She clutched his wrist. “Rule, it—it was not you?” she squeaked.
“But of course it was, Horry. Did you think I would let you lose to Lethbridge?”
“Oh!” cried Horatia on a sob. “Oh, I am so th-thankful!” She let go of his wrist. “But I d-don’t understand. How did you know? Where were you?”
“In the next box to yours.”
“The m-man in the black d-domino? Then—then it was you who trod on my g-gown?”
“You see, I had to contrive that you should be out of the way for a few moments,” he apologized.
“Yes, of course,” nodded Horatia, quite appreciating this. “It was very c-clever of you, I think. And when I c-came back and thought your voice odd— that was you?”
“It was. I flatter myself I imitated Lethbridge’s manner rather well. I admit that the noise those fiddles made helped me.”
She was frowning again. “Yes, b-but I don’t understand quite. D-did Robert exchange d-dominoes with you?”
A laugh lurked in his eyes. “It was not precisely an exchange. I—er—took his, and hid my own under a chair.”