CAUGHT IN THE NET

By Emile Gaboriau

CHAPTER I. 

PUTTING ON THE SCREW. 

The cold on the 8th of February, 186-, was more intense than theParisians had experienced during the whole of the severe winterwhich had preceded it, for at twelve o'clock on that day Chevalier'sthermometer, so well known by the denizens of Paris, registered threedegrees below zero. The sky was overcast and full of threatening signsof snow, while the moisture on the pavement and roads had frozen hard, rendering traffic of all kinds exceedingly hazardous. The whole greatcity wore an air of dreariness and desolation, for even when a thincrust of ice covers the waters of the Seine, the mind involuntarilyturns to those who have neither food, shelter, nor fuel. 

This bitterly cold day actually made the landlady of the Hotel de Perou, though she was a hard, grasping woman of Auvergne, gave a thought to thecondition of her lodgers, and one quite different from her usual idea ofobtaining the maximum of rent for the minimum of accommodation. 

"The cold, " remarked she to her husband, who was busily engaged inreplenishing the stove with fuel, "is enough to frighten the wits out ofa Polar bear. In this kind of weather I always feel very anxious, forit was during a winter like this that one of our lodgers hung himself, atrick which cost us fifty francs, in good, honest money, besides givingus a bad name in the neighborhood. The fact is, one never knows whatlodgers are capable of doing. You should go up to the top floor, and seehow they are getting on there. "

"Pooh, pooh!" replied her husband, M. Loupins; "they will do wellenough. "

"Is that really your opinion?"

"I know that I am right. Daddy Tantaine went out as soon as it waslight, and a short time afterward Paul Violaine came down. There is noone upstairs now but little Rose, and I expect that she has been wiseenough to stick to her bed. "

"Ah!" answered the landlady rather spitefully. "I have made up my mindregarding that young lady some time ago; she is a sight too pretty forthis house, and so I tell you. "

The Hotel de Perou stands in the Rue de la Hachette, not twenty stepsfrom the Place de Petit Pont; and no more cruelly sarcastic title couldever have been conferred on a building. The extreme shabbiness of theexterior of the house, the narrow, muddy street in which it stood, the dingy windows covered with mud, and repaired with every variety ofpatch, --all seemed to cry out to the passers by: "This is the chosenabode of misery and destitution. "

The observer might have fancied it a robbers' den, but he would havebeen wrong; for the inhabitants were fairly honest. The Hotel de Perouwas one of those refuges, growing scarcer and more scarce every day, where unhappy men and women, who had been worsted in the battle of life, could find a shelter in return for the change remaining from the lastfive-franc piece. They treat it as the shipwrecked mariner uses the rockupon which he climbs from the whirl of the angry waters, and breathesa deep sigh of relief as he collects his forces for a fresh effort. However wretched existence may be, a protracted sojourn in such ashelter as the Hotel de Perou would be out of the question. The chambersin every floor of the house are divided into small slips by partitions, covered with canvas and paper, and pleasantly termed rooms by M. Loupins. The partitions were in a terrible condition, rickety andunstable, and the paper with which they were covered torn and hangingdown in tatters; but the state of the attics was even more deplorable, the ceilings of which were so low that the occupants had to stoopcontinually, while the dormer windows admitted but a small amount oflight. A bedstead, with a straw mattress, a rickety table, and twobroken chairs, formed the sole furniture of these rooms. Miserableas these dormitories were, the landlady asked and obtained twenty-twofrancs for them by the month, as there was a fireplace in each, whichshe always pointed out to intending tenants. 

The young woman whom M. Loupins alluded to by the name of Rose wasseated in one of these dreary dens on this bitter winter's day. Rose wasan exquisitely beautiful girl about eighteen years of age. She was veryfair; her long lashes partially concealed a pair of steely blue eyes, and to a certain extent relieved their hard expression. Her ripe, redlips, which seemed formed for love and kisses, permitted a glimpse ofa row of pearly teeth. Her bright waving hair grew low down upon herforehead, and such of it as had escaped from the bondage of a cheapcomb, with which it was fastened, hung in wild luxuriance over herexquisitely shaped neck and shoulders. She had thrown over her raggedprint gown the patched coverlet of the bed, and, crouched uponthe tattered hearthrug before the hearth, upon which a few stickssmouldered, giving out hardly a particle of heat, she was telling herfortune with a dirty pack of cards, endeavoring to console herself forthe privations of the day by the promise of future prosperity. She hadspread those arbiters of her destiny in a half circle before her, anddivided them into threes, each of which had a peculiar meaning, and herbreast rose and fell as she turned them up and read upon their facesgood fortune or ill-luck. Absorbed in this task, she paid but littleattention to the icy chilliness of the atmosphere, which made herfingers stiff, and dyed her white hands purple. 

"One, two, three, " she murmured in a low voice. "A fair man, that'ssure to be Paul. One, two, three, money to the house. One, two, three, troubles and vexations. One, two, three, the nine of spades; ah, dear!more hardships and misery, --always that wretched card turning up withits sad story!"

Rose seemed utterly downcast at the sight of the little piece of paintedcardboard, as though she had received certain intelligence of acoming misfortune. She soon, however, recovered herself, and was againshuffling the pack, --cut it, taking care to do so with her left hand, spread them out before her, and again commenced counting: one, two, three. This time the cards appeared to be more propitious, and held outpromises of success for the future. 

"I am loved, " read she, as she gazed anxiously upon them, --"very muchloved! Here is rejoicing, and a letter from a dark man! See, here heis, --the knave of clubs. Always the same, " she continued; "I cannotstrive against fate. "

Then, rising to her feet, she drew from a crack in the wall, whichformed a safe hiding-place for her secrets, a soiled and crumpledletter, and, unfolding it, she read for perhaps the hundredth time thesewords:--

"MADEMOISELLE, --

"To see you is to love you. I give you my word of honor that this istrue. The wretched hovel where your charms are hidden is no fitabode for you. A home, worthy in every way to receive you, is atyour service--Rue de Douai. It has been taken in your name, as I amstraightforward in these matters. Think of my proposal, and make whatinquiries you like concerning me. I have not yet attained my majority, but shall do so in five months and three days, when I shall inherit mymother's fortune. My father is wealthy, but old and infirm. From four tosix in the afternoon of the next few days I will be in a carriage at thecorner of the Place de Petit Pont. 

"GASTON DE GANDELU. "

The cynical insolence of the letter, together with its entire want ofform, was a perfect example of the style affected by those loiterersabout town, known to the Parisians as "mashers;" and yet Rose did notappear at all disgusted by the reception of such an unworthily wordedproposal, but, on the contrary, rather pleased by its contents. "If Ionly dared, " mused she, with a sigh, --"ah, if I only dared!" For a timeshe sat deeply immersed in thought, with her face buried in her hands, until she was aroused from her meditations by the sound of an active andyouthful step upon the creaking stairs. "He has come back, " she gasped;and with the agile movement of a cat she again concealed the letterin its hiding-place, and she had scarcely done so, when Paul Violaineentered the miserable room. He was a young man of twenty-three, ofslender figure, but admirably proportioned. His face was a perfect oval, and his complexion of just that slight olive tint which betrays thenative of the south of France. A slight, silky moustache concealed hisupper lip, and gave his features that air of manliness in which theywould have otherwise been deficient. His curly chestnut hair fellgracefully over a brow upon which an expression of pride was visible, and enhanced the peculiar, restless glance of his large dark eyes. Hisphysical beauty, which was fully equal to that of Rose, was increased byan aristocratic air, popularly believed to be only found in the scionsof noble families. The landlady, in her moments of good humor, used toassert her belief that her lodger was a disguised prince; but if thiswere the case, he was certainly one that had been overtaken by poverty. His dress, to which the closest attention had been paid, revealed thestate of destitution in which he was, --not the destitution which openlyasks for alms, but the hidden poverty which shuns communication andblushes at a single glance of pity. In this almost Arctic winter he woreclothes rendered thin by the constant friction of the clothes brush, over which was a light overcoat about as thick as the web of a spider. His shoes were well blacked, but their condition told the piteous taleof long walks in search of employment, or of that good luck which seemsto evade its pursuer. 

Paul was holding a roll of manuscript in his hand, and as he enteredthe room he threw it on the bed with a despairing gesture. "A failureagain!" exclaimed he, in accents of the utmost depression. "Nothing elsebut failures!"

The young woman rose hastily to her feet; she appeared to have forgottenthe cards completely; the smile of satisfaction faded from her face andher features, and an expression of utter weariness took its place. 

"What! no success?" she cried, affecting a surprise which was evidentlyassumed. "No success, after all your promises when you left me thismorning?"

"This morning, Rose, a ray of hope had penetrated my heart; but I havebeen deceived, or rather I deceived myself, and I took my ardent desiresfor so many promises which were certain to be fulfilled. The people thatI have been to have not even the kindness to say 'No' plain and flat;they listen to all you have to say, and as soon as your back is turnedthey forget your existence. The coin that passes around in thisinfernal town is indeed nothing but idle words, and that is all thatpoverty-stricken talent can expect. "

A silence of some duration ensued, and Paul was too much absorbed inhis own thoughts to notice the look of contempt with which Rose wasregarding him. His helpless resignation to adverse circumstancesappeared to have turned her to stone. 

"A nice position we are in!" said she at last. "What do you think willbecome of us?"

"Alas! I do not know. "

"Nor I. Yesterday Madame Loupins came to me and asked for the elevenfrancs we owe here; and told me plainly that if within three days we didnot settle our account, she would turn us out; and I know enough of herto be sure that she will keep her word. The detestable old hag would doanything for the pleasure of seeing me on the streets. "

"Alone and friendless in the world, " muttered Paul, paying but littleattention to the young girl's words, "without a creature or a relativeto care for you, or to lend you a helping hand. "

"We have not a copper in the world, " continued Rose with cruelpersistency; "I have sold everything that I had, to preserve the ragsthat I am wearing. Not a scrap of wood remains, and we have not tastedfood since yesterday morning. "

To these words, which were uttered in a tone of the most bitterreproach, the young man made no reply, but clasped his icily cold handsagainst his forehead, as though in utter despair. 

"Yes, that is a true picture of our position, " resumed Rose coldly, her accents growing more and more contemptuous. "And I tell you thatsomething must be done at once, some means discovered, I care not what, to relieve us from our present miserable state. "

Paul tore off his overcoat, and held it toward her. 

"Take it, and pawn it, " exclaimed he; but the girl made no move. 

"Is that all that you have to propose?" asked she, in the same glacialtone. 

"They will lend you three francs upon it, and with that we can get breadand fuel. "

"And after that is gone?"

"After that--oh, we will think of our next step, and shall have time tohit upon some plan. Time, a little time, is all that I require, Rose, tobreak asunder the bonds which seem to fetter me. Some day success mustcrown my efforts; and with success, Rose, dear, will come affluence, butin the meantime we must learn to wait. "

"And where are the means to enable us to wait?"

"No matter; they will come. Only do what I tell you, and who can saywhat to-morrow----"

Paul was still too much absorbed in his own thoughts to notice theexpression upon the young girl's face; for had he done so, he would atonce have perceived that she was not in the humor to permit the matterto be shelved in this manner. 

"To-morrow!" she broke in sarcastically. "To-morrow, --always the samepitiful cry. For months past we seem to have lived upon the word. Lookyou here, Paul, you are no longer a child, and ought to be able to lookthings straight in the face. What can I get on that threadbare coat ofyours? Perhaps three francs at the outside. How many days will thatlast us? We will say three. And then, what then? Besides, can you notunderstand that your dress is too shabby for you to make an impressionon the people you go to see? Well-dressed applicants only haveattention, and to obtain money, you must appear not to need it; and, pray, what will people think of you if you have no overcoat? Without oneyou will look ridiculous, and can hardly venture into the streets. "

"Hush!" cried Paul, "for pity's sake, hush! for your words only prove tome more plainly that you are like the rest of the world, and that wantof success is a pernicious crime in your eyes. You once had confidencein me, and then you spoke in a very different strain. "

"Once indeed! but then I did not know--"

"No, Rose, it was not what you were then ignorant of; but it was that inthose days you loved me. "

"Great heavens! I ask you, have I left one stone unturned? Have Inot gone from publisher to publisher to sell those songs of my owncomposing--those songs that you sing so well? I have endeavored to getpupils. What fresh efforts can I try? What would _you_ do, were you inmy place? Tell me, I beg you. "

And as Paul spoke, he grew more and more excited, while Rose stillmaintained her manner of exasperating coolness. 

"I know not, " she replied, after a brief pause; "but if I were a man, Ido not think I would permit the woman, for whom I pretended that I hadthe most sincere affection, to be in want of the actual necessities oflife. I would strain every effort to obtain them. "

"I have no trade; I am no mechanic, " broke in Paul passionately. 

"Then I would learn one. Pray how much does a man earn who climbs theladder with a bricklayer's hod upon his shoulders? It may be hard work, I know, but surely the business is not difficult to learn. You have, orsay you have, great musical talents. I say nothing about them; but hadI any vocal powers and if there was not a morsel to eat in the house, I would go and sing in the taverns or even in the public streets, andwould earn money, and care little for the means by which I made it. "

"When you say those things, you seem to forget that I am an honest man. "

"One would really suppose that I had suggested some questionable act toyou. Your reply, Paul, plainly proves to me that you are one of thosewho, for want of determination, fall, helpless, by the wayside in thejourney of life. They flaunt their rags and tatters in the eyes of theworld, and with saddened hearts and empty stomachs utter the boast, 'I am an honest man. ' Do you think that, in order to be rich, you mustperforce be a rogue? This is simple imbecility. "

She uttered this tirade in clear and vibrant accents, and her eyesgleamed with the fire of savage resolution. Her nature was one of thosecruel and energetic ones, which lead a woman to hurl a man from thebrink of the abyss to which she had conducted him, and to forget himbefore he has ever reached the bottom. 

This torrent of sarcasm brought out Paul's real nature. His faceflushed, and rage began to gain the mastery over him. "Can you notwork?" he asked. "Why do you not do something instead of talking somuch?"

"That is not at all the same thing, " answered she coolly. "I was notmade for work. "

Paul made a threatening gesture. "You wretch!" exclaimed he. 

