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How did Ydo secure the photographs, if indeed it were she who had secured them? She had come late, laid aside her wraps in the dressing-room, and had entered the drawing-room followed by her secretary. From the moment of her first appearance he remembered practically every motion she had made.
Ydo spoke to the secretary over her shoulder, and that young woman silently and very deftly set to work. She cleared a small table, placed it in front of the Mariposa, and deposited upon it the cushion and the crystal, and finally, she threw some powder into a quaint bronze incense-brazier, and then seated herself at the piano. "I will ask the rest of you to remain absolutely quiet," said Ydo.
Will you marry me or not?" "Señor!" Ydo's voice was low, surprised, remonstrating, indignant. "You forget yourself. This is no place to make a scene or to spread before the world our private affairs. I must beg you " Wilfred waved his hands impatiently, as if brushing away her objections. "My answer, Ydo. Here and now."
"You will do nothing of the kind," she insisted. "You will go and stand on the other side of the room. Ah " There was no room for further argument, the door was thrown open and Ydo, brilliant, laughing, gorgeous as a tropical flower, entered. Behind her loomed Wilfred Ames with all the radiance it was possible for his stolidity to express.
Yes, I will come in mask and mantilla, The Veiled Mariposa," with a dramatic gesture, a quick twinkle of the eyes toward Hayden. "I assure you, it will be far more interesting so." "There is really no doubt about that," said Kitty thoughtfully, and together they silenced Robert's eloquent plea that the dinner would fall flat unless Ydo was one of the guests. "It is settled, and I must go."
Habersham, admitted that she had been cherishing just such an ambition, looking only the more pleased at the unrestrained horror and surprise manifested by her friends. "Miss Oldham, I see Miss Oldham, now," continued Ydo. "She weeps. She is not happy. Idle tears." Hayden did not hear the rest, he looked about for Marcia, but she had vanished, slipped from the room.
Marcia had thrown her furs about her shoulders and now she picked up her muff. It fell to the floor, unheeded, as Hayden caught her hands in his. "What was Ydo saying to you?" she asked. "She was giving me some geographical information about the relative situations of Eldorado and Arcady, and condemning the former as a health resort." "Bobby! You're fooling! I can tell by your eyes."
"It is half-after four o'clock, mademoiselle, and your next client is waiting." Hayden rose. "Time's up," he said. "But, señorita, when do you think the heirs will be ready to talk business?" "I think I can promise you an interview within a very short time; and in the meanwhile I will communicate with you. Oh, by the way, in private and domestic life, my name is Carrothers, Ydo Carrothers.
Loves, madame, as Wilfred loves me. 'Tis the rarest thing in all the world." "And what would you give the poor dog in exchange for this?" Mrs. Ames' voice was dry to sarcasm. But Ydo was unmoved. "My brains, madame, my knowledge of men, women and the world. My diplomacy, my power of attack. Wouldn't it be a fair exchange?" Mrs.
Kitty was breathless with admiration. "Oh, why, why, when you can dance like that, do you tell fortunes?" "There's a reason," Ydo quoted, with a little toss of her head toward Hayden. "That is exactly the answer I made your cousin once before. And, oh, señor, apropos of that reason, I have a conference arranged for you to-morrow afternoon at four o'clock at my apartment.
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