Then I bowed over the Marquise's hand and Moore and I went out through
the sliding door--which, when the Marquis rolled it back for us, I saw
was not locked. In my haste I had not seen the small brass button
which released the latch.
"It's a pity Vierle didn't tell us what costume Mrs. Spencer is
wearing," Moore remarked, as we reached the Garden.
I stopped short. "What a blunderer I am. It would be better if you
did the thinking for me."
"Shall I go back and ask him?"
"It will keep until supper," said I. "In the meantime, let us hunt up
Courtney and Lady Helen." I explained to him how to distinguish them;
then, taking from my doublet a small package wrapped in foil, I
selected a red rose and put it in my mouth.
"Now," said I, "let us have a look around."
For a time I was more occupied with the beauty of the Garden than with
my fellow-masques, and I left it to Moore to keep a careful eye for the
other two red roses. I could not but notice, however, that we were
attracting much attention; by reason, I assumed, of our striking
similarity; and a number of times Moore replied wittily to some
pleasant banter flung at us. I should say, perhaps, that the grounds
were so thoroughly lighted with electricity that they were as bright as
day; the lamps being so carefully distributed that there were,
practically, no shadows.
Presently, on the bank of a miniature lake near the farthest wall, we
came upon three women and a man.
"The Dromios," said one of the women.
"Satan's Twins," laughed another.
"A pair of black Knaves," echoed the third.
The man laughed, but said nothing.