Out of my mind slipped the previous adventures of the evening. I
forgot, temporarily, the beautiful unknown at Mouquin's. I forgot the
sardonic-lipped stranger I had met in Friard's. I forgot everything
save the little ticket that had accidentally slipped into my package,
and which announced that some one had rented a blue domino.

And here was a Blue Domino at my side. Just simply dying to have me
talk to her!

"I am madly in love with you," I began. "I have followed you often; I
have seen you in your box at the opera; I have seen you whirl up Fifth
Avenue in your fine barouche; and here at last I meet you!" I clasped
my hands passionately.

"My beautiful barouche! My box at the opera!" the girl mimicked.
"What a cheerful Ananias you are!"

"Thou art the most enchanting creature in all the universe. Thou art
even as a turquoise, a patch of radiant summer sky, eyes of sapphire,
lips--"

"Archaic, very archaic," she interrupted.

"Disillusioned in ten seconds!" I cried dismally. "How could you?"

She laughed.

"Have you no romance? Can you not see the fitness of things? If you
have not a box at the opera, you ought at least to make believe you
have. History walks about us, and you call the old style archaic!
That hurts!"