The music ceased.
"Now, run away with your benedictions," said the Blue Domino
breathlessly.
"Shall I see you again?"--eagerly.
"If you seek diligently." She paused for a moment, like a bird about
to take flight. "Positive, fool; comparative, fooler; superlative,
foolest!"
And I was left standing alone: What the deuce did she mean by that?
After all, there might be any number of blue dominoes in the land; and
it seemed scarcely credible that a guest at the Hunt Club would go to a
costumer's for an outfit. (I had gone to a costumer's, but my case was
altogether different. I was an impostor.) I hunted up _Imperator
Rex_. It was not long ere we came face to face, or, to speak
correctly, mask to mask.
"What do you know about the ten of hearts?" I began with directness.
"I am a shade; all things are known to me."
"You may be a lamp-shade, for all I care. What do you know about the
ten of hearts?"
"Beware of it,"--hollowly. From under his toga he produced a ten of
hearts!
My knees wabbled, and there was a sense of looseness about my collar.
The fellow _knew_ I was an impostor. Why didn't he denounce me?
"Is the back of your card anything like this one?"--ironically. "I
dare say it isn't.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56