He replied, with a faint smile: “C’est ce qui saute aux yeux, enfin!”
“You are quite abominable!” she told him.
He began to walk with her down the corridor. “I know it, alas!”
She was too much mortified to make any reply. They proceeded in silence for a moment or two, and might have exchanged no further remarks had not a most unwelcome sight suddenly presented itself. Strolling towards them, a masked lady in a black domino on his arm, his own mask dangling by its strings from his hand, was Mr. Westruther. “Oh, good God!” Kitty exclaimed involuntarily. “Put your mask on, for heaven’s sake, Camille!”
“It is too late: he has seen me,” he responded quietly. “It is no matter: he will not recognize you. Do not speak!”
The advancing couple halted before them. “My very dear friend the Chevalier!” said Mr. Westruther. “Now, what an agreeable surprise!” His penetrating eyes ran over Kitty’s form, and remained fixed on her face. His brows lifted a little, and to her annoyance she knew herself to be blushing. “Dear me!” he said, a note of amusement in his voice. “May I hazard a guess, or would that be indiscreet?”
The Chevalier returned a light answer; but Kitty was staring at the lady on Mr. “Westruther’s arm. She had untied the strings of her black domino, and it fell apart to reveal a gown of lilac silk and gauze which Kitty knew well. The discovery that Mr. Westruther had brought his cousin Meg clandestinely to the masquerade seemed to her to set the crowning touch to an evening of unalleviated mortification. She lost her temper. “Indiscreet? No, how should it be?” she said, with unusual asperity. “To be sure, it is quite a family-party! For goodness’ sake, Meg, keep your domino closely tied, if you don’t wish to be recognized! I daresay half London must know that dreadful lilac dress, for nothing that Freddy, or Mallow, or I can say to you serves to convince you that it is not at all becoming to you!”
“Kitty!” gasped Meg, clutching Mr. Westruther’s arm. “Good God, what can have possessed you to come to this place? It is most improper in you!”
“I am sure that if you feel no scruple in coming I need not!” returned Kitty swiftly. “I, after all, came under the protection of Mrs. Scorton!”
“Fine protection!” said Meg, with a little angry titter.