“Oh, er—er—I thought you were someone else,” he drawled.

Lovegood nodded gloomily.

“I am,” he said sepulchrally.

Ffolliott tittered confusedly:

“Ye-yes—indeed,” he said, twisting his fingers and fidgeting. “D’you know, I feel such an awful ass——”

Lovegood coughed:

“But that is no excuse for your being in the other ass’s skin!” he growled.

“Oh, but don’t you see—that’s just it! They told me it was a fancy-dress affair....”

“Eh?” bawled Sir Gilders Persimmon.

All eyes turned from Ffolliott to the perspiring Fosse. The little man shifted uneasily under the fire of many amused critical eyes.