The master of the ceremonies bowed as before, and he and his new acquaintance strolled into the ball-room, followed by the two comrades of the latter.
"Have you been long in Bath, sir?" inquired the monarch of the rooms.
"No, indeed! we only arrived this evening."
"From London?"
"No; we made a little tour across the country."
"Ah! very pleasant, this fine weather."
"Yes; especially in the evenings."
"Oho! romantic!" thought the man of balls, as he rejoined aloud, "Why, the nights are agreeable, and the moon is particularly favourable to us."
"Not always!" quoth the stranger.
"True, true, the night before last was dark; but, in general, surely the moon has been very bright."