They turned in time to see the gray friar's gun yawning at them. Most politely he lined them up. Still holding his gun ready, he lifted up the mask of the domino girl.
"So—it's you," he grunted.
He was about to lift the mask of the Mexican, when the bolero leaped at him. Del Mar piled in. But sounds down-stairs alarmed them and the emissary, released, fled quickly with the girl. The gray friar, however, kept his hold on Mephistopheles, as if he had been wrestling with a veritable devil.
. . . . . . .
Down in the hall, I had again met my domino girl, a few minutes after I had resigned Elaine to another of her numerous admirers.
"I thought you deserted me," I said, somewhat piqued.
"You deserted me," she parried, nervously. "However, I'll forgive you if you'll get me an ice."
I hastened to do so. But no sooner had I gone than Del Mar stalked through the hall and went up-stairs. My domino girl was watching for him, and followed.
When I returned with the ice, I looked about, but she was gone. It was scarcely a moment later, however, that I saw her hurry down-stairs, accompanied by the Mexican bolero. I stepped forward to speak to her, but she almost ran past me without a word.
"A nut," I remarked under my breath, pushing back my mask.