“Not a very difficult thing if you carry your mask in your hand that way,” was the answer.
And I now perceived that in the distraction of my thoughts I had been carrying my mask in this manner since my coming into the room.
“There now, what say you to the blue domino? I saw her foot, and a girl with such an instep must be a waltzer.”
I looked round, a confused effort at memory passing across my mind; my eyes fell at the instant upon the embroidered sleeve of the domino, where a rosebud worked in silver at once reminded me of Catrina’s secret. “Ah,” thought I, “La Senhora herself!” She was leaning upon the arm of a tall and portly figure in black; who this was I knew not, nor sought to discover, but at once advancing towards Donna Inez asked her to waltz.
Without replying to me she turned towards her companion, who seemed as it were to press her acceptance of my offer; she hesitated, however, for an instant, and curtsying deeply, declined it. “Well,” thought I, “she at least has not recognized me.”
“And yet, Senhora,” said I, half jestingly, “I have seen you join a bolero before now.”
“You evidently mistake me,” was the reply, but in a voice so well feigned as almost to convince me she was right.
“Nay, more,” said I, “under your own fair auspices did I myself first adventure one.”
“Still in error, believe me; I am not known to you.”
“And yet I have a talisman to refresh your memory, should you dare me further.”