had to do with one another."

"Then let's both be strangers."

"How can you be strange to order?"

" Hush!" I said. "I will disguise me. At home I have put away
a Pierrot dress not one of them knows anything about, and I think
I
can raise a mask. If I- "

A stifled exclamation from the booth made me look up. Framed in
its mouth, her arms folded and resting on the ledge, was the
girl.
What I could see of her was dressed as a Pierrot. Her hair was
concealed under a black silk cap, and the familiar white felt
conical hat sat jauntily over one ear. A straight, white nose,
and a delicate chin, red lips parted and smiling a little, such a
smile as goes always with eyebrows just raised, very alluring- so
much only I saw. For the rest, a strip of black velvet made an
irritating mask.

I made her a low bow.

"I can see this is going to be a big thing," I said, " Won't you
come down?"

"I haven't even said I'll take you,"

"Please."