It was a brief statement of the plan, but Barbara understood.
“Maud will not be easy to fool, and what if the count gets the right pair?”
“Just before the hour set, one of us will get a note to Mrs. Smythe changing the place of meeting. There—at the new place—Maud and her chaperon will wait in vain for her count, who will be eloping with the wrong couple.”
“It leaves many loopholes for failure, but I can think of no better way; so I’m for it if your Aunt Sallie consents.”
“Monsieur Duval is the unknown X of the problem,” stated Ruth slowly, “but that’s one of the many chances we’ll have to take.”
At last it was the night of the ball.
“How lovely!”
One of the five red dominos paused on the threshold of the ball room, almost breathless with admiration. Glowing lights, exotic decorations, swaying, brilliantly clad figures moving to perfect dance music, made indeed an entrancing scene.
“Yes, lovely, but lovelier outside. Shall we go into the garden?” whispered a voice in the ear of the little red domino.
“Not yet,” she responded, and sped away among the dancers.