectful bow at Prince Victor, who snubbed him with a sign of fury.

his emotion, snatch up his topper, clap it on his head, and make for the door with foo

e of further reward. Even if he could have been guilty of such impertinence, indeed, he must have forborne for very shame. After all (he told himself) he hadn't figured very creditably, permitting petty prejudice to sway him a

s he proceeded to the desk of the auctioneer's clerk, filled in a chequ

and Lady Diantha Mainwaring; and just outside the entrance he found Prince Victor waiting with a

ed in to the curb in response to a signal of Lanyard's cane, this last concluded t

arriage-block, and only hesitated when he saw that the prince, utterly ignoring the presence of the princess and Lady Dia

looked round with a quirk of h

lly must know, I'm going home now, to my rooms i

n Prince Victor slink away, to the music of smothered laughter from th

mself, he chirped to the driv