She gave him a quick, searching glance.  “Not really?  Not in your secret heart?”

“Not in the deepest depth of my unfathomable soul,” he declared.

“Then you’re a great man,” said Dinah, with conviction.

Scott’s laugh was one of genuine amusement.  “Oh, does that follow?  I’ve never seen myself in that light before.”

But Dinah was absolutely serious and remained so.  There was even a touch of reverence in her look.  “You evidently don’t know yourself in the least,” she said.  “Anyhow, you’ve made me feel a downright toad.”

“I don’t know why,” said Scott.  “You don’t look like one if that’s any comfort.”  He stooped to fasten the necklace.  “Now for the earrings, and you are complete.”

“It is good of you,” she said gratefully.  “I am longing to go and look at myself.  But can you fasten them first?  I’m sure I can’t.”

He complied with his almost feminine dexterity, and in a few moments a sparkling and glorified Dinah rose and skipped into her room to see the general effect of her transformation.

Scott lingered to close the jewel-case.  Frankly, he had enjoyed himself during the last ten minutes.  Moreover he was sure she would be pleased with the result of his labours.  But he was hardly prepared for the cry of delight that reached him as he turned to depart.

He paused as he heard it, and in a moment Dinah flashed out again like a radiant butterfly and gave him both her hands.

“You—­magician!” she cried.  “How did you do it?  How can I thank you?  I’ve never been so nearly pretty in my life!”

He bowed in courtly fashion over the little brown hands.  “Then you have never seen yourself with the eyes of others,” he said.  “I congratulate you on doing so to-night.”

She laughed her merry laugh.  “Thank you!  Thank you a hundred times!  I’ve only one thing left to wish for.”

“What is that?” he said.

She told him with a touch of shyness.  “That—­Apollo—­will dance with me!”

Scott laughed and let her go.  “Oh, is that all?  Then I will certainly see that he does.”

“Oh, but don’t tell him!” pleaded Dinah.

“I never repeat confidences,” declared Scott.  “Good-bye, Signorina!”

And with another bow, he left her.

CHAPTER V

APOLLO

The salon was a blaze of lights and many shifting colours.  The fantastic crowd that trooped thither from the salle-a-manger was like a host of tropical flowers.  The talking and laughter nearly drowned the efforts of the string band in the far corner.