"You are wrong, " she replied. "I am not a wretch; I am simply hungry. "

There seemed every prospect of an angry scene, when a slight soundattracted the attention of the disputants, and, turning round, they sawan old man standing upon the threshold of their open door. He was tall, but stooped a good deal. He had high, thick brows, and a red nose; along, thick, grizzly beard covered the rest of his countenance. He worea pair of spectacles with colored glasses, which, to a great extent, concealed the expression of his face. His whole attire indicated extremepoverty. He wore a greasy coat, much frayed and torn at the pockets, andwhich had carried away with it marks of all the walls against which ithad been rubbed when he had indulged a little too freely in the cheerfulglass. He seemed to belong to that class who consider it a work ofsupererogation to disrobe before going to bed, and who just turn in onsuch spot as the fancy of the moment may dictate. Paul and Rose bothrecognized the old man from having continually met him when ascendingor descending the staircase, and knew that he rented the back attic, andwas called Daddy Tantaine. In an instant the idea flashed across Paul'smind that the dilapidated state of the partition permitted every wordspoken in one attic to be overheard in the other, and this did not tendto soothe his exasperated feelings. 

"What do you want here, sir?" asked he angrily. "And, pray, who gave youpermission to enter my room without leave?"

The old man did not seem at all put out by the threatening language ofhis questioner. "I should be telling a fib, " answered he calmly, "if Iwere to tell you that, being in my own room and hearing you quarrelling, I did not hear every word of what you have been saying. "

"Sir!"

"Stop a bit, and don't be in such a hurry, my young friend. You seemdisposed to quarrel, and, on my faith, I am not surprised; for whenthere is no corn in the manger, the best tempered horse will bite andkick. "

He uttered these words in the most soothing accents, and appearedutterly unconscious of having committed any breach of etiquette inentering the room. 

"Well, sir, " said Paul, a flush of shame passing across his face, "yousee now how poverty can drag a man down. Are you satisfied?"

"Come, come, my young friend, " answered Daddy Tantaine, "you should notget angry; and if I did step in without any notice, it was because, as aneighbor, I find I might venture on such a liberty; for when I heard howembarrassed you were, I said to myself, 'Tantaine, perhaps you can helpthis pretty pair out of the scrape they have got into. '"

The promise of assistance from a person who had not certainly theoutward appearance of a capitalist seemed so ludicrous to Rose that shecould not restrain a smile, for she fancied that if their old neighborwas to present them with half his fortune, it might possibly amount totwenty centimes or thereabouts. 

Paul had formed a somewhat similar idea, but he was a little touched bythis act of friendliness on the part of a man who doubtless knew thatmoney lent under similar circumstances was but seldom returned. 

"Ah, sir!" said he, and this time he spoke in softer accents, "what canyou possibly do for us?"

"Who can say?"

"You can see how hard we are pushed. We are in want of almosteverything. Have we not reached the _acme_ of misery?"

The old man raised his hand to heaven, as if to seek for aid from above. 

"You have indeed come to a terrible pass, " murmured he; "but all is notyet lost. The pearl which lies in the depths of the ocean is not lostfor ever; for may not some skillful diver bring it to the surface? Afisherman may not be able to do much with it, but he knows something ofits value, and hands it over to the dealer in precious stones. "

He intensified his speech by a little significant laugh, the meaningof which was lost upon the two young people who, though their evilinstincts led them to be greedy and covetous, were yet unskilled in theworld's ways. 

"I should, " remarked Paul, "be a fool if I did not accept the offer ofyour kind assistance. "

"There, then, that is right; and now the first thing to do is to have areally good feed. You must get in some wood too, for it is frightfullycold. My old bones are half frozen; and afterward we will talk of afresh rig out for you both. "

"Yes, " remarked Rose with a faint sigh; "but to do all that, we want alot of money. "

"Well, how do you know that I can't find it?"

Daddy Tantaine unbuttoned his great coat with grave deliberation, anddrew from an inner pocket a small scrap of paper which had been fastenedto the lining by a pin. This he unfolded with the greatest of care andlaid upon the table. 

"A banknote for five hundred francs!" exclaimed Rose, with extremesurprise. Paul did not utter a word. Had he seen the woodwork of thechair upon which he was leaning burst into flower and leaf, he could nothave looked more surprised. Who could have expected to find such a sumconcealed beneath the old man's tatters, and how could he have obtainedso much money? The idea that some robbery had been committed at onceoccurred to both the young people, and they exchanged a meaning glance, which, however, did not escape the observation of their visitor. 

"Pooh, pooh!" said he, without appearing in the slightest degreeannoyed. "You must not give way to evil thoughts or suspicions. It isa fact that banknotes for five hundred francs don't often grow out ofa ragged pocket like mine. But I got this fellow honestly, --that I canguarantee. "

Rose paid no attention to his words; indeed, she took no interest inthem. The note was there, and that was enough for her. She took it upand smoothed it out as though the crisp paper communicated a pleasantsensation to her fingers. 

"I must tell you, " resumed Daddy Tantaine, "that I am employed by asheriff's officer, and that, in addition, I do a little bill collectingfor various persons. By these means I have often comparatively largesums in my possession, and I can lend you five hundred francs for ashort time without any inconvenience to myself. "

Paul's necessities and conscience were fighting a hard battle, andhe remained silent, as a person generally does before arriving at amomentous decision. 

At length he broke the silence. "No, " said he, "your offer is one that Icannot accept, for I feel--"

"This is no time, my dear Paul, to talk of feelings, " interrupted Rose;"besides, can you not see that our refusal to accept the loan annoysthis worthy gentleman?"

"The young lady is quite right, " returned Daddy Tantaine. "Come, letus say that the matter is settled. Go out and get in something to eat, sharp, for it has struck four some time ago. "

At these words, Rose started, and a scarlet flush spread over hercheek. "Four o'clock, " repeated she, thinking of her letter; but after amoment's reflection she stepped up to the cracked mirror, and arrangingher tattered skirts, took up the banknote and left the room. 

"She is a rare beauty, " remarked Daddy Tantaine with the air of one whowas an authority in such matters, "and as clever as they make them. Ah! if she had only some one to give her a hint, she might rise to anyheight. "

Paul's ideas were in such a wild state of confusion, that he couldmake no reply; and, now that he was no longer held in thrall by Rose'spresence, he began to be terrified at what had taken place, for heimagined that he caught a sinister expression in the old man's facewhich made him very suspicious of the wisdom of the course he had beenpersuaded to pursue. Was there ever such an unheard-of event as an oldman of such a poverty-stricken appearance showering banknotes upon theheads of perfect strangers? There was certainly something mysteriousin the affair, and Paul made up his mind that he would do his utmost toavoid being compromised. 

"I have thought the matter over, " said he resolutely; "and it isimpossible for me to accept the loan of a sum which it would bedifficult for me to repay. "

"My dear young friend, that is not the way to talk. If you do not have agood opinion of yourself, all the world will judge you according to yourown estimation. Your inexperience has, up to this time, been the solecause of your failure. Poverty soon changes a boy into a man as strawripens fruit; but the first thing you must do is to put all confidencein me. You can repay the five hundred francs at your convenience, but Imust have six per cent. For my money and your note of hand. "

"But really--, " began Paul. 

"I am looking at the matter in a purely business light, so we can dropsentiment. "

Paul had so little experience in the ways of the world, that the merefact of giving his acceptance for the money borrowed put him at onceat his ease, though he knew well that his name was not a very valuableaddition to the slip of paper. 

Daddy Tantaine, after a short search through his pockets, discovereda bill stamp, and, placing it on the table, said, "Write as I shalldictate:--

'On the 8th of June, 188-, I promise to pay to M. Tantaine or order thesum of five hundred francs for value received, such sum to bear interestat the rate of six per cent. Per annum. 

'Frs. 500. 

'PAUL VIOLAINE. '"

The young man had just completed his signature when Rose made herappearance, bearing a plentiful stock of provisions in her arms. Hereyes had a strange radiance in them, which Paul, however, did notnotice, as he was engaged in watching the old man, who, after carefullyinspecting the document, secured it in one of the pockets of his raggedcoat. 

"You will, of course, understand, sir, " remarked Paul, "that there isnot much chance of my being able to save sufficient to meet this bill infour months, so that the date is a mere form. "

A smile of benevolence passed over Daddy Tantaine's features. "Andsuppose, " said he, "that I, the lender, was to put the borrower in aposition to repay the advance before a month had passed?"

"Ah! but that is not possible. "

"I do not say, my young friend, that I could do this myself; but I havea good friend whose hand reaches a long way. If I had only listened tohis advice when I was younger, you would not have caught me to-day inthe Hotel de Perou. Shall I introduce you to him?"

"Am I a perfect fool, to throw away such a chance?"

"Good! I shall see him this evening, and will mention your name to him. Call on him at noon to-morrow, and if he takes a fancy to you, --decidesto push you, your future is assured, and you will have no doubts as togetting on. "

He took out a card from his pocket and handed it to Paul, adding, "Thename of my friend is Mascarin. "

Meanwhile Rose, with a true Parisian's handiness, had contrived torestore order from chaos, and had arranged the table, with its one ortwo pieces of broken crockery, with scraps of brown paper instead ofplates. A fresh supply of wood crackled bravely on the hearth, and twocandles, one of which was placed in a chipped bottle, and the other in atarnished candlestick belonging to the porter of the hotel. In the eyesof both the young people the spectacle was a truly delightful one, andPaul's heart swelled with triumph. The business had been satisfactorilyconcluded, and all his misgivings were at an end. 

"Come, let us gather round the festive board, " said he joyously. "Thisis breakfast and dinner in one. Rose, be seated; and you, my dearfriend, will surely share with us the repast we owe to you?"

With many protestations of regret, however, Daddy Tantaine pleaded animportant engagement at the other end of Paris. "And, " added he, "it isabsolutely necessary that I should see Mascarin this evening, for I musttry my best to make him look on you with a favorable eye. "

Rose was very glad when the old man took his departure, for hisugliness, the shabbiness of his dress, and his general aspect of dirt, drove away all the feelings of gratitude she ought to have evinced, andinspired in her loathing and repugnance; and she fancied that his eyes, though veiled by his colored glasses, could detect the minutest secretsof her heart; but still this did not prevent her putting on a sweetsmile and entreating him to remain. 

But Daddy Tantaine was resolute; and after impressing upon Paul thenecessity of punctuality, he went away, repeating, as he passed throughthe door, "May good appetite be present at your little feast, my dears. "

As soon, however, as the door was closed he bent down and listened. Theyoung people were as merry as larks, and their laughter filled thebare attic of the Hotel de Perou. Why should not Paul have been in goodspirits? He had in his pocket the address of the man who was to make hisfortune, and on the chimney-piece was the balance of the banknote, whichseemed to him an inexhaustible sum. Rose, too, was delighted, and couldnot refrain from jeering at their benefactor, whom she stigmatized as"an old idiot. "

"Laugh while you can, my dears!" muttered Daddy Tantaine; "for this maybe the last time you will do so. "

With these words he crept down the dark staircase, which was onlylighted up on Sundays, owing to the high price of gas, and, peepingthrough the glass door of the porter's lodge, saw Madame Loupins engagedin cooking; and, with the timid knock of a man who has learned hislesson in poverty's grammar, he entered. 

"Here is my rent, madame, " said he, placing on the table ten francsand twenty centimes. Then, as the woman was scribbling a receipt, helaunched into a statement of his own affairs, and told her that he hadcome into a little property which would enable him to live in comfortduring his few remaining years on earth; and--evidently fearing thathis well-known poverty might cause Madame Loupins to discredit hisassertions--drew out his pocketbook and exhibited several banknotes. This exhibition of wealth so surprised the landlady, that when the oldman left she insisted on lighting him to the door. He turned eastward assoon as he had left the house, and, glancing at the names of the shops, entered a grocer's establishment at the corner of the Rue de Petit Pont. This grocer, thanks to a certain cheap wine, manufactured for him by achemist at Bercy, had achieved a certain notoriety in that quarter. Hewas very stout and pompous, a widower, and a sergeant in the NationalGuard. His name was Melusin. In all poor districts five o'clock is abusy hour for the shopkeepers, for the workmen are returning from theirlabors, and their wives are busy in their preparations for their eveningmeal. M. Melusin was so busily engaged, giving orders and seeing thatthey were executed, that he did not even notice the entrance of DaddyTantaine; but had he done so, he would not have put himself out for sopoorly dressed a customer. But the old man had left behind him in theHotel de Perou every sign of humility and servility, and, making his wayto the least crowded portion of the shop, he called out in imperativeaccents, "M. Melusin!"

Very much surprised, the grocer ceased his avocation and hastened toobey the summons. "How the deuce does the man know me?" muttered he, forgetting that his name was over the door in gilt letters fully sixinches long. 

"Sir, " said Daddy Tantaine, without giving the grocer time to speak, "did not a young woman come here about half an hour ago and change anote for five hundred francs?"

"Most certainly, " answered M. Melusin; "but how did you know that? Ah, I have it!" he added, striking his forehead; "there has been a robbery, and you are in pursuit of the criminal. I must confess that the girllooked so poor, that I guessed there was something wrong. I saw herfingers tremble. "

"Pardon me, " returned Daddy Tantaine. "I have said nothing about arobbery. I only wished to ask you if you would know the girl again?"

"Perfectly--a really splendid girl, with hair that you do not see everyday. I have reason to believe that she lives in the Rue Hachette. Thepolice are not very popular with the shopkeeping class; but the latter, desirous of keeping down crime, generally afford plenty of information, and in the interests of virtue will even risk losing customers, who gooff in a huff at not being attended to while they are talking to theofficers of justice. Shall I, " continued the grocer, "send one of theerrand boys to the nearest police station?"

"No, thank you, " replied Daddy Tantaine. "I should prefer your keepingthe matter quiet until I communicate with you once more. "

"Yes, yes, I see; a false step just now would put them on their guard. "

"Just so. Now, will you let me have the number of the note, if youstill have it? I wish you also to make a note of the date as well as thenumber. "

"Yes, yes, I see, " returned the grocer. "You may require my books ascorroborative evidence; that is often the way. Excuse me; I will be backdirectly. "

All that Daddy Tantaine had desired was executed with the greatestrapidity, and he and the grocer parted on the best terms, and thetradesman watched his visitor's departure, perfectly satisfied that hehad been assisting a police officer who had deemed it fit to assume adisguise. Daddy Tantaine cared little what he thought, and, gaining thePlace de Petit Pont, stopped and gazed around as if he was waiting forsome one. Twice he walked round it in vain; but in his third circuit hecame to a halt with an exclamation of satisfaction, for he had seen theperson of whom he had been in search, who was a detestable lookingyouth of about eighteen years of age, though so thin and stunted that hehardly appeared to be fifteen. 

