Clarissa stood at her mother’s side. Though she was heavily masked in black, Gussie had no difficulty recognising her, for she wore the self-same men’s garb in which she had staged Gussie’s own abduction, albeit a finer example: this highwayman was dressed for a ball, in knee-breeches and stockings, and he had met with considerable success in his profession, judging from the profusion of gold and diamonds winking at collar, cuffs and cravat. She ought to cause a stir, except that the costume — and the mask — were so good, and so disguising, that she might pass quite easily for a man. Perhaps the assembling ball-goers imagined themselves meeting Mr. Charles Selwyn, and wondered at the apparent absence of Clarissa.
Gussie had to admire her daring, even as she shook her head. Sooner or later
