I knew she was tapping a foot on the carriage floor.
"Madam," I answered, laughing at her; "by this amber purple shadow, with flecks of scarlet and pink; by this perfume which weaves webs for me here in this carriage, I know you.

The light is poor, but it is good enough to show one who can be no one else but the Baroness von Ritz." I was in the mood to spice an adventure which had gone thus far.

Of course she thought me crazed, and drew back again in the shadow; but when I turned and smiled, she smiled in answer--herself somewhat puzzled.
"The Baroness von Ritz can not be disguised," I said; "not even if she wore her domino." She looked down at the little mask which hung from the silken cord, and flung it from her.
"Oh, then, very well!" she said.

"If you know who I am, who are _you_, and why do you talk in this absurd way with me, a stranger ?" "And why, Madam, do you take me up, a stranger, in this absurd way, at midnight, on the streets of Washington ?--I, who am engaged on business for my chief ?" She tapped again with her foot on the carriage floor.

"Tell me who you are!" she said.
"Once a young planter from Maryland yonder; sometime would-be lawyer here in Washington.