“Pardon me, Miss Merlin.  The circumstance to which you allude was beyond my control, and Mr.—­a—­Word’s share in it without my consent; his service was, I believe, well repaid by my father; and the trouble with me is not that my memory is defective, but rather that it is too retentive.  I remember the origin of—­”

“Our acquaintance with Mr. Worth!” interrupted Claudia, turning deadly pale and speaking in the low tones of suppressed passion.  “Yes, I know! there was a stopped carriage, rifled hampers, and detected thieves.  There was a young gentleman who dishonored his rank, and a noble working boy who distinguished himself in that affair.  I remember perfectly well the circumstances to which you refer.”

“You mistake, Miss Merlin,” retorted Burghe, with a hot flush upon his brow, “I do not refer to that boyish frolic, for it was no more!  I refer to—­”

“Mr. Burghe, excuse me.  Mr. Worth, will you do me the favor to tell the band to strike up a quadrille?  Lord Vincent, I presume they expect us to open the ball.  Bee, my dear, you are engaged to Mr. Worth for this set.  Be sure when he returns to come to the same set with us and be our vis-a-vis,” said Claudia, speaking rapidly.

Before she had finished Ishmael had gone upon her errand, and the band struck up a lively quadrille.  Claudia gave her hand to Lord Vincent, who led her to the head of the first set.  When Ishmael returned, Bee gave him her hand and told him Claudia’s wish, which, of course, had all the force of a command for him, and he immediately led Bee to the place opposite Lord Vincent and Hiss Merlin.

And Captain Burghe was left to bite his nails in foiled malignity.

But later in the evening he took his revenge and received his punishment.

It happened in this manner:  New quadrilles were being formed.  Claudia was again dancing with Lord Vincent, and they had taken their places at the head of one of the sets.  Ishmael was dancing with one of the poor neglected “wallflowers” to whom Bee had kindly introduced him, and he led his partner to a vacant place at the foot of one of the sets; he was so much engaged in trying to entertain the shy and awkward girl that he did not observe who was their vis-a-vis, or overhear the remarks that were made.

But Claudia, who, with the viscount, was standing very near, heard and saw all.  She saw Ishmael lead his shy young partner up to a place in the set, exactly opposite to where Alfred Burghe with his partner, Miss Tourneysee, stood.  And she heard Mr. Burghe whisper to Miss Tourneysee: 

“Excuse me; and permit me to lead you to a seat.  The person who has just taken the place opposite to us is not a proper associate even for me, still less for you.”

And she saw Miss Tourneysee’s look of surprise and heard her low-toned exclamation: 

“Why, it is Mr. Worth!  I have danced with him often!”

“I am sorry to hear it.  I hope you will take the word of an officer and a gentleman that he is not a respectable person, and by no means a proper acquaintance for any lady.”