Albert Kinross

“ Merceron continued:
"We will take your beauty for granted; you are taking mine?"
The mask nodded, merry-eyed. He followed her down an empty corridor. A tiny conservatory was at the far end, and beyond was a tinier balcony, hidden away under the stars. Piccadilly ran into the moonlight on either hand, the Green Park was a sylvan foreground.
On the balcony sat a stout domino, deep in an arm-chair, and snoring with wide-open mouth. The lady laughed in its face, and it awoke, scared, showing a bald head to the stars.
"We are alone," said the lady, as the stout domino fled. ”

“ The lady laughed now.
"You pretend beautifully," she said, "and I prefer your new voice to the real one," she maliciously added.
"It shall be permanent."
"Consider the strain!"
"For your sake?"
"That was sweet of you—take me downstairs before you get rude again."
"I will, if you will?"
"What?"
"Give me another chance;" and Merceron extracted three waltzes and supper from the yellow domino. Then they returned to the ball-room.
"That is Lady May," she whispered. Her gesture covered a slight pink domino. "Don't forget me," and she dropped his arm. ”