Hamilton?" asked the chief.
"Know him? Of course I know him," answered Teddy; "and I'll stake my
last dollar on his honesty."
(Thanks, Teddy!) I began to breathe.
"But--" began the chief, seized with sudden misgivings.
"It is impossible, I tell you," interrupted Hamilton. "I know this
gentleman is incapable of the theft. There is some frightful mistake.
How the dickens did you get here, Dicky?"
And briefly I told him my story, my ass's ears growing inch by inch as
I went along. Hamilton didn't know whether to swear or to laugh;
finally he laughed.
"If you wanted to come, why didn't you write me for an invitation?"
"I shouldn't have come to your old ball, had I been invited. It was
just the idea of the lark."
"We shall have to hold him, nevertheless," said the chief, "till
everything is cleared up. The girl--"
Hamilton looked at the Blue Domino.
"Madame, will you do me the honor to raise your mask?"
[Illustration: "Madame, will you do me the honor to raise your mask?"]
She did so; and I saw Hamilton draw in his breath. Her beauty was
certainly of an exquisite pattern. He frowned anxiously.
"I never saw this young woman before," he admitted slowly.
"Ha!" cried the chief, glad to find some one culpable.
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