Following the direction they took, he turned round, and
discovered Nanina, wrapped up in the old cloak which was to
enable her to get downstairs unobserved.
"Oh, how can I get out? how can I get out?" cried the girl,
shrinking back affrightedly as she saw the Yellow Mask.
"That way," said Fabio, pointing in the direction of the
ballroom. "Nobody will notice you in the cloak; it will only be
thought some new disguise." He took her arm as he spoke, to
reassure her, and continued in a whisper, "Don't forget
to-morrow."
At the same moment he felt a hand laid on him. It was the hand of
the masked woman, and it put him back from Nanina.
In spite of himself, he trembled at her touch, but still retained
presence of mind enough to sign to the girl to make her escape.
With a look of eager inquiry in the direction of the mask, and a
half suppressed exclamation of terror, she obeyed him, and
hastened away toward the ballroom.
"We are alone," said Fabio, confronting the gleaming black eyes,
and reaching out his hand resolutely toward the Yellow Mask.
"Tell me who you are, and why you follow me, or I will uncover
your face, and solve the mystery for myself."
The woman pushed his hand aside, and drew back a few paces, but
never spoke a word. He followed her. There was not an instant to
be lost, for just then the sound of footsteps hastily approaching
the corridor became audible.
Pages:
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496