"Yes; with a lady who was at your ball."
The remark made her rouse herself, and she sat up with a look of curiosity. "Who is she?"
"I want you to tell me that. I could not see her face, and very little of her figure, owing to the domino, but she seemed to be so charming when we talked together"—this was a lie to gain information—"that I quite lost my heart."
"It's easy lost," said Mrs. Rover, curling her lip. "The woman may be as ugly as sin under her mask. How was she dressed?"
"In a green mask and domino," Mrs. Rover stiffened, "and with a white dress streaked with lines of red velvet. Why do you laugh?" he asked, for Mrs. Rover was trying to suppress her mirth.
"Why?" she cried, shaking with merriment, "because I wore that dress and mask and domino."
"You?" Prelice looked horrified.
"Yes. Why do you look at me like that?"
"You?" Prelice backed to the door in silent horror. He could not trust himself to speak, and finally disappeared, leaving Mrs. Rover petrified with amazement, perhaps with dread.