Fortune's wheel spins upon a needle point. By an artistic
performance occupying less than two minutes, but suggesting that Rita
possessed qualities which one day might spell success, she had decided
her fate. Her heart was beating like a hammer in her breast, but she
preserved an attitude of easy indifference. Without for a moment
believing in the American uncle, Sir Lucien did believe, correctly,
that Rita Dresden was about to elude him. He realized, too, that he
was infinitely more interested than he had ever been hitherto, and
more interested than he had intended to become.
This seemingly trivial conversation was a turning point, and twelve
months later Rita Dresden was playing the title role in The Maid of
the Masque. Sir Lucien had discovered himself to be really in love
with her, and he might quite possibly have offered her marriage even
if a dangerous rival had not appeared to goad him to that desperate
leap--for so he regarded it. Monte Irvin, although considerably Rita's
senior, had much to commend him in the eyes of the girl--and in the
eyes of her mother, who still retained a curious influence over her
daughter. He was much more wealthy than Pyne, and although the latter
was a baronet, Irvin was certain to be knighted ere long, so that Rita
would secure the appendage of "Lady" in either case.
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