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202 formed. The knot of men behind the Prince broke up; the Prince was leading off Lady Stukeley. Lord Astar came hurrying to them. He was flushed and looked excited. There was the light of an evil triumph in his eyes.

"I have been watching you, and watching for you," he said to Elsie. "That abominable bowing and scraping seemed never ending, and of course I was tied. Miss Valliant, I'm tied still, you understand, for this quadrille, and I believe its Mrs. Torbolton—one of the wives of an official dignitary—sounds Mormonish, that speech, doesn't it? I'm on duty, you understand. Once this dance is over I'm free till supper time. I claim the first waltz—the dance after the quadrille."

Elsie looked at Blake. She stammered—"I think, I believe I am engaged."

"No," exclaimed Blake, making a profound and it seemed to Elsie an ironic bow. "I resign my claim. Lord Astar has an evident right."

"You are very good," said Lord Astar, coolly and somewhat superciliously, glancing at Blake. "But you needn't take the merit of the sacrifice, though I am much obliged all the same. Miss Valliant was engaged to me."

"The next waltz, and,"—he whispered to Elsie—"don't let too many fellows put their names down. It's to be mine—this evening; oh, if you knew how beautiful you look"

He hurried off to where Mrs. Torbolton was sitting; poor lady, she would much rather have danced with one of her husband's colleagues. Blake gave his arm again to Elsie; he had turned aside while Lord Astar had been speaking.

"Shall we dance? I will find a place among the lesser fry."

He placed her opposite Minnie Pryde and Mr. Anderson. Minnie's eyebrows went up in astonishment at the sight of Elsie's star. "My goodness!" she exclaimed, "to think of my not noticing it when you took off your cloak in the dressing room! Who is it? Not" and she gave a significant flash in Blake's direction.

Elsie held herself haughtily erect and vouchsafed no sign.