The lad was leaning against the wall of the Quay St. Michel, openlyasking alms, but keeping a sharp lookout for the police. At the firstglance it was easy to detect in him the hideous outgrowth of the greatcity, the regular young rough of Paris, who, at eight years of age, smokes the butt ends of cigars picked up at the tavern doors andgets tipsy on coarse spirits. He had a thin crop of sandy hair, hiscomplexion was dull and colorless, and a sneer curled the corners ofhis mouth, which had a thick, hanging underlip, and his eyes had anexpression in them of revolting cynicism. His dress was tattered anddirty, and he had rolled up the sleeve of his right arm, exhibiting adeformed limb, sufficiently repulsive to excite the pity of the passersby. He was repeating a monotonous whine, in which the words "poorworkman, arm destroyed by machinery, aged mother to support, " occurredcontinually. 

Daddy Tantaine walked straight up to the youth, and with a sound cuffsent his hat flying. 

The lad turned sharply round, evidently in a terrible rage; but, recognizing his assailant, shrank back, and muttered to himself, "Landed!" In an instant he restored his arm to its originally healthycondition, and, picking up his cap, replaced it on his head, and humblywaited for fresh orders. 

"Is this the way you execute your errands?" asked Daddy Tantaine, snarling. 

"What errands? I have heard of none!"

"Never you mind that. Did not M. Mascarin, on my recommendation, put youin the way of earning your livelihood? and did you not promise to giveup begging?"

"Beg pardon, guv'nor, I meant to be on the square, but I didn't like towaste time while I was a-waiting. I don't like a-being idle and I havecopped seven browns. "

"Toto Chupin, " said the old man, with great severity, "you willcertainly come to a bad end. But come, give your report. What have youseen?"

During this conversation they were walking slowly along the quay, andhad passed the Hotel Dieu. 

"Well, guv'nor, " replied the young rogue, "I just saw what you said Ishould. At four sharp, a carriage drove into the Place, and pulledup bang opposite the wigmaker's. Dash me, if it weren't a swellturnout!--horse, coachman, and all, in real slap-up style. It waited solong that I thought it had taken root there. "

"Come, get on! Was there any one inside?"

"I should think there was! I twigged him at once, by the descriptionyou gave me. I never see a cove togged out as he was, --tall hat, lightsit-down-upons, and a short coat--wasn't it cut short! but in reallybang-up style. To be certain, I went right up to him, for it was gettingdark, and had a good look at him. He had got out of the trap, and wasmarching up and down the pavement, with an unlighted cigar stuck in hismouth. I took a match, and said, 'Have a light, my noble swell?' andhanged if he didn't give me ten centimes! My! ain't he ugly!--short, shrivelled up, and knock-kneed, with a glass in his eye, and altogetherprecious like a monkey. "

Daddy Tantaine began to grow impatient with all this rigmarole. "Come, tell me what took place, " said he angrily. 

"Precious little. The young swell didn't seem to care about dirtying histrotter-cases; he kept slashing about with his cane, and staring atall the gals. What an ass that masher is! Wouldn't I have liked to havepunched his head! If you ever want to hide him, daddy, please think ofyours truly. He wouldn't stand up to me for five minutes. "

"Go on, my lad; go on. "

"Well, we had waited half an hour, when all at once a woman came sharpround the corner, and stops before the masher. Wasn't she a fine gal!and hadn't she a pair of sparklers! but she had awfully seedy togs on. But they spoke in whispers. "

"So you did not hear what they said?"

"Do you take me for a flat? The gal said, 'Do youunderstand?--to-morrow. ' Then the swell chap, says he, 'Do you promise?'and the gal, she answers back, 'Yes, at noon. ' Then they parted. Shewent off to the Rue Hachette, and the masher tumbled into his wheelbox. The jarvey cracked his whip, and off they went in a brace of shakes. Nowhand over them five francs. "

Daddy Tantaine did not seem surprised at this request, and he gave overthe money to the young loafer, with the words, "When I promise, I paydown on the nail; but remember Toto Chupin, you'll come to grief oneday. Good-night. Our ways lie in different directions. "

The old man, however, lingered until he had seen the lad go off towardthe Jardin des Plantes, and then, turning round, went back by the wayhe had come. "I have not lost my day, " murmured he. "All theimprobabilities have turned out certainties, and matters are goingstraight. Won't Flavia be awfully pleased?"

CHAPTER II. 

A REGISTRY OFFICE. 

The establishment of the influential friend of Daddy Tantaine wassituated in the Rue Montorgeuil, not far from the Passage de la ReineHortense. M. B. Mascarin has a registry office for the engagement ofboth male and female servants. Two boards fastened upon each side of thedoor announce the hours of opening and closing, and give a list of thosewhose names are on the books; they further inform the public that theestablishment was founded in 1844, and is still in the same hands. Itwas the long existence of M. Mascarin in a business which is usuallyvery short-lived that had obtained for him a great amount of confidence, not only in the quarter in which he resided, but throughout the wholeof Paris. Employers say that he sends them the best of servants, andthe domestics in their turn assert that he only despatches them to goodplaces. But M. Mascarin has still further claims on the public esteem;for it was he who, in 1845, founded and carried out a project which hadfor its aim and end the securing of a shelter for servants out of place. The better to carry out this, Mascarin took a partner, and gave himthe charge of a furnished house close to the office. Worthy as theseprojects were, Mascarin contrived to draw considerable profit from them, and was the owner of the house before which, in the noon of the dayfollowing the events we have described, Paul Violaine might have beenseen standing. The five hundred francs of old Tantaine, or at any rate aportion of them, had been well spent, and his clothes did credit to hisown taste and the skill of his tailor. Indeed, in his fine feathers helooked so handsome, that many women turned to gaze after him. He howevertook but little notice of this, for he was too full of anxiety, havinggrave doubts as to the power of the man whom Tantaine had assertedcould, if he liked, make his fortune. "A registry office!" muttered hescornfully. "Is he going to propose a berth of a hundred francs a monthto me?" He was much agitated at the thoughts of the impending interview, and, before entering the house, gazed upon its exterior with greatinterest. The house much resembled its neighbors. The entrances to theRegistry Office and the Servants' Home were in the courtyard, at thearched entrance to which stood a vendor of roast chestnuts. 

"There is no use in remaining here, " said Paul. Summoning, therefore, all his resolution, he crossed the courtyard, and, ascending a flight ofstairs, paused before a door upon which "OFFICE" was written. "Come in!"responded at once to his knock. He pushed open the door, and entereda room, which closely resembled all other similar offices. There wereseats all round the room, polished by frequent use. At the end was asort of compartment shut in by a green baize curtain, jestingly termed"the Confessional" by the frequenters of the office. Between the windowswas a tin plate, with the words, "All fees to be paid in advance, " inlarge letters upon it. In one corner a gentleman was seated at a writingtable, who, as he made entries in a ledger, was talking to a woman whostood beside him. 

"M. Mascarin?" asked Paul hesitatingly. 

"What do you want with him?" asked the man, without looking up from hiswork. "Do you wish to enter your name? We have now vacancies for threebookkeepers, a cashier, a confidential clerk--six other good situations. Can you give good references?"

These words seemed to be uttered by rote. 

"I beg your pardon, " returned Paul; "but I should like to see M. Mascarin. One of his friends sent me here. "

This statement evidently impressed the official, and he replied almostpolitely, "M. Mascarin is much occupied at present, sir; but he willsoon be disengaged. Pray be seated. "

Paul sat down on a bench, and examined the man who had just spokenwith some curiosity. M. Mascarin's partner was a tall and athletic man, evidently enjoying the best of health, and wearing a large moustacheelaborately waxed and pointed. His whole appearance betokened the oldsoldier. He had, so he asserted, served in the cavalry, and it wasthere that he had acquired the _soubriquet_ by which he wasknown--Beaumarchef, his original name being David. He was aboutforty-five, but was still considered a very good-looking fellow. Theentries that he was making in the ledger did not prevent him fromkeeping up a conversation with the woman standing by him. The woman, who seemed to be a cross between a cook and a market-woman, might bedescribed as a thoroughly jovial soul. She seasoned her conversationwith pinches of snuff, and spoke with a strong Alsatian brogue. 

"Now, look here, " said Beaumarchef; "do you really mean to say that youwant a place?"

"I do that. "

"You said that six months ago. We got you a splendid one, and three daysafterward you chucked up the whole concern. "

"And why shouldn't I? There was no need to work then; but now it isanother pair of shoes, for I have spent nearly all I had saved. "

Beaumarchef laid down his pen, and eyed her curiously for a second ortwo; then he said, --

"You've been making a fool of yourself somehow, I expect. "

She half turned away her head, and began to complain of the hardnessof the terms and of the meanness of the mistresses, who, instead ofallowing their cooks to do the marketing, did it themselves, and socheated their servants out of their commissions. 

Beaumarchef nodded, just as he had done half an hour before to a ladywho had complained bitterly of the misconduct of her servants. He wascompelled by his position to sympathize with both sides. 

The woman had now finished her tirade, and drawing the amount of the feefrom a well-filled purse, placed it on the table, saying, --

"Please, M. Beaumarchef, register my name as Caroline Scheumal, and getme a real good place. It must be a cook, you understand, and I want todo the marketing without the missus dodging around. "

"Well, I'll do my best. "

"Try and find me a wealthy widower, or a young woman married to a veryold fellow. Now, do look round; I'll drop in again to-morrow;" and witha farewell pinch of snuff, she left the office. 

Paul listened to this conversation with feelings of anger andhumiliation, and in his heart cursed old Tantaine for having introducedhim into such company. He was seeking for some plausible excuse forwithdrawal, when the door at the end of the room was thrown open, andtwo men came in, talking as they did so. The one was young and welldressed, with an easy, swaggering manner, which ignorant people mistakefor good breeding. He had a many-colored rosette at his buttonhole, showing that he was the knight of more than one foreign order. The otherwas an elderly man, with an unmistakable legal air about him. He wasdressed in a quilted dressing-gown, fur-lined shoes, and had on his headan embroidered cap, most likely the work of the hands of some one dearto him. He wore a white cravat, and his sight compelled him to usecolored glasses. 

"Then, my dear sir, " said the younger man, "I may venture to entertainhopes?"

"Remember, Marquis, " returned the other, "that if I were acting alone, what you require would be at once at your disposal. Unfortunately, Ihave others to consult. "

"I place myself entirely in your hands, " replied the Marquis. 

The appearance of the fashionably dressed young man reconciled Paul tothe place in which he was. 

"A Marquis!" he murmured; "and the other swell-looking fellow must be M. Mascarin. "

Paul was about to step forward, when Beaumarchef respectfully accostedthe last comer, --

"Who do you think, sir, " said he, "I have just seen?"

"Tell me quickly, " was the impatient reply. 

"Caroline Schimmel; you know who I mean. "

"What! the woman who was in the service of the Duchess of Champdoce?"

"Exactly so. "

M. Mascarin uttered an exclamation of delight. 

"Where is she living now?"

Beaumarchef was utterly overwhelmed by this simple question. For thefirst time in his life he had omitted to take a client's address. Thisomission made Mascarin so angry that he forgot all his good manners, andbroke out with an oath that would have shamed a London cabman, --

"How could you be such an infernal fool? We have been hunting for thiswoman for five months. You knew this as well as I did, and yet, whenchance brings her to you, you let her slip through your fingers andvanish again. "

"She'll be back again, sir; never fear. She won't fling away the moneythat she had paid for fees. "

"And what do you think that she cares for ten sous or ten francs? She'llbe back when she thinks she will; but a woman who drinks and is off herhead nearly all the year round----"

Inspired by a sudden thought, Beaumarchef made a clutch at his hat. 

"She has only just gone, " said he; "I can easily overtake her. "

But Mascarin arrested his progress. 

"You are not a good bloodhound. Take Toto Chupin with you; he is outsidewith his chestnuts, and is as fly as they make them. If you catch herup, don't say a word, but follow her up, and see where she goes. I wantto know her whole daily life. Remember that no item, however unimportantit may seem, is not of consequence. "

Beaumarchef disappeared in an instant, and Mascarin continued togrumble. 

"What a fool!" he murmured. "If I could only do everything myself. Iworried my life out for months, trying to find the clue to the mysterywhich this woman holds, and now she has again escaped me. "

Paul, who saw that his presence was not remarked, coughed to drawattention to it. In an instant Mascarin turned quickly round. 

"Excuse me, " said Paul; but the set smile had already resumed its placeupon Mascarin's countenance. 

"You are, " remarked he, civilly, "Paul Violaine, are you not?"

The young man bowed in assent. 

"Forgive my absence for an instant. I will be back directly, " saidMascarin. 

He passed through the door, and in another instant Paul heard his namecalled. 

Compared to the outer chamber, Mascarin's office was quite a luxuriousapartment, for the windows were bright, the paper on the walls fresh, and the floor carpeted. But few of the visitors to the office couldboast of having been admitted into this sanctum; for generally businesswas conducted at Beaumarchef's table in the outer room. Paul, however, who was unacquainted with the prevailing rule, was not aware of thedistinction with which he had been received. Mascarin, on his visitor'sentrance, was comfortably seated in an armchair before the fire, withhis elbow on his desk--and what a spectacle did that desk present! Itwas a perfect world in itself, and indicated that its proprietor was aman of many trades. It was piled with books and documents, while a greatdeal of the space was occupied by square pieces of cardboard, upon eachof which was a name in large letters, while underneath was writing invery minute characters. 

With a benevolent gesture, Mascarin pointed to an armchair, and inencouraging tones said, "And now let us talk. "

It was plain to Paul that Mascarin was not acting, but that the kind andpatriarchal expression upon his face was natural to it, and the youngman felt that he could safely intrust his whole future to him. 

"I have heard, " commenced Mascarin, "that your means of livelihood arevery precarious, or rather that you have none, and are ready to takethe first one that offers you a means of subsistence. That, at least, iswhat I hear from my poor friend Tantaine. "

"He has explained my case exactly. "

"Good; only before proceeding to the future, let us speak of the past. "

Paul gave a start, which Mascarin noticed, for he added, --

"You will excuse the freedom I am taking; but it is absolutely necessarythat I should know to what I am binding myself. Tantaine tells me thatyou are a charming young man, strictly honest, and well educated; andnow that I have had the pleasure of meeting you, I am sure that he isright; but I can only deal with proofs, and must be quite certain beforeI act on your behalf with third parties. "

"I have nothing to conceal, sir, and am ready to answer any questions, "responded Paul. 

