Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/420

 way through the insidious group as not to lose sight of the two lovers till I knew them in perfect safety.

I then returned to the bustling crowd, when I was again accosted by a mask, that whispered in my ear, "Marquis, your friend is in danger. The duke misses his lady. There's not a moment to be lost."

I stood for some time in motionless amazement. Our harlequin, whom I distinguished by the patch, now run quite furious through the room, beckoning and staring at every person. I laid hold of him by the sleeve, asking what could be the matter? He answered by a pantomimic gesture, expressing the motion of stabbing me with a dagger, impetuously broke loose from me, and strutted quite in a rage.

I thought it high time to inform Selami of this strange occurrence, I hastened to the room in which he had unmasked himself, and met him down stairs, just on the point of stepping into the carriage with his lady. I told him all, and it was unanimously resolved to return to the room, in order to make a proper enquiry into the matter. We there