" I hate you, I hate you like this. Let me go, sir,
let me go! "

With a sudden eflTort, she escaped from his arms, and
he, plunging back at the same moment, struck the frail
summer house of ivory so that it toppled over in front
of the Blue Mandarin who was crossing a bridge over a
silken stream that flowed in the direction of his little
house beneath the miniature volcano. The Bonbon
grove was strewn with fragments. Like Cinderella
fled Miss Courteen and was quickly lost in the gold
and azure company. With careless air, Mr. Vernon
stooped to buckle his shoe and Charles, seeing the
taper fingers, stood for a moment petrified upon the
ridiculous bridge over which he had been stepping with
such an aflectation of importance.
Now was his opportunity to probe Mr. Vernon, or
rather to lead him gradually into the urbane presence
of Mr. Ripple who would certainly probe him deep
enough. There was every reason to admonish him for,
as he knelt over his shoe, Charles could plainly see his
costume was reversible. Such a device was a breach
of etiquette, deserving publick censure. Himself as
viceroy of Society, should not be backward in arresting
a traitor to Society's rules. Of old, the favourites of
monarchs had not scrupled to owe money to those
whom they denounced as dangerous to the State.
Charles took a step forward.
" Sir," he said, pointing with a tassclled wand whose



THE GRAND MINUET OF CATHAY 1 89

hand was a squat Buddha, " you have broken a law of
the Chinese Masquerade."

" Indeed," said Vernon, rising from his knees, not at
all perturbed apparently by the accusation.
