“Light your cigars and be sensible,” said she, “or I shall go in.”

We obeyed.  The three of us turned to the window to watch the figure, the music of which was just beginning.  Mr. Cooke, with the air of an English squire at his own hunt ball, was strutting contentedly up and down one end of the room, now pausing to exchange a few hearty words with some Presbyterian matron from Asquith, now to congratulate Mr. Trevor on the appearance of his daughter.  Lined against the opposite wall were the Celebrity and his ten red-coated followers, just rising for the figure.  It was very plain that Miss Trevor was radiantly happy; she was easily the handsomest girl in the room, and I could not help philosophizing when I saw her looking up into the Celebrity’s eyes upon the seeming inconsistency of nature, who has armed and warned woman against all but her most dangerous enemy.

And then a curious thing happened.  The Celebrity, as if moved by a sudden uncontrollable impulse, raised his eyes until they rested on the window in which we were.  Although his dancing was perfect, he lost the step without apparent cause, his expression changed, and for the moment he seemed to be utterly confused.  But only for the moment; in a trice he had caught the time again and swept Miss Trevor rapidly down the room and out of sight.  I looked instinctively at the girl beside me.  She had thrown her head forward, and in the streaming light I saw that her lips were parted in a smile.

I resolved upon a stroke.

“Mr. Allen,” I remarked, “leads admirably.”

“Mr. Allen!” she exclaimed, turning on me.

“Yes, it is Mr. Allen who is leading,” I repeated.

An expression of perplexity spread over her face, but she said nothing.  My curiosity was aroused to a high pitch, and questions were rising to my lips which I repressed with difficulty.  For Miss Thorn had displayed, purposely or not, a reticence which my short acquaintance with her compelled me to respect; and, besides, I was bound by a promise not to betray the Celebrity’s secret.  I was, however, convinced from what had occurred that she had met the Celebrity in the East, and perhaps known him.

Had she fallen in love with him, as was the common fate of all young women he met?  I changed my opinion on this subject a dozen times.  Now I was sure, as I looked at her, that she was far too sensible; again, a doubt would cross my mind as the Celebrity himself would cross my view, the girl on his arm reduced to adoration.  I followed him narrowly when in sight.  Miss Thorn was watching him, too, her eyes half closed, as though in thought.  But beyond the fact that he threw himself into the dance with a somewhat increased fervor, perhaps, his manner betokened no uneasiness, and not even by a glance did he betray any disturbing influence from above.

Thus we stood silently until the figure was finished, when Miss Thorn seated herself in one of the wicker chairs behind us.