A slight smile, which Paul did not detect, played round the corners ofMascarin's mouth, and, with a gesture, with which all who knew him werefamiliar, he pushed back his glasses on his nose. 

"I thank you, " answered he; "it is not so easy as you may suppose tohide anything from me. " He took one of the packets of pasteboard slipsform his desk, and shuffling them like a pack of cards, continued, "Yourname is Marie Paul Violaine. You were born at Poitiers, in the Ruedes Vignes, on the 5th of January, 1843, and are therefore in yourtwenty-fourth year. "

"That is quite correct, sir. "

"You are an illegitimate child?"

The first question had surprised Paul; the second absolutely astoundedhim. 

"Quite true, sir, " replied he, not attempting to hide his surprise; "butI had no idea that M. Tantaine was so well informed; the partition whichdivided our rooms must have been thinner than I thought. "

Mascarin took no notice of this remark, but continued to shuffle andexamine his pieces of cardboard. Had Paul caught a clear glimpse ofthese, he would have seen his initials in the corner of each. 

"Your mother, " went on Mascarin, "kept, for the last fifteen years ofher life, a little haberdasher's shop. "

"Just so. "

"But a business of that description in a town like Poitiers, does notbring in very remunerative results, and luckily she received for yoursupport and education a sum of one thousand francs per year. "

This time Paul started from his seat, for he was sure that Tantainecould not have learned this secret at the Hotel de Perou. 

"Merciful powers, sir!" cried he; "who could have told you a thing thathas never passed my lips since my arrival in Paris, and of which evenRose is entirely ignorant?"

Mascarin raised his shoulders. 

"You can easily comprehend, " remarked he, "that a man in my line ofbusiness has to learn many things. If I did not take the greatestprecautions, I should be deceived daily, and so lead others into error. "

Paul had not been more than an hour in the office, but the directionsgiven to Beaumarchef had already taught him how many of these eventswere arranged. 

"Though I may be curious, " went on Mascarin, "I am the symbol ofdiscretion; so answer me frankly: How did your mother receive thisannuity?"

"Through a Parisian solicitor. "

"Do you know him?"

"Not at all, " answered Paul, who had begun to grow uneasy under thisquestioning, for a kind of vague apprehension was aroused in his mind, and he could not see the utility of any of these interrogations. Therewas, however, nothing in Mascarin's manner to justify the misgivingsof the young man, for he appeared to ask all these questions in quite amatter-of-course way, as if they were purely affairs of business. 

After a protracted silence, Mascarin resumed, --

"I am half inclined to believe that the solicitor sent the money on hisown account. "

"No, sir, " answered Paul. "I am sure you are mistaken. "

"Why are you so certain?"

"Because my mother, who was the incarnation of truth, often assured methat my father died before my birth. Poor mother! I loved and respectedher too much to question her on these matters. One day, however, impelled by an unworthy feeling of curiosity, I dared to ask her thename of our protector. She burst into tears, and then I felt how meanand cruel I had been. I never learned his name but I know that he wasnot my father. "

Mascarin affected not to notice the emotion of his young client. 

"Did the allowance cease at your mother's death?" continued he. 

"No; it was stopped when I came of age. My mother told me that thiswould be the case; but it seems only yesterday that she spoke to me ofit. It was on my birthday, and she had prepared a little treat for mysupper; for in spite of the affliction my birth had caused her, sheloved me fondly. Poor mother! 'Paul, ' said she, 'at your birth a genuinefriend promised to help me to bring up and educate you, and he kept hisword. But you are now twenty-one, and must expect nothing more from him. My son, you are a man now, and I have only you to look to. Work and earnan honest livelihood----'"

Paul could proceed no farther, for his emotions choked him. 

"My mother died suddenly some ten months after thisconversation--without time to communicate anything to me, and I was leftperfectly alone in the world; and were I to die to-morrow, there wouldnot be a soul to follow me to my grave. "

Mascarin put on a sympathetic look. 

"Not quite so bad as that, my young friend; I trust that you have onenow. "

Mascarin rose from his seat, and for a few minutes paced up and down theroom, and then halted, with his arms folded, before the young man. 

"You have heard me, " said he, "and I will not put any further questionswhich it will but pain you to reply to, for I only wished to take yourmeasure, and to judge of your truth from your replies. You will ask why?Ah, that is a question I cannot answer to-day, but you shall know lateron. Be assured, however, that I know everything about you, but I cannottell you by what means. Say it has all happened by chance. Chance hasbroad shoulders, and can bear a great deal. "

This ambiguous speech caused a thrill of terror to pass through Paul, which was plainly visible on his expressive features. 

"Are you alarmed?" asked Mascarin, readjusting his spectacles. 

"I am much surprised, sir, " stammered Paul. 

"Come, come! what can a man in your circumstances have to fear? Thereis no use racking your brain; you will find out all you want quicklyenough, and had best make up your mind to place yourself in my handswithout reserve, for my sole desire is to be of service to you. "

These words were uttered in the most benevolent manner; and as heresumed his seat, he added, --

"Now let us talk of myself. Your mother, whom you justly say was athoroughly good woman, pinched herself in order to keep you at collegeat Poitiers. You entered a solicitor's office at eighteen, I think?"

"Yes, sir. "

"But your mother's desire was to see you established at Loudon orCevray. Perhaps she hoped that her wealthy friend would aid you stillfurther. Unluckily, however, you had no inclination for the law. "

Paul smiled, but Mascarin went on with some little severity. 

"I repeat, unfortunately; and I think that by this time you have gonethrough enough to be of my opinion. What did you do instead of studyinglaw? You did--what? You wasted your time over music, and composed songs, and, I know, an opera, and thought yourself a perfect genius. "

Paul had listened up to this time with patience, but at this sarcasmhe endeavored to protest; but it was in vain, for Mascarin went onpitilessly, --

"One day you abandoned the study of the law, and told your motherthat until you had made your name as a musical composer you would givelessons on the piano; but you could obtain no pupils, and--well, justlook in the glass yourself, and say if you think that your age andappearance would justify parents in intrusting their daughters to yourtuition?"

Mascarin stopped for a moment and consulted his notes afresh. 

"Your departure from Poitiers, " he went on, "was your last act of folly. The very day after your poor mother's death you collected together allher scanty savings, and took the train to Paris. "

"Then, sir, I had hoped----"

"What, to arrive at fortune by the road of talent? Foolish boy! Everyyear a thousand poor wretches have been thus intoxicated by theirprovincial celebrity, and have started for Paris, buoyed up by similarhopes. Do you know the end of them? At the end of ten years--I give themno longer--nine out of ten die of starvation and disappointment, and theother joins the criminal army. "

Paul had often repeated this to himself, and could, therefore, make noreply. 

"But, " went on Mascarin, "you did not leave Poitiers alone; you carriedoff with you a young girl named Rose Pigoreau. "

"Pray, let me explain. "

"It would be useless. The fact speaks for itself. In six months yourlittle store had disappeared; then came poverty and starvation, and atlast, in the Hotel de Perou, your thoughts turned to suicide, and youwere only saved by my old friend Tantaine. "

Paul felt his temper rising, for these plain truths were hard to bear;but fear lest he should lose his protector kept him silent. 

"I admit everything, sir, " said he calmly. "I was a fool, and almostmad, but experience has taught me a bitter lesson. I am here to-day, and this fact should tell you that I have given up all my vainhallucinations. "

"Will you give up Rose Pigoreau?"

As this abrupt question was put to him, Paul turned pale with anger. 

"I love Rose, " answered he coldly; "she believes in me, and has sharedmy troubles with courage, and one day she shall be my wife. "

Raising his velvet cap from his head, Mascarin bowed with an ironicalair, saying, "Is that so? Then I beg a thousand pardons. It is urgentthat you should have immediate employment. Pray, what can you do? Notmuch of anything, I fancy;--like most college bred boys, you can do alittle of everything, and nothing well. Had I a son, and an enormousincome, I would have him taught a trade. "

Paul bit his lip; but he knew the portrait was a true one. 

"And now, " continued Mascarin, "I have come to your aid, and what do yousay to a situation with a salary of twelve thousand francs?"

This sum was so much greater than Paul had dared to hope, that hebelieved Mascarin was amusing himself at his expense. 

"It is not kind of you to laugh at me, under the present circumstances, "remarked he. 

Mascarin was not laughing at him; but it was fully half an hour beforehe could prove this to Paul. 

"You would like more proof of what I say, " said he, after a longconversation. "Very well, then; shall I advance your first month'ssalary?" And as he spoke, he took a thousand-franc note from his desk, and offered it to Paul. The young man rejected the note; but the forceof the argument struck him; and he asked if he was capable of carryingout the duties which such a salary doubtless demanded. 

"Were I not certain of your abilities, I should not offer it to you, "replied Mascarin. "I am in a hurry now, or I would explain the wholeaffair; but I must defer doing so until to-morrow, when please come atthe same hour as you did to-day. "

Even in his state of surprise and stupefaction, Paul felt that this wasa signal for him to depart. 

"A moment more, " said Mascarin. "You understand that you can no longerremain at the Hotel de Perou? Try and find a room in this neighborhood;and when you have done so, leave the address at the office. Good-bye, myyoung friend, until to-morrow, and learn to bear good fortune. "

For a few minutes Mascarin stood at the door of the office watchingPaul, who departed almost staggering beneath the burden of so manyconflicting emotions; and when he saw him disappear round the corner, heran to a glazed door which led to his bed chamber, and in a loud whispercalled, "Come in, Hortebise. He has gone. "

A man obeyed the summons at once, and hurriedly drew up a chair to thefire. "My feet are almost frozen, " exclaimed he; "I should not knowit if any one was to chop them off. Your room, my dear Baptiste, is aperfect refrigerator. Another time, please, have a fire lighted in it. "

This speech, however, did not disturb Mascarin's line of thought. "Didyou hear all?" asked he. 

"I saw and heard all that you did. "

"And what do you think of the lad?"

"I think that Daddy Tantaine is a man of observation and powerful will, and that he will mould this child between his fingers like wax. "

CHAPTER III. 

THE OPINION OF DR. HORTEBISE. 

Dr. Hortebise, who had addressed Mascarin so familiarly by his Christianname of Baptiste, was about fifty-six years of age, but he carried hisyears so well, that he always passed for forty-nine. He had a heavy pairof red, sensual-looking lips, his hair was untinted by gray, and hiseyes still lustrous. A man who moved in the best society, eloquent inmanner, a brilliant conversationalist, and vivid in his perceptions, heconcealed under the veil of good-humored sarcasm the utmost cynicism ofmind. He was very popular and much sought after. He had but few faults, but quite a catalogue of appalling vices. Under this Epicurean exteriorlurked, it was reported, the man of talent and the celebrated physician. He was not a hard-working man, simply because he achieved the sameresults without toil or labor. He had recently taken to homoeopathy, andstarted a medical journal, which he named _The Globule_, which died atits fifth number. His conversation made all society laugh, and he joinedin the ridicule, thus showing the sincerity of his views, for hewas never able to take the round of life seriously. To-day, however, Mascarin, well as he knew his friend, seemed piqued at his air oflevity. 

"When I asked you to come here to-day, " said he, "and when I begged youto conceal yourself in my bedroom--"

"Where I was half frozen, " broke in Hortebise. 

"It was, " went on Mascarin, "because I desired your advice. We havestarted on a serious undertaking, --an undertaking full of peril both toyou and to myself. "

"Pooh! I have perfect confidence in you, --whatever you do is done well, and you are not the man to fling away your trump cards. "

"True; but I may lose the game, after all, and then----"

The doctor merely shook a large gold locket that depended from his watchchain. 

This movement seemed to annoy Mascarin a great deal. "Why do you flashthat trinket at me?" asked he. "We have known each other for five andtwenty years, --what do you mean to imply? Do you mean that the locketcontains the likeness of some one that you intend to make use of lateron? I think that you might render such a step unnecessary by giving meyour present advice and attention. "

Hortebise threw himself back in his chair with an expression ofresignation. "If you want advice, " remarked he, "why not apply to ourworthy friend Catenac?--he knows something of business, as he is alawyer. "

The name of Catenac seemed to irritate Mascarin so much, that calm, andself-contained as he usually was, he pulled off his cap and dashed it onhis desk. 

"Are you speaking seriously?" said he angrily. 

"Why should I not be in earnest?"

Mascarin removed his glasses, as though without them he could the moreeasily peer into the depths of the soul of the man before him. 

"Because, " replied he slowly, "both you and I distrust Catenac. When didyou see him last?"

"More than three months ago. "

"True, and I allow that he seems to be acting fairly toward his oldassociates; but you will admit that, in keeping away thus, his conductis without excuse, for he has made his fortune; and though he pretendsto be poor, he is certainly a man of wealth. "

"Do you really think so?"

"Were he here, I would force him to acknowledge that he is worth amillion, at least. "

"A million!" exclaimed the doctor, with sudden animation. 

"Yes, certainly. You and I, Hortebise, have indulged our every whim, andhave spent gold like water, while our friend garnered his harvest andstored it away. But poor Catenac has no expensive tastes, nor does hecare for women or the pleasures of the table. While we indulged in everypleasure, he lent out his money at usurious interest. But, stop, --howmuch do you spend per annum?"

"That is a hard question to answer; but, say, forty thousand francs. "

"More, a great deal more; but calculate what a capital sum that wouldamount to during the twenty years we have done business together. "

The doctor was not clever at figures; he made several vain attempts tosolve the problem, and at last gave it up in despair. "Forty and forty, "muttered he, tapping the tips of his fingers, "are eighty, then forty--"

"Call it eight hundred thousand francs, " broke in Mascarin. "Say I drewthe same amount as you did. We have spent ours, and Catenac has savedhis, and grown rich; hence my distrust. Our interests are no longeridentical. He certainly comes here every month, but it is only to claimhis share; he consents to take his share of the profits, but shirks therisks. It is fully ten years since he brought in any business. I don'ttrust him at all. He always declines to join in any scheme that wepropose, and sees danger in everything. "

"He would not betray us, however. "

Mascarin took a few moments for reflection. "I think, " said he, "thatCatenac is afraid of us. He knows that the ruin of me would entail thedestruction of the other two. This is our only safeguard; but if hedare not injure us openly, he is quite capable of working against us insecret. Do you remember what he said the last time he was here? That weought to close our business and retire. How should _we_ live? for he isrich and we are poor. What on earth are you doing, Hortebise?" he added, for the physician, who had the reputation of being worth an enormousamount, had taken out his purse, and was going over the contents. 

