“But why not?”

“Pardon me.  I cannot tell you why not.  It is not a story fit for your ears.  But I will tell your father.  For I think the real position of the fellow ought to be known.  In the meantime, will you take my word for the truth of what I have said, and permit me to lead you to a seat?”

“Certainly,” said the young lady, trembling with distress.

“I regret exceedingly to deprive you of your dance; but you perceive that there is no other vacant place.”

“Oh, don’t mention it!  Find me a seat.”

This low-toned conversation, every word of which had been overheard by Claudia who, though in another set, stood nearly back to back with the speaker, was entirely lost to Ishmael, who stood at the foot of the same set with him, but was at a greater distance, and was besides quite absorbed in the task of reassuring his timid schoolgirl companion.

Just as Burghe turned to lead his partner away, and Ishmael, attracted by the movement, lifted his eyes to see the cause, Claudia gently drew Lord Vincent after her, and going up to the retiring couple said: 

“Miss Tourneysee, I beg your pardon; but will you and your partner do myself and Lord Vincent the favor to exchange places with us?  We particularly desire to form a part of this set.”

“Oh, certainly!” said the young lady, wondering, but rejoiced to find that she should not be obliged to miss the dance.

They exchanged places accordingly; but as they still stood very near together, Claudia heard him whisper to his partner: 

“This evening I think I will speak to your father and some other gentlemen and enlighten them as to who this fellow really is!”

Claudia heard all this; but commanded herself.  Her face was pale as marble; her lips were bloodless; but her dark eyes had the terrible gleam of suppressed but determined hatred!  In such moods as hers, people have sometimes planned murder.

However, she went through all the four dances very composedly.  And when they were over and Lord Vincent had led her to a seat, she sent him to fetch her a glass of water, while she kept her eye on the movements of Captain Burghe, until she saw him deposit his partner on a sofa and leave her to fetch a cream, or some such refreshment.

And then Claudia arose, drank the ice-water brought her by the viscount, set the empty glass on a stand and requested Lord Vincent to give her his arm down the room, as she wished to speak to Captain Burghe.

The viscount glanced at her in surprise, saw that her face was bloodless; but ascribed her pallor to fatigue.

Leaning on Lord Vincent’s arm, she went down the whole length of the room until she paused before the sofa on which sat Miss Tourneysee and several other ladies, attended by General Tourneysee, Captain Burghe and other gentlemen.

Burghe stood in front of the sofa, facing the ladies and with his back towards Claudia, of whose approach he was entirely ignorant, as he discoursed as follows: