Lil turned to an obsequious smile on her evil face and said, “I thought you might like to try one of our new girls this evening. This is their first night and since you’re my best customer, I wanted you to be the one to enjoy that newness. That girl in the black evening dress is a bit fancy in her ideas.

She’s a virgin, I’m pretty sure. I don’t know about the blond. Let me know which you selected and how she pleased you. And you, girls”-turning to regard the petrified Marcia and her quivering maid-”be nice to Mr. George- particularly nice.” So saying, she nodded amiably to the masked stranger, closed and locked the door behind her.

And now-the moment, the fearful moment, had come!

The man seemed in no haste. His eyes wandered casually around the room, pausing to note the pictures on the walls, then at last reposed on the two girls standing at the boudoir table.

“Good evening, ladies,” he said at last.

Marcia did not speak… – her throat was constricted by fear.

It was the adorable Marie who timidly ventured “Bon soir, monsieur.”

“Oh, French… C’est gentil, ma belle pigeonne, de m’acueillir si agreeablement,” and the stranger bowed politely to the pretty Marie, who blushed and lowered her eyes demurely.

At last, forcing herself to speak, Marcia advanced, summoning all her poise, her innate arrogance and hauteur of carriage, to command attention.

“If you please, Mr. George-I believe that is your name-” she began, “I am Marcia Thomaston, the New York debutante. You’ve heard of me, of course. I was abducted tonight-en route to ~he celebration at the Waldorf in my honor. They are keeping me a prisoner here. My father a… a rich man. He will pay you handsomely if you take me to him. I am sure you are a gentleman of honor; you surely won’t allow a helpless girl to be brutally forced into a life of shame?”

The masked stranger turned his regard and contemplated her. There was a long silence. Then he responded, with a smile, “An interesting, if not quite new, approach. Besides, I don’t like my women talkative. You, ma petite blonde, comment vous appellez-vous?”