"I have scarcely three hundred and twenty-seven francs!" answered hewith a laugh. "What is the state of your finances?"

Mascarin made a grimace. "I am not so well off as you; and besides, " hecontinued in a low voice, as though speaking to himself, "I have certainties which you do not possess. "

For the first time during this interview a cloud spread over thedoctor's countenance. 

"Great Heavens!" said he, "and I was depending on you for three thousandfrancs, which I require urgently. "

Mascarin smiled slyly at the doctor's uneasiness. "Don't worry, " heanswered. "You can have that; there ought to be some six or eightthousand francs in the safe. But that is all, and that is the lastof our common capital, --this after twenty years of toil, danger, andanxiety, and we have not twenty years before us to make a fresh fortunein. "

"Yes, " continued Mascarin, "we are getting old, and therefore have thegreater reason for making one grand stroke to assure our fortune. Were Ito fall ill to-morrow, all would go to smash. "

"Quite true, " returned the doctor, with a slight shudder. 

"We must, and that is certain, venture on a bold stroke. I have saidthis for years, and woven a web of gigantic proportions. Do you nowknow why at this last moment I appeal to you, and not to Catenacfor assistance? If only one out of two operations that I have fullyexplained to you succeeds, our fortune is made. "

"I follow you exactly. "

"The question now is whether the chance of success is sufficiently greatto warrant our going on with these undertakings. Think it over and letme have your opinion. "

An acute observer could easily have seen that the doctor was a man ofresource, and a thoroughly competent adviser, for the reason that hiscoolness never deserted him. Compelled to choose between the use of thecontents of his locket, or the continuance of a life of luxurious ease, the smile vanished from the doctor's face, and he began to reflectprofoundly. Leaning back in his chair, with his feet resting on thefender, he carefully studied every combination in the undertaking, asa general inspects the position taken up by the enemy, when a battleis impending, upon which the fate of an empire may hinge. That thisanalysis took a favorable turn, was evident, for Mascarin soon saw asmile appear upon the doctor's lips. "We must make the attack atonce, " said he; "but make no mistake; the projects you propose are mostdangerous, and a single error upon our side would entail destruction;but we must take some risk. The odds are against us, but still we maywin. Under these circumstances, and as necessity cheers us on, I say, _Forward!_" As he said this, he rose to his feet, and extending his handtoward his friend, exclaimed, "I am entirely at your disposal. "

Mascarin seemed relieved by the doctor's decision, for he was inthat frame of mind when, however self-reliant a man may be, he has adisinclination to be left alone, and the aid of a stout ally is of theutmost service. 

"Have you considered every point carefully?" asked he. "You know thatwe can only act at present upon one of the undertakings, and that is theone of which the Marquis de Croisenois----"

"I know that. "

"With reference to the affair of the Duke de Champdoce, I have still togather together certain things necessary for the ultimate success ofthe scheme. There is a mystery in the lives of the Duke and Duchess, --ofthis there is no doubt, --but what is this secret? I would lay my lifethat I have hit upon the correct solution; but I want no suspicions, no probabilities; I want absolute certainties. And now, " continued he, "this brings us back to the first question. What do you think of PaulViolaine?"

Hortebise walked up and down the room two or three times, and finallystopped opposite to his friend. "I think, " said he, "that the lad hasmany of the qualities we want, and we might find it hard to discover onebetter suited for our purpose. Besides, he is a bastard, knows nothingof his father, and therefore leaves a wide field for conjecture; forevery natural son has the right to consider himself, if he likes, theoffspring of a monarch. He has no family or any one to look after him, which assures us that whatever may happen, there is no one to call us toaccount. He is not overwise, but has a certain amount of talent, and anyquantity of ridiculous self-conceit. He is wonderfully handsome, whichwill make matters easier, but--"

"Ah, there is a 'but' then?"

"More than one, " answered the doctor, "for there are three for certain. First, there is Rose Pigoreau, whose beauty has so captivated our oldfriend Tantaine, --she certainly appears to be a danger in the future. "

"Be easy, " returned Mascarin; "we will quickly remove this young womanfrom our road. "

"Good; but do not be too confident, " answered Hortebise, in his usualtone. "The danger from her is not the one you think, and which you aretrying to avoid. You think Paul loves her. You are wrong. He would dropher to-morrow, so that he could please his self-indulgence. But thewoman who thinks that she hates her lover often deceives herself; andRose is simply tired of poverty. Give her a little amount of comfort, good living, and luxury, and you will see her give them all up to comeback to Paul. Yes, I tell you, she will harass and annoy him, as womenof her class who have nothing to love always do. She will even go toFlavia to claim him. "

"She had better not, " retorted Mascarin, in threatening accents. 

"Why, how could you prevent it? She has known Paul from his infancy. Sheknew his mother; she was perhaps brought up by her, perhaps even livedin the same street. Look out, I say, for danger from that quarter. "

"You may be right, and I will take my precautions. "

It was sufficient for Mascarin to be assured of a danger to find meansof warding it off. 

"My second 'but, '" continued Hortebise, "is the idea of the mysteriousprotector of whom the young man spoke. His mother, he says, has reasonto know that his father is dead, and I believe in the truth of thestatement. In this case, what has become of the person who paid MadameViolaine her allowance?"

"You are right, quite right; these are the crevices in our armor; but Ikeep my eyes open, and nothing escapes me. "

The doctor was growing rather weary, but he still went on courageously. "My third 'but'" said he, "is perhaps the strongest. We must see theyoung fellow at once. It may be to-morrow, without even having preparedhim or taught him his part. Suppose we found that he was honest!Imagine--if he returned a firm negative to all your dazzling offers!"

Mascarin rose to his feet in his turn. "I do not think that there is anychance of that, " said he. 

"Why not, pray?"

"Because when Tantaine brought him to me, he had studied him carefully. He is as weak as a woman, and as vain as a journalist. Besides, he isashamed at being poor. No; I can mould him like wax into any shape Ilike. He will be just what we wish. "

"Are you sure, " asked Hortebise, "that Flavia will have nothing to sayin this matter?"

"I had rather, with your permission, say nothing on that head, " returnedMascarin. He broke off his speech and listened eagerly. "There is someone listening, " said he. "Hark!"

The sound was repeated, and the doctor was about to seek refuge in theinner room, when Mascarin laid a detaining hand upon his arm. 

"Stay, " observed he, "it is only Beaumarchef;" and as he spoke, he struck a gilded bell that stood on his desk. In another instantBeaumarchef appeared, and with an air in which familiarity was mingledwith respect, he saluted in military fashion. 

"Ah, " said the doctor pleasantly, "do you take your nips of brandyregularly?"

"Only occasionally, sir, " stammered the man. 

"Too often, too often, my good fellow. Do you think that your nose andeyelids are not real telltales?"

"But I assure you, sir--"

"Do you not remember I told you that you had asthmatic symptoms?Why, the movement of your pectoral muscles shows that your lungs areaffected. "

"But I have been running, sir. "

Mascarin broke in upon this conversation, which he considered frivolous. "If he is out of breath, " remarked he, "it is because he has beenendeavoring to repair a great act of carelessness that he has committed. Well, Beaumarchef, how did you get on?"

"All right, sir, " returned he, with a look of triumph. "Good!"

"What are you talking about?" asked the doctor. 

Mascarin gave his friend a meaning glance, and then, in a carelessmanner, replied, "Caroline Schimmel, a former servant of the Champdocefamily, also patronizes our office. How did you find her, Beaumarchef?"

"Well, an idea occurred to me. "

"Pooh! do you have ideas at your time of life?"

Beaumarchef put on an air of importance. "My idea was this, " he wenton: "as I left the office with Toto Chupin, I said to myself, the womanwould certainly drop in at some pub before she reached the boulevard. "

"A sound argument, " remarked the doctor. 

"Therefore Toto and I took a squint into every one we passed, and beforewe got to the Rue Carreau we saw her in one, sure enough. "

"And Toto is after her now?"

"Yes, sir; he said he would follow her like her shadow, and will bringin a report every day. "

"I am very pleased with you, Beaumarchef, " said Mascarin, rubbing hishands joyously. 

Beaumarchef seemed highly flattered, but continued, --

"This is not all. "

"What else is there to tell?"

"I met La Candele on his way from the Place de Petit Pont, and hehas just seen that young girl--you know whom I mean--driving off in atwo-horse Victoria. He followed it, of course. She has been placed in agorgeous apartment in the Rue Douai; and from what the porter says, shemust be a rare beauty; and La Candele raved about her, and says that shehas the most magnificent eyes in the world. "

"Ah, " remarked Hortebise, "then Tantaine was right in his description ofher. "

"Of course he was, " answered Mascarin with a slight frown, "and thisproves the justice of the objection you made a little time back. A girlpossessed of such dazzling beauty may even influence the fool who hascarried her off to become dangerous. "

Beaumarchef touched his master's arm kindly. "If you wish to get rid ofthe masher, " said he, "I can show you a way;" and throwing himselfinto the position of a fencer, he made a lunge with his right arm, exclaiming, "One, two!"

"A Prussian quarrel, " remarked Mascarin. "No; a duel would do us nogood. We should still have the girl on our hands, and violent measuresare always to be avoided. " He took off his glasses, wiped them, andlooking at the doctor intently, said, "Suppose we take an epidemic asour ally. If the girl had the smallpox, she would lose her beauty. "

Cynical and hardened as the doctor was, he drew back in horror at thisproposal. "Under certain circumstances, " remarked he, "science might aidus; but Rose, even without her beauty, would be just as dangerous as sheis now. It is _her_ affection for Paul that we have to check, and not_his_ for her; and the uglier a woman is, the more she clings to herlover. "

"All this is worthy of consideration, " returned Mascarin; "meanwhile wemust take steps to guard ourselves from the impending danger. Have youfinished that report on Gandelu, Beaumarchef? What is his position?"

"Head over ears in debt, sir, but not harassed by his creditors becauseof his future prospects. "

"Surely among these creditors there are some that we could influence?"said Mascarin. "Find this out, and report to me this evening; andfarewell for the present. "

When again alone, the two confederates remained silent for some time. The decisive moment had arrived. As yet they were not compromised; butif they intended to carry out their plans, they must no longer remaininactive; and both of these men had sufficient experience to know thatthey must look at the position boldly, and make up their minds at once. The pleasant smile upon the doctor's face faded away, and his fingersplayed nervously with his locket. Mascarin was the first to break thesilence. 

"Let us no longer hesitate, " said he; "let us shut our eyes to thedanger and advance steadily. You heard the promises made by the Marquisde Croisenois. He will do as we wish, but under certain conditions. Mademoiselle de Mussidan must be his bride. "

"That will be impossible. "

"Not so, if we desire it: and the proof of this is, that before twoo'clock the engagement between Mademoiselle Sabine and the Baron deBreulh-Faverlay will be broken off. "

The doctor heaved a deep sigh. "I can understand Catenac's scruples. Ah!if, like him, I had a million!"

During this brief conversation Mascarin had gone into his sleeping roomand was busily engaged in changing his dress. 

"If you are ready, " remarked the doctor, "we will make a start. "

In reply, Mascarin opened the door leading into the office. "Get a cab, Beaumarchef, " said he. 

CHAPTER IV. 

A TRUSTWORTHY SERVANT. 

In the city of Paris it is impossible to find a more fashionable quarterthan the one which is bounded on the one side by the Rue Faubourg SaintHonore and on the other by the Seine, and commences at the Place de laConcorde and ends at the Avenue de l'Imperatrice. In this favored spotmillionaires seem to bloom like the rhododendron in the sunny south. There are the magnificent palaces which they have erected for theiraccommodation, where the turf is ever verdant, and where the flowersbloom perennially; but the most gorgeous of all these mansions was theHotel de Mussidan, the last _chef d'oeuvre_ of Sevair, that skilfularchitect who died just as the world was beginning to recognize histalents. With a spacious courtyard in front and a magnificent garden inthe rear, the Hotel de Mussidan is as elegant as it is commodious. The exterior was extremely plain, and not disfigured by floridornamentation. White marble steps, with a light and elegant railing atthe sides, lead to the wide doors which open into the hall. The busy humof the servants at work at an early hour in the yard tells that an ampleestablishment is kept up. There can be seen luxurious carriages, foroccasions of ceremony, and the park phaeton, and the simple broughamwhich the Countess uses when she goes out shopping; and that carefullygroomed thoroughbred is Mirette, the favorite riding horse ofMademoiselle Sabine. Mascarin and his confederate descended from theircab a little distance at the corner of the Avenue Matignon. Mascarin, inhis dark suit, with his spotless white cravat and glittering spectacles, looked like some highly respectable functionary of State. Hortebise worehis usual smile, though his cheek was pale. 

"Now, " remarked Mascarin, "let me see, --on what footing do you standwith the Mussidans? Do they look upon you as a friend?"

"No, no; a poor doctor, whose ancestors were not among the Crusades, could not be the intimate friend of such haughty nobles as theMussidans. "

"But the Countess knows you, and will not refuse to receive you, norhave you turned out as soon as you begin to speak; for, taking shelterbehind some rogue without a name, you can shelter your own reputation. Iwill see the Count. "

"Take care of him, " said Hortebise thoughtfully. "He has a reputationfor being a man of ungovernable temper, and, at the first word from youthat he objects to, would throw you out of the window as soon as look atyou. "

Mascarin shrugged his shoulders. "I can bring him to reason, " answeredhe. 

The two confederates walked a little past the Hotel de Mussidan, and thedoctor explained the interior arrangements of the house. 

"I, " continued Mascarin, "will insist upon the Count's breaking off hisdaughter's engagement with M. De Breulh-Faverlay, but shall not saya word about the Marquis de Croisenois, while you will take theopportunity of putting his pretensions before the Countess, and will notsay a word of M. De Breulh-Faverlay. "

"I have learned my lesson, and shall not forget it. "

"You see, doctor, the beauty of the whole affair is, that the Countesswill wonder how her husband will take her interference, while he will beat a loss how to break the news to his wife. How surprised they will bewhen they find that they have both the same end in view!"

There was something so droll in the whole affair, that the doctor burstinto a loud laugh. 

"We go by such different roads, " said he, "that they will never suspectthat we are working together. Faith! my dear Baptiste, you are much moreclever than I thought. "

"Don't praise me until you see that I am successful. "

Mascarin stopped opposite to a _café_ in the Faubourg Saint Honore. 

