It was a gorgeous entertainment, consisting chiefly of recitations and the "Intermezzo." Lady VIOLET MALVERN was the life and soul of the party. But there were lesser lights in a Baron FINOT, an old diplomatist, and a Major GARRETT, an officer in retreat. Then came ARMAND SEVARRO. He was an adventurer, and a friend of Baron FINOT, and had a solitary anecdote.
"I am going to be married to a young lady of the name of DOROTHY BLAIR, but cannot reveal the secret, because her mother is not well enough to hear the news."
Then ARMAND met Lady VIOLET.
"I dreamed years ago of going to the City of Manoa to find its queen. I have found her this evening."
"And she is—?" queried Lady VIOLET.
"You!" hissed the Brazilian (he was a Brazilian), and departed.
"What folly!" murmured Lady VIOLET, in the moonlight.
And many agreed with her.
CHAPTER II.—The Garden of Dorothy Blair.
DOROTHY was on the Thames. There came to her ARMAND.