She raised it as cautiously as she could, crept out upon the narrow iron balcony, and found a tall, dark figure looming up before her upon the other.

“Give me your hands,” said the gentleman, in a full, rich voice that won the girl’s heart at once, “then step upon the railing, and trust yourself entirely to me; you will not fall.”

Mona unhesitatingly reached out her hands to him; he grasped them firmly; she stepped upon the railing, and the next moment was swung safely over the space between the two balconies, and stood beside her unknown friend.

He went before her through the window, and assisted her into the darkened room; the curtain was then lowered, and the gas turned up, and Mona found herself in the presence of a tall, handsome man of about thirty-three years, and a gentle, attractive-looking woman a few years his senior.

CHAPTER XV.

MONA’S ESCAPE.

The gentleman and lady both regarded the young girl with curious and searching interest as she stood, flushed and panting from excitement, in the center of the room beneath the blazing chandelier.

“Sit here, Miss Montague,” said the gentleman, pulling forward a low rocker for her, “but first,” he added, with a pleasant smile, “allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Cutler—­Justin Cutler, and this lady is my sister, Miss Marie Cutler.  Now, it is late—­we will waive all ceremony, so tell us at once about your trouble, and then we will see if we cannot help you out of it.”

Mona sat down and briefly related all that had occurred in connection with her trip since she left New York, together with some of the circumstances which she believed had made Mrs. Montague and Louis Hamblin so resolute to force her into a marriage with the latter.

Her companions listened to her with deep interest, and it was plain to be seen that all their warmest sympathies were enlisted in her cause.

Mr. Cutler expressed great indignation, and declared that Louis Hamblin merited the severest sentence that the law could impose, but, of course, he knew that nothing could be done to bring him to justice in that strange country; so, after considering the matter for a while, he concluded that the best way to release Mona from her difficulties would be by the use of strategy.

“We are to leave on a steamer for New York to-morrow morning, and you shall go with us,” Mr. Cutler remarked, “and if we can get you away from the hotel and on board the boat without young Hamblin’s knowledge, you will be all right, and there will be no disagreeable disturbance or scandal to annoy you.  Even should he discover your flight, and succeed in boarding the vessel before she sails, he will be helpless, for a quiet appeal to the captain will effectually baffle him.  But how about your baggage?” he asked in conclusion.

“My trunk is in my room,” Mona returned.