Hero had at first imagined that the intruder must be someone with whom she was acquainted, but his voice was quite unknown to her, and she did not at all relish the familiarity of his manners. She said reasonably: “You cannot know whether I am pretty or not, sir, and I am perfectly certain that you have not been introduced to me. Please go away!”
He laughed at this. “Why, what a prudish little puss! Shall I make myself known to you in form? And if I do, will you tell me what name I may call you by?”
“No, I won’t,” said Hero bluntly. “And I don’t in the least desire to know yours! Go away!”
“Naughty puss to show her claws!” chided her tormentor. “Now, why can’t I please you, I wonder? I am sure I shall be pleased with you — when I see you!”
“You will not see me, and if you don’t immediately leave my box I shall!” said Hero, sitting very straight in her chair and flushing under her mask.
He slid an arm round her shoulders. “No, no, I am persuaded you won’t deny me a sight of your charms!” he said, fumbling with his free hand at the strings of her mask.
Hero gave an outraged little cry, and struggled to thrust him off. The Viscount, who was attempting much the same thing as the intrusive stranger, chanced at that moment to glance in the direction of his box. An oath escaped him; the astonished lady who had been trying very half heartedly to repulse him found herself suddenly free, and watched in some dudgeon his hasty and impetuous descent on his box. He vaulted lightly over the partition, plucked the enterprising city buck from his chair, and floored him with what he himself would have called a facer.
“Oh, thank you, Sherry!” gasped Hero. “I can’t think who he is, but he is a most odious person, and he seems to fancy that I am a bit of muslin! I am so glad you came back!”
This slight fracas had naturally attracted a good deal of attention from the nearby loungers. “Damn!” said Sherry, perceiving this. “I’m sorry, Kitten: it was all my fault! Get out of my box, if you don’t wish to be thrown out on your — on your ear!”
The city buck, having picked himself up, and had time to measure the size and style of his assailant, muttered something that might have been an apology, and slid out by way of the door, leaving a front tooth on the floor of the box. Sherry sat down in his chair again, rubbing his knuckles. “Broken my hand on his bone-box,” he said cheerfully. “Don’t pay any heed to those gaping gudgeons, Kitten! I oughtn’t to have left you. Keep on forgetting I’m a married man! He didn’t hurt you, did he?”