"Wait here for me, doctor, " said he, "while I make a little call. If allis all right; I will come for you again; then I will see the Count, andtwenty minutes later do you go to the house and ask for the Countess. "

The clock struck four as the worthy confederates parted, and Mascarincontinued his way along the Faubourg Saint Honore, and again stoppedbefore a public house, which he entered, the master of which, FatherCanon, was so well known in the neighborhood that he had not thought itworth while to have his name painted over the door. He did not professto serve his best wine to casual customers, but for regular frequentersof his house, chiefly the servants of noble families, he kept a betterbrand of wine. Mascarin's respectable appearance inclined the landlordto step forward. Among Frenchmen, who are always full of gayety, aserious exterior is ever an excellent passport. 

"What can I do for you, sir?" asked he with great politeness. 

"Can I see Florestan?"

"In Count de Mussidan's service, I believe?"

"Just so; I have an appointment with him here. "

"He is downstairs in the band-room, " replied the landlord. "I will sendfor him. "

"Don't trouble; I will go down, " and, without waiting for permission, Mascarin descended some steps that apparently led to a cellar. 

"It appears to me, " murmured Father Canon, "that I have seen this cove'sface before. "

Mascarin pushed open a door at the bottom of the flight of stairs, anda strange and appalling noise issued from within (but this neithersurprised nor alarmed him), and entered a vaulted room arranged like a_café_, with seats and tables, filled with customers. In the centre, twomen, in their shirt sleeves, with crimson faces, were performing uponhorns; while an old man, with leather gaiters, buttoning to the knee, and a broad leather belt, was whistling the air the hornplayers wereexecuting. As Mascarin politely took off his hat, the performers ceased, and the old man discontinued his whistling, while a well-built youngfellow, with pumps and stockings, and wearing a fashionable mustache, exclaimed, --

"Aha, it is that good old Mascarin. I was expecting you; will youdrink?"

Without waiting for further invitation Mascarin helped himself from abottle that stood near. 

"Did Father Canon tell you that I was here?" asked the young man, whowas the Florestan Mascarin had been inquiring for. "You see, " continuedhe, "that the police will not permit us to practise the horn; so, youobserve, Father Canon has arranged this underground studio, from whenceno sound reaches the upper world. "

The hornplayers had now resumed their lessons, and Florestan wascompelled to place both hands to the side of his mouth, in order torender himself audible, and to shout with all his might. 

"That old fellow there is a huntsman in the service of the Duke deChampdoce, and is the finest hornplayer going. I have only had twentylessons from him, and am getting on wonderfully. "

"Ah!" exclaimed Mascarin, "when I have more time I must hear yourperformance; but to-day I am in a hurry, and want to say a few words toyou in private. "

"Certainly, but suppose we go upstairs and ask for a private room. "

The rooms he referred to were not very luxuriously furnished, but wereadmirably suited for confidential communications; and had the walls beenable to speak, they could have told many a strange tale. 

Florestan and Mascarin seated themselves in one of these before a smalltable, upon which Father Canon placed a bottle of wine and two glasses. 

"I asked you to meet me here, Florestan, " began Mascarin, "because youcan do me a little favor. "

"Anything that is in my power I will do, " said the young man. 

"First, a few words regarding yourself. How do you get on with Count deMussidan?"

Mascarin had adopted an air of familiarity which he knew would pleasehis companion. 

"I don't care about the place, " replied Florestan, "and I am going toask Beaumarchef to look out another one for me. "

"I am surprised at that; all your predecessors said that the Count was aperfect gentleman--"

"Just try him yourself, " broke in the valet. "In the first place he isas fickle as the wind, and awfully suspicious. He never leaves anythingabout, --no letters, no cigars, and no money. He spends half his time inlocking things up, and goes to bed with his keys under his pillow. "

"I allow that such suspicion on his part is most unpleasant. "

"It is indeed, and besides he is awfully violent. He gets in a rageabout nothing, and half a dozen times in the day he looks ready tomurder you. On my word, I am really frightened at him. "

This account, coupled with what he had heard from Hortebise seemed torender Mascarin very thoughtful. 

"Is he always like this, or only at intervals?"

"He is always a beast, but he is worse after drink or losing at cards. He is never home until after four in the morning. "

"And what does his wife say?"

The query made Florestan laugh. 

"Madame does not bother herself about her lord and master, I can assureyou. Sometimes they don't meet for weeks. All she wants is plenty ofmoney. And ain't we just dunned!"

"But the Mussidans are wealthy?"

"Tremendously so, but at times there is not the value of a franc in thehouse. Then Madame is like a tigress, and would sent to borrow from allher friends. "

"But she must feel much humiliated?"

"Not a bit; when she wants a heavy amount, she sends off to the Duke deChampdoce, and he always parts; but she doesn't mince matters with him. "

"It would seem as if you had known the contents of your mistress'sletters?" remarked Mascarin with a smile. 

"Of course I have; I like to know what is in the letters I carry about. She only says, 'My good friend, I want so much, ' and back comes themoney without a word. Of course it is easy to see that there has beensomething between them. "

"Yes, evidently. "

"And when master and missus do meet they only have rows, and such rows!When the working man has had a drop too much, he beats his wife, shescreams, then they kiss and make it up; but the Mussidans say things toeach other in cold blood that neither can ever forgive. "

From the air with which Mascarin listened to these details, it almostseemed as if he had been aware of them before. 

"Then, " said he, "Mademoiselle Sabine is the only nice one in thehouse?"

"Yes, she is always gentle and considerate. "

"Then you think that M. De Breulh-Faverlay will be a happy man?"

"Oh, yes; but perhaps this marriage will----" but here Florestaninterrupted himself and assumed an air of extreme caution. After lookingcarefully round, he lowered his voice, and continued, "MademoiselleSabine has been left so much to herself that she acts just as she thinksfit. "

"Do you mean, " asked Mascarin, "that the young lady has a lover?"

"Just so. "

"But that must be wrong; and let me tell you that you ought not torepeat such a story. "

The man grew quite excited. 

"Story, " repeated he; "I know what I know. If I spoke of a lover, it isbecause I have seen him with my own eyes, not once, but twice. "

From the manner in which Mascarin received this intelligence, Florestansaw that he was interested in the highest degree. 

"I'll tell you all about it, " continued he. "The first time was when shewent to mass; it came on to rain suddenly, and Modeste, her maid, beggedme to go for an umbrella. As soon as I came back I went in and sawMademoiselle Sabine standing by the receptacle for holy water, talkingto a young fellow. Of course I dodged behind a pillar, and kept a watchon the pair--"

"But you don't found all your story on this?"

"I think you would, had you seen the way they looked into each other'seyes. "

"What was he like?"

"Very good looking, about my height, with an aristocratic air. "

"How about the second time?"

"Ah, that is a longer story. I went one day with Mademoiselle when shewas going to see a friend in the Rue Marboeuf. She waited at a corner ofthe street, and beckoned me to her. 'Florestan, ' said she, 'I forgot topost this letter; go and do so; I will wait here for you. '"

"Of course you read it?"

"No. I thought there was something wrong. She wants to get rid of you, so, instead of posting it, I slunk behind a tree and waited. I hadhardly done so, when the young fellow I had seen at the chapel cameround the corner; but I scarcely knew him. He was dressed just like aworking man, in a blouse all over plaster. They talked for aboutten minutes, and Mademoiselle Sabine gave him what looked like aphotograph. "

By this time the bottle was empty, and Florestan was about to call foranother, when Mascarin checked him, saying--

"Not to-day; it is growing late, and I must tell you what I want you todo for me. Is the Count at home now?"

"Of course he is; he has not left his room for two days, owing to havingslipped going downstairs. "

"Well, my lad, I must see your master; and if I sent up my card, theodds are he would not see me, so I rely upon you to show me up withoutannouncing me. "

Florestan remained silent for a few minutes. 

"It is no easy job, " he muttered, "for the Count does not likeunexpected visitors, and the Countess is with him just now. However, asI am not going to stay, I'll chance it. "

Mascarin rose from his seat. 

"We must not be seen together, " said he; "I'll settle the score; do yougo on, and I will follow in five minutes. Remember we don't know eachother. "

"I am fly; and mind you look out a good place for me. "

Mascarin paid the bill, and then looked into the _café_ to inform thedoctor of his movements, and a few minutes later, Florestan in hismost sonorous voice, threw open the door of his master's room andannounced, --

"M. Mascarin. "

CHAPTER V. 

A FORGOTTEN CRIME. 

Baptiste Mascarin had been in so many strange situations, from which hehad extricated himself with safety and credit, that he had the fullestself-confidence, but as he ascended the wide staircase of the Hotel deMussidan, he felt his heart beat quicker in anticipation of the strugglethat was before him. It was twilight out of doors, but all within wasa blaze of light. The library into which he was ushered was a vastapartment, furnished in severe taste. At the sound of the unaristocraticname of Mascarin, which seemed as much out of place as a drunkard's oathin the chamber of sleeping innocence, M. De Mussidan raised his headin sudden surprise. The Count was seated at the other end of the room, reading by the light of four candles placed in a magnificently wroughtcandelabra. He threw down his paper, and raising his glasses, gazed withastonishment at Mascarin, who, with his hat in his hand and his heartin his mouth, slowly crossed the room, muttering a few unintelligibleapologies. He could make nothing, however, of his visitor, and said, "Whom do you wish to see, sir?"

"The Count de Mussidan, " stuttered Mascarin; "and I hope that you willforgive this intrusion. "

The Count cut his excuse short with a haughty wave of his hand. "Wait, "said he imperiously. He then with evident pain rose from his seat, andcrossing the room, rang the bell violently, and then reseated himself. Mascarin, who still remained in the centre of the room, inwardlywondered if after all he was to be turned out of the house. In anothersecond the door opened, and the figure of the faithful Florestanappeared. 

"Florestan, " said the Count, angrily, "this is the first time that youhave permitted any one to enter this room without my permission; if thisoccurs again, you leave my service. "

"I assure your lordship, " began the man. 

"Enough! I have spoken; you know what to expect. "

During this brief colloquy, Mascarin studied the Count with the deepestattention. 

The Count Octave de Mussidan in no way resembled the man sketched byFlorestan. Since the time of Montaigne, a servant's portrait of hisemployer should always be distrusted. The Count looked fully sixty, though he was but fifty years of age; he was undersized, and he lookedshrunk and shrivelled; he was nearly bald, and his long whiskers wereperfectly white. The cares of life had imprinted deep furrows on hisbrow, and told too plainly the story of a man who, having drained thechalice of life to the bottom, was now ready to shiver the goblet. AsFlorestan left the room the Count turned to Mascarin, and in the sameglacial tone observed, "And now, sir, explain this intrusion. "

Mascarin had often been rebuffed, but never so cruelly as this. Hisvanity was sorely wounded, for he was vain, as all are who think thatthey possess some hidden influence, and he felt his temper giving way. 

"Pompous idiot!" thought he; "we will see how he looks in a short time;"but his face did not betray this, and his manner remained cringingand obsequious. "You have heard my name, my lord, and I am a generalbusiness agent. "

The Count was deceived by the honest accents which long practicehad taught Mascarin to use, and he had neither a suspicion nor apresentiment. 

"Ah!" said he majestically, "a business agent, are you? I presume youcome on behalf of one of my creditors. Well, sir, as I have before toldthese people, your errand is a futile one. Why do they worry me when Iunhesitatingly pay the extravagant interest they are pleased to demand?They know that they are all knaves. They are aware that I am rich, for Ihave inherited a great fortune, which is certainly without encumbrance;for though I could raise a million to-morrow upon my estates inPoitiers, I have up to this time not chosen to do so. "

Mascarin had at length so recovered his self-command that he listened tothis speech without a word, hoping to gain some information from it. 

"You may tell this, " continued the Count, "to those by whom you areemployed. "

"Excuse me, my lord--"

"But what?"

"I cannot allow--"

"I have nothing more to say; all will be settled as I promised, when Ipay my daughter's dowry. You are aware that she will shortly be unitedto M. De Breulh-Faverlay. "

There was no mistaking the order to go, contained in these words, but Mascarin did not offer to do so, but readjusting his spectacles, remarked in a perfectly calm voice, --

"It is this marriage that has brought me here. "

The Count thought that his ears had deceived him. "What are you saying?"said he. 

"I say, " repeated the agent, "that I am sent to you in connection withthis same marriage. "

Neither the doctor nor Florestan had exaggerated the violence of theCount's temper. Upon hearing his daughter's name and marriage mentionedby this man, his face grew crimson and his eyes gleamed with a luridfire. 

"Get out of this!" cried he, angrily. 

But this was an order that Mascarin had no intention of obeying. 

"I assure you that what I have to say is of the utmost importance, " saidhe. 

This speech put the finishing touch to the Count's fury. 

"You won't go, won't you?" said he; and in spite of the pain that at themoment evidently oppressed him, he stepped to the bell, but was arrestedby Mascarin, uttering in a warning voice the words, --

"Take care; if you ring that bell, you will regret it to the last day ofyour life. "

This was too much for the Count's patience, and letting go the bellrope, he snatched up a walking cane that was leaning against thechimneypiece, and made a rush toward his visitor. But Mascarin did notmove or lift his hand in self-defence, contenting himself with sayingcalmly, --

"No violence, Count; remember Montlouis. "

At this name the Count grew livid, and dropping the cane from hisnerveless hand staggered back a pace or two. Had a spectre suddenlystood up before him with threatening hand, he could not have been morehorrified. 

"Montlouis!" he murmured; "Montlouis!"

But now Mascarin, thoroughly assured of the value of his weapon, hadresumed all his humbleness of demeanor. 

"Believe me, my lord, " said he, "that I only mentioned this name onaccount of the immediate danger that threatens you. "

The Count hardly seemed to pay attention to his visitor's words. 

"It was not I, " continued Mascarin, "who devised the project of bringingagainst you an act which was perhaps a mere accident. I am only aplenipotentiary from persons I despise, to you, for whom I entertain thevery highest respect. "

By this time the Count had somewhat recovered himself. 

"I really do not understand you, " said he, in a tone he vainlyendeavored to render calm. "My sudden emotion is only too easilyexplained. I had a sad misfortune. I accidentally shot my secretary, andthe poor young man bore the name you just now mentioned; but the courtacquitted me of all blame in the matter. "

The smile upon Mascarin's face was so full of sarcasm that the Countbroke off. 

"Those who sent me here, " remarked the agent, slowly, "are wellacquainted with the evidence produced in court; but unfortunately, theyknow the real facts, which certain honorable gentlemen had sense toconceal at any risk. "

Again the Count started, but Mascarin went on implacably, --

"But reassure yourself, your friend did not betray you voluntarily. Providence, in her inscrutable decrees----"

The Count shuddered. 

"In short, sir, in short----"

Up to this time Mascarin had remained standing, but now that he saw thathis position was fully established, he drew up a chair and sat down. The Count grew more livid at this insolent act, but made no comment, andthis entirely removed any doubts from the agent's mind. 

"The event to which I have alluded has two eye-witnesses, the Baron deClinchain, and a servant, named Ludovic Trofin, now in the employ of theCount du Commarin. "

"I did not know what had become of Trofin. "

"Perhaps not, but my people do. When he swore to keep the matter secret, he was unmarried, but a few years later, having entered the bonds ofmatrimony, he told all to his young wife. This woman turned out badly;she had several lovers, and through one of them the matter came to myemployer's ears. "

"And it was on the word of a lackey, and the gossip of a dissolutewoman, that they have dared to accuse me. "

No word of direct accusation had passed, and yet the Count sought todefend himself. 

Mascarin saw all this, and smiled inwardly, as he replied, "We haveother evidence than that of Ludovic. "

"But, " said the Count, who was sure of the fidelity of his friend, "youdo not, I suppose, pretend that the Baron de Clinchain has deceived me?"

The state of mental anxiety and perturbation into which this man of theworld had been thrown must have been very intense for him not tohave perceived that every word he uttered put a fresh weapon in hisadversary's hands. 

"He has not denounced you by word of mouth, " replied the agent. "He hasdone far more; he has written his testimony. "

"It is a lie, " exclaimed the Count. 

Mascarin was not disturbed by this insult. 

"The Baron has written, " repeated he, "though he never thought that anyeye save his own would read what he had penned. As you are aware, the Baron de Clinchain is a most methodical man, and punctilious to adegree. "

"I allow that; continue. "

"Consequently you will not be surprised to learn that from his earliestyears he has kept a diary, and each day he puts down in the most minutemanner everything that has occurred, even to the different conditions ofhis bodily health. "

The Count knew of his friend's foible, and remembered that when theywere young many a practical joke had been played upon his friend on thisaccount, and now he began to perceive the dangerous ground upon which hestood. 

"On hearing the facts of the case from Ludovic's wife's lover, "continued Mascarin, "my employers decided that if the tale was a trueone, some mention of it would be found in the Baron's diary; and thanksto the ingenuity and skill of certain parties, they have had in theirpossession for twenty-four hours the volume for the year 1842. "

"Scoundrels!" muttered the Count. 

"They find not only one, but three distinct statements relating to theaffair in question. "

The Count started again to his feet with so menacing a look, that theworthy Mascarin pushed back his chair in anticipation of an immediateassault. 

"Proofs!" gasped the Count. "Give me proofs. "

"Everything has been provided for, and the three leaves by which you areso deeply compromised have been cut from the book. "

"Where are these pages?"

Mascarin at once put on an air of injured innocence. 

"I have not seen them, but the leaves have been photographed, and aprint has been entrusted to me, in order to enable you to recognize thewriting. "

As he spoke he produced three specimens of the photographic art, wonderfully clear and full of fidelity. The Count examined them with theutmost attention, and then in a voice which trembled with emotion, hesaid, "True enough, it is his handwriting. "

Not a line upon Mascarin's face indicated the delight with which hereceived this admission. 

"Before continuing the subject, " he observed placidly, "I consider itnecessary for you to understand the position taken up by the Baron deClinchain. Do you wish, my lord, to read these extracts, or shall I doso for you?"

"Read, " answered the Count, adding in a lower voice, "I cannot see to doso. "

Mascarin drew his chair nearer to the lights on the table. "I perceive, "said he, "that the first entry was made on the evening after the--well, the accident. This is it: 'October 26, 1842. Early this morning wentout shooting with Octave de Mussidan. We were accompanied by Ludovic, agroom, and by a young man named Montlouis, whom Octave intends one dayto make his steward. It was a splendid day, and by twelve o'clock I hadkilled a leash of hares. Octave was in excellent spirits, and by oneo'clock we were in a thick cover not far from Bevron. I and Ludovic werea few yards in front of the others, when angry voices behind attractedour attention. Octave and Montlouis were arguing violently, and allat once the Count struck his future steward a violent blow. In anothermoment Montlouis came up to me. 'What is the matter?' cried I. Insteadof replying to my question, the unhappy young man turned back tohis master, uttering a series of threats. Octave had evidently beenreproaching him for some low intrigue he had been engaged in, andwas reflecting upon the character of the woman. 'At any rate, ' criedMontlouis, 'she is quite as virtuous as Madame de Mussidan was beforeher marriage. '"

"'As Octave heard these words, he raised the loaded gun he held in hishand and fired. Montlouis fell to the ground, bathed in blood. Weall ran up to him, but he was quite dead, for the charge of shot hadpenetrated his heart. I was almost beside myself, but Octave's despairwas terrible to witness. Tearing his hair, he knelt beside the dead man. Ludovic, however, maintained his calmness. "We must say that it was anaccident, " observed he quickly. "Thinking that Montlouis was not near, my master fired into cover. "

"'This was agreed to, and we carefully arranged what we should say. Itwas I who went before the magistrate and made a deposition, which wasunhesitatingly received. But, oh, what a fearful day! My pulse is ateighty, and I feel I shall not sleep all night. Octave is half mad, andHeaven knows what will become of him. '"

The Count, from the depths of his armchair, listened without apparentemotion to this terrible revelation. He was quite crushed, and wassearching for some means to exorcise the green spectre of the past, which had so suddenly confronted him. Mascarin never took his eyes offhim. All at once the Count roused himself from his prostration, as a manawakes from a hideous dream. "This is sheer folly, " cried he. 

"It is folly, " answered Mascarin, "that would carry much weight withit. "

"And suppose I were to show you, " returned the Count, "that all theseentries are the offspring of a diseased mind?"

Mascarin shook his head with an air of affected grief. "There is nouse, my lord, in indulging in vain hopes. We, " he continued, wishingto associate himself with the Count, "we might of course admit thatthe Baron de Clinchain had made this entry in his diary in a moment oftemporary insanity, were it not for the painful fact that there wereothers. Le me read them. "

"Go on; I am all attention. "

"We find the following, three days later: 'Oct. 29th, 1842. I am mostuneasy about my health. I feel shooting pains in all my joints. Thederangement of my system arises entirely from this business of Octave's. I had to run the gauntlet of a second court, and the judge's eyes seemedto look me through and through. I also saw with much alarm that mysecond statement differs somewhat from the first one, so I havenow learned it by heart. Ludovic is a sharp fellow, and quiteself-possessed. I would like to have him in my household. I keep myselfshut up in my house for fear of meeting friends who want to hear all thedetails of the accident. I believe I may say that I have repeated thestory more than a couple of dozen times. ' Now, my lord, " added Mascarin, "what do you say to this?"

"Continue the reading of the extracts. "

"The third allusion, though it is short, is still very important:'November 3rd, 1842. Thank Heaven! all is over. I have just returnedfrom the court. Octave has been acquitted. Ludovic had behavedwonderfully. He explained the reason of the misadventure in a way thatwas really surprising in an uneducated man, and there was not an atomof suspicion among judge, jury, or spectators. I have changed my mind;I would not have a fellow like Ludovic in my service; he is much toosharp. When I had been duly sworn, I gave my evidence. Though I was muchagitated, I went through it all right; but when I got home I feltvery ill, and discovered that my pulse was down to fifty. Ah, me! whatterrible misfortunes are wrought by a momentary burst of anger. I nowwrite this sentence in my diary: _"Never give way to first impulses. "_'These words, " continued Mascarin, "were inscribed on every one of thepages following, --at least so those who examined the entries informedme. "

Mascarin persisted in representing himself as the agent of others, butstill the Count made no allusion to the persons in the background. 

After a few moments the Count rose and limped up and down, as though hehoped by this means to collect his ideas, or perhaps in order to preventhis visitor from scanning his face too closely. 

"Have you done?" asked he, all at once. 

"Yes, my lord. "

"Have you thought what an impartial judge would say?"

"I think I have. "

"He would say, " broke in the Count, "that no sane man would have writtensuch things down, for there are certain secrets which we do not whispereven to ourselves, and it is hardly likely that any man would make suchcompromising entries in a diary which might be lost or stolen, and whichwould certainly be read by his heir. Do you think that a man of highposition would record his perjury, which is a crime that would send himto penal servitude?"

Mascarin gazed upon the Count with an air of pity. 

"You are not going the right way, my lord, to get out of your trouble. No lawyer would adopt your theory. If the remaining volumes of M. DeClinchain's diaries were produced in court, I imagine that other equallystartling entries would be found in them. "

The Count now appeared to have arrived at some decision, and to continuethe conversation simply for the purpose of gaining time. 

"Well, " said he, "I will give up this idea; but how do I know thatthese documents are not forgeries? Nowadays, handwritings are easilyfacsimilied, when even bankers find it hard to distinguish between theirown notes and counterfeit ones. "

"That can be settled by seeing if certain leaves are missing from theBaron's diary. "

"That does not prove much. "

"Pardon me, it proves a great deal. This new line of argument, I assureyou, will avail you as little as the other. I am perfectly aware thatthe Baron de Clinchain will utter whatever words you may place in hismouth. Let us suppose that the leaves which have been torn out shouldfit into the book exactly. Would not that be a strong point?"

The Count smiled ironically, as though he had a crushing reply inreserve. 

"And so this is your opinion, is it?" said he. 

"It is indeed. "

"Then all I have to do is to plead guilty. I did kill Montlouis, justas Clinchain describes, but----" and as he spoke he took a heavy volumefrom a shelf, and opening it at a certain place laid it before Mascarin, remarking, --"this is the criminal code; read. 'All proceedings incriminal law shall be cancelled after a lapse of ten years. '"

The Count de Mussidan evidently thought that he had crushed hisadversary by this shattering blow; but it was not so, for instead ofexhibiting any surprise, Mascarin's smile was as bland as ever. 

"I, too, know a little of the law, " said he. "The very first day thismatter was brought to me, I turned to this page and read what you havejust shown me to my employers. "

"And what did they say?"

"That they knew all this, but that you would be glad to compromise theaffair, even at the expense of half your fortune. "

The agent's manner was so confident that the Count felt they haddiscovered some means of turning this crime of his early days toadvantage; but he was still sufficiently master of himself to show noemotion. 

"No, " replied he, "it is not such an easy matter as you think to gethold of half my fortune. I fancy that your friends' demands will assumea more modest tone, the more so when I repeat that these morsels ofpaper, stolen from my friend's diary, are absolutely worthless. "

"Do you think so?"

"Certainly, for the law on this matter speaks plainly enough. "

Mascarin readjusted his glasses, a sure indication that he was going tomake an important reply. 

"You are quite right, my lord, " said he, slowly. "There is no intentionof taking you before any court, for there is no penalty now for a crimecommitted twenty-three years ago; but the miserable wretches whom Iblush to act for have arranged a plan which will be disagreeable in thehighest degree both for you and the Baron. "

"Pray tell me what this clever plan is. "

"Most certainly. I came here to-day for this very purpose. Let us firstconclude that you have rejected the request with which I approachedyou. "

"Do you call this style of thing a request?"

"What is the use of quarrelling over words. Well, to-morrow, myclients--though I am ashamed to speak of them as such--will send toa well known morning paper a tale, with the title, 'Story of a Day'sShooting. ' Of course only initials will be used for the names, but nodoubt will exist as to the identity of the actors in the tragedy. "

"You forget that in actions for libel proofs are not admitted. "

Mascarin shrugged his shoulders. 

"My employers forget nothing, " remarked he; "and it is upon this verypoint that they have based their plans For this reason they introduceinto the matter a fifth party, of course an accomplice, whose name isintroduced into the story in the paper. Upon the day of its appearance, this man lodges a complaint against the journal, and insists on provingin a court of justice, that he did not form one of the shooting-party. "

"Well, what happens then?"

"Then, my lord, this man insists that the journal should give aretraction of the injurious statement and summons as witnesses bothyourself and the Baron de Clinchain, and as a conclusion, Ludovic;and as he claims damages, he employs a lawyer, who is one of theconfederates and behind the scenes. The lawyer will speak something tothis effect: 'That the Count de Mussidan is clearly a murderer; thatthe Baron de Clinchain is a perjurer, as proved by his own handwriting;Ludovic has been tampered with, but my client, an honorable man, mustnot be classed with these, etc. , etc. ' Have I made myself understood?"

Indeed, he had, and with such cold and merciless logic that it seemedhopeless to expect to escape from the net that had been spread. 

As these thoughts passed through the Count's brain, he saw at a glancethe whole terrible notoriety that the case would cause, and societygloating over the details. Yet such was the obstinacy of hisdisposition, and so impatient was he of control, that the more desperatehis position seemed, the fiercer was his resistance. He knew the worldwell, and he also knew that the cutthroats who demanded his money withthreats had every reason to dread the lynx eye of the law. If he refusedto listen to them, as his heart urged him, perhaps they would not dareto carry out their threats. Had he alone been concerned in the matter, he would have resisted to the last, and fought it out to the last dropof his blood, and as a preliminary, would have beaten the sneering roguebefore him to a jelly; but how dared he expose his friend Clinchain, whohad already braved so much for him? As he paced up and down the library, these and many other thoughts swept across his brain, and he wasundecided whether to submit to these extortions or throw the agent outof the window. His excited demeanor and the occasional interjectionsthat burst from his lips showed Mascarin that the account of him wasnot exaggerated, and that when led by passion he would as soon shoota fellow-creature as a rabbit. And yet, though he knew not whether heshould make his exit by the door or the window, he sat twirling hisfingers with the most unconcerned air imaginable. At last the Count gaveear to prudence. He stopped in front of the agent, and, taking no painsto hide his contempt, said, --

"Come, let us make an end of this. How much do you want for thesepapers?"

"Oh, my lord!" exclaimed Mascarin; "surely you do not think that I couldbe guilty----?"

M. De Mussidan shrugged his shoulders. "Pray, do not take me for afool, " said he, "but name your sum. "

Mascarin seemed a little embarrassed, and hesitated. "We don't wantmoney, " answered he at length. 

"Not money!" replied the Count. 

"We want something that is of no importance to you, but of the utmostvalue to those who despatched me here. I am commissioned to inform youthat my clients desire that you should break off the engagement betweenyour daughter and M. De Breulh-Faverlay, and that the missing paper willbe handed to you on the completion of her marriage with any else whomyou may deem worthy of such an honor. "

This demand, which was utterly unexpected, so astonished the Count thathe could only exclaim, "Why, this is absolute madness!"

"No; it is plain, good sense, and a _bona fide_ offer. "

An idea suddenly flashed across the Count's mind. "Is it yourintention, " asked he, "to furnish me with a son-in-law too?"

"I am sure, my lord, " answered Mascarin, looking the picture ofdisinterested honesty, "that, even to save yourself, you would neversacrifice your daughter. "

"But--"

"You are entirely mistaken; it is M. De Breulh-Faverlay whom my clientswish to strike at, for they have taken an oath that he shall never wed alady with a million for her dowry. "

So surprised was the Count, that the whole aspect of the interviewseemed to have changed, and he now combated his own objections insteadof those of his unwelcome visitor. "M. De Breulh-Faverlay has mypromise, " remarked he; "but of course it is easy to find a pretext. TheCountess, however, is in favor of the match, and the chief opposition toany change will come from her. "

Mascarin did not think it wise to make any reply, and the Countcontinued, "My daughter also may not view this rupture withsatisfaction. "

Thanks to the information he had received from Florestan, Mascarin knewhow much importance to attach to this. "Mademoiselle, at her age andwith her tastes, is not likely to have her heart seriously engaged. " Forfully a quarter of an hour the Count still hesitated. He knew that hewas entirely at the mercy of those miscreants, and his pride revolted atthe idea of submission; but at length he yielded. 

"I agree, " said he. "My daughter shall not marry M. De Breulh-Faverlay. "

Even in his hour of triumph, Mascarin's face did not change. He bowedprofoundly, and left the room; but as he descended the stairs, he rubbedhis hands, exclaiming, "If the doctor has made as good a job of it as Ihave, success is certain. "

CHAPTER VI. 

A MEDICAL ADVISER. 

Doctor Hortebise did not find it necessary to resort to any of thoseexpedients which Mascarin had found it advisable to use in order toreach Madame de Mussidan. As soon as he presented himself--that is, after a brief interval of five minutes--he was introduced into thepresence of the Countess. He rather wondered at this, for Madame deMussidan was one of those restless spirits that are seldom found athome, but are to be met with at exhibitions, on race-courses, at the_salons_, restaurants, shops, or theatres; or at the studio of somefamous artist; or at the rooms of some musical professor who haddiscovered a new tenor; anywhere and everywhere, in fact, except athome. Hers was one of those restless natures constantly craving forexcitement; and husband, home, and child were mere secondary objects inher eyes. She had many avocations; she was a patroness of half a dozencharitable institutions, but the chief thing that she did was to spendmoney. Gold seemed to melt in her grasp like so much snow, and she neverknew what became of the sums she lavished so profusely. Husband andwife had long been almost totally estranged, and led almost separateexistences. Dr. Hortebise was well aware of this, in common with otherswho moved in society. Upon the appearance of the doctor, the Countessdropped the book she had been perusing, and gave vent to an exclamationof delight. "Ah, doctor, this is really very kind of you;" and at thesame time signed to the servant to place a chair for the visitor. 

The Countess was tall and slender, and at forty-five had the figure ofa girl. She had an abundance of fair hair, the color of which concealedthe silver threads which plentifully interspersed it. A subtle perfumehung about her, and her pale blue eyes were full of pride and colddisdain. 

"You know how to time your visits so well, doctor!" said she. "I amthoroughly bored, and am utterly weary of books, for it always seems tome, when I read, that I had perused the same thing before somewhere orother. You have arrived at so opportune a moment, that you appear to bea favorite of timely chance. "

The doctor was indeed a favorite of chance; but the name of the chancewas Baptiste Mascarin. 

"I see so few visitors, " continued Madame de Mussidan, "that hardly anyone comes to see me. I must really set aside one day in the week for myat home; for when I do happen to stay at home, I feel fearfully dulland lonely. For two mortal hours I have been in this room. I have beennursing the Count. "

The doctor knew better than this; but he smiled pleasantly, and said, "Perfectly so, " exactly at the right moment. 

"Yes, " continued the Countess, "my husband slipped on the stairs, andhurt himself very much. Our doctor says it is nothing; but then I putlittle faith in what doctors say. "

"I know that by experience, madame, " replied Hortebise. 

"Present company of course always excepted; but, do you know, I oncereally believed in you; but your sudden conversion to homeopathy quitefrightened me. "

The doctor smiled. "It is as safe a mode of practice as any other. "

"Do you really think so?"

"I am perfectly sure of it. "

"Well, now that you _are_ here, I am half inclined to ask your advice. "

"I trust that you are not suffering. "

"No, thank heaven; I have never any cause to complain of my health; butI am very anxious about Sabine's state. "

Her affection of maternal solicitude was a charming pendant to herdisplay of conjugal affection, and again the doctor's expression ofassent came in in the right place. 

"Yes, for a month, doctor, I have hardly seen Sabine, I have been somuch engaged; but yesterday I met her, and was quite shocked at thechange in her appearance. "

"Did you ask her what ailed her?"

"Of course, and she said, 'Nothing, ' adding that she was perfectlywell. "

"Perhaps something had vexed her?"

"She, --why, don't you know that every one likes her, and that she is oneof the happiest girls in Paris; but I want you to see her in spite ofthat. " She rang the bell as she spoke, and as soon as the footman madehis appearance, said, "Lubin, ask Mademoiselle to have the goodness tostep downstairs. "

"Mademoiselle has gone out, madame. "

"Indeed! how long ago?"

"About three o'clock, madame. "

"Who went with her?"

"Her maid, Modeste. "

"Did Mademoiselle say where she was going to?"

"No, madame. "

"Very well, you can go. "

Even the imperturbable doctor was rather surprised at a girl of eighteenbeing permitted so much freedom. 

"It is most annoying, " said the Countess. "However, let us hope that thetrifling indisposition, regarding which I wished to consult you, willnot prevent her marriage. "

Here was the opening that Hortebise desired. 

"Is Mademoiselle going to be married?" asked he with an air ofrespectful curiosity. 

"Hush!" replied Madame de Mussidan, placing her finger on her lips;"this is a profound secret, and there is nothing definitely arranged;but you, as a doctor, are a perfect father confessor, and I feel thatI can trust you. Let me whisper to you that it is quite possible thatSabine will be Madame de Breulh-Faverlay before the close of the year. "

Hortebise had not Mascarin's courage; indeed, he was frequentlyterrified at his confederate's projects; but having once given in hisadherence, he was to be relied on, and did not hesitate for a moment. "I confess, madame, that I heard that mentioned before;" returned hecautiously. 

"And, pray, who was your informant?"

"Oh, I have had it from many sources; and let me say at once that it wasthis marriage, and no mere chance, that brought me here to-day. "

Madame de Mussidan liked the doctor and his pleasant and wittyconversation very much, and was always charmed to see him; but itwas intolerable that he should venture to interfere in her daughter'smarriage. "Really, sir, you confer a great honor upon the Count andmyself, " answered she haughtily. 

Her severe manner, however, did not cause the doctor to lose his temper. He had come to say certain things in a certain manner. He had learnedhis part, and nothing that the Countess could say would prevent hisplaying it. 

"I assure you, madame, " returned he, "that when I accepted the missionwith which I am charged, I only did so from my feelings of respect toyou and yours. "

"You are really very kind, " answered the Countess superciliously. 

"And I am sure, madame, that after you have heard what I have to say, you will have even more reason to agree with me. " His manner as hesaid this was so peculiar, that the Countess started as though she hadreceived a galvanic shock. "For more than twenty-five years, " pursuedthe doctor, "I have been the constant depository of strange familysecrets, and some of them have been very terrible ones. I haveoften found myself in a very delicate position, but never in such anembarrassing one as I am now. "

"You alarm me, " said the Countess, dropping her impatient manner. 

"If, madame, what I have come to relate to you are the mere ravings ofa lunatic, I will offer my most sincere apologies; but if, on thecontrary, his statements are true--and he has irrefragable proofs in hispossession, --then, madame----"

"What then, doctor?"

"Then, madame, I can only say, make every use of me, for I willwillingly place my life at your disposal. "

The Countess uttered a laugh as artificial as the tears oflong-expectant heirs. "Really, " said she, "your solemn air and tonesalmost kill me with laughter. "

"She laughs too heartily, and at the wrong time. Mascarin is right, "thought the doctor. "I trust, madame, " continued he, "that I too maylaugh at my own imaginary fears; but whatever may be the result, permitme to remind you that a little time back you said that a doctor was afather confessor; for, like a priest, the physician only hears secretsin order to forget them. He is also more fitted to console and advise, for, as his profession brings him into contact with the frailties andpassions of the world, he can comprehend and excuse. "

"And you must not forget, doctor, that like the priest also, he preachesvery long sermons. "

As she uttered this sarcasm, there was a jesting look upon her features, but it elicited no smile from Hortebise, who, as he proceeded, grew moregrave. 

"I may be foolish, " he said; "but I had better be that than reopen someold wound. "

"Do not be afraid, doctor; speak out. "

"Then, I will begin by asking if you have any remembrance of a young manin your own sphere of society, who, at the time of your marriage, was well known in every Parisian _salon_. I speak of the Marquis deCroisenois. "

The Countess leaned back in her chair, and contracted her brow, andpursed up her lips, as though vainly endeavoring to remember the name. 

"The Marquis de Croisenois?" repeated she. "It seems as if----no--wait amoment. No; I cannot say that I can call any such person to mind. "

The doctor felt that he must give the spur to this rebellious memory. 

"Yes, Croisenois, " he repeated. "His Christian name was George, and hehad a brother Henry, whom you certainly must know, for this winter I sawhim at the Duchess de Laumeuse's, dancing with your daughter. "

"You are right; I remember the name now. "

Her manner was indifferent and careless as she said this. 

"Then perhaps you also recollect that some twenty-three years ago, George de Croisenois vanished suddenly. This disappearance caused aterrible commotion at the time, and was one of the chief topics ofsociety. "

"Ah! indeed?" mused the Countess. 

"He was last seen at the Café de Paris, where he dined with somefriends. About nine he got up to leave. One of his friends proposed togo with him, but he begged him not to do so, saying, 'Perhaps I shallsee you later on at the opera, but do not count on me. ' The generalimpression was that he was going to some love tryst. "

"His friends thought that, I suppose. "

"Yes, for he was attired with more care than usual, though he was alwaysone of the best dressed men in Paris. He went out alone, and was neverseen again. "

"Never again, " repeated the Countess, a slight shade passing across herbrow. 

"Never again, " echoed the unmoved doctor. "At first his friendsmerely thought his absence strange; but at the end of a week they grewanxious. "

"You go very much into details. "

"I heard them all at the time, madame, and they were only brought backto my memory this morning. All are to be found in the records of aminute search that the authorities caused to be made into the affair. The friends of De Croisenois had commenced the search; but when theyfound their efforts useless, they called in the aid of the police. Thefirst idea was suicide: George might have gone into some lonely spot andblown out his brains. There was no reason for this; he had ample means, and always appeared contented and happy. Then it was believed that amurder had been committed, and fresh inquiries were instituted, butnothing could be discovered--nothing. "

The Countess affected to stifle a yawn, and repeated like an echo, "Nothing. "

"Three months later, when the police had given up the matter in despair, one of George de Croisenois' friends received a letter from him. "

"He was not dead then, after all?"

Dr. Hortebise made a mental note of the tone and manner of the Countess, to consider over at his leisure. 

"Who can say?" returned he. "The envelope bore the Cairo post-mark. Init George declared that, bored with Parisian life, he was going to starton an exploring expedition to Central Africa, and that no one need beanxious about him. People thought this letter highly suspicious. A mandoes not start upon such an expedition as this without money; and it wasconclusively proved that on the day of De Croisenois' disappearancehe had not more than a thousand francs about him, half of which was inSpanish doubloons, won at whist before dinner. The letter was thereforeregarded as a trick to turn the police off the scent; but the bestexperts asserted that the handwriting was George's own. Two detectiveswere at once despatched to Cairo, but neither there nor anywhere on theroad were any traces of the missing man discovered. "

As the doctor spoke, he kept his eyes riveted on the Countess, but herface was impassable. 

"Is that all?" asked she. 

Dr. Hortebise paused a few moments before he replied, and then answeredslowly, --

"A man came to me yesterday, and asserts that you can tell me what hasbecome of George de Croisenois. "

A man could not have displayed the nerve evinced by this frail andtender woman, for however callous he may be, some feature will betraythe torture he is enduring; but a woman can often turn a smiling faceupon the person who is racking her very soul. At the mere name ofMontlouis the Count had staggered, as though crushed down by a blow froma sledge hammer; but at this accusation of Hortebise the Countess burstinto a peal of laughter, apparently perfectly frank and natural, whichutterly prevented her from replying. 

"My dear doctor, " said she at length, as soon as she could manage tospeak, "your tale is highly sensational and amusing, but I really thinkthat you ought to consult a _clairvoyant_, and not a matter-of-factperson like me, about the fate of George de Croisenois. "

But the doctor, who was ready with his retort, and, not at alldisconcerted by the cachinations of the Countess, heaved a deep sigh, asthough a great load had been removed from his heart, and, with an air ofextreme delight, exclaimed, "Thank Heaven! then I was deceived. "

He uttered these words with an affectation of such sincerity that theCountess fell into the trap. 

"Come, " said she, with a winning smile, "tell me who it is that says Iknow so much. "

"Pooh! pooh!" returned Hortebise. "What good would that do? He has madea fool of me, and caused me to risk losing your good opinion. Is notthat enough? To-morrow, when he comes to my house, my servants willrefuse to admit him; but if I were to do as my inclinations lead me, Ishould hand him over to the police. "

"That would never do, " returned the Countess, "for that would changea mere nothing into a matter of importance. Tell me the name of yourmysterious informer. Do I know him?"

"It is impossible that you could do so, madame, for he is far below youin the social grade. You would learn nothing from his name. He is a manI once helped, and is called Daddy Tantaine. "

"A mere nickname, of course. "

"He is miserably poor, a cynic, philosopher, but as sharp as a needle;and this last fact causes me great uneasiness, for at first I