She laughed her merry laugh. "Thank you! Thank you a hundred times! I've only one thing left to wish for."

"What is that?" he said.

She told him with a touch of shyness. "That—Apollo—will dance with me!"

Scott laughed and let her go. "Oh, is that all? Then I will certainly see that he does."

"Oh, but don't tell him!" pleaded Dinah.

"I never repeat confidences," declared Scott. "Good-bye, Signorina!"

And with another bow, he left her.

CHAPTER V

APOLLO

The salon was a blaze of lights and many shifting colours. The fantastic crowd that trooped thither from the salle-à-manger was like a host of tropical flowers. The talking and laughter nearly drowned the efforts of the string band in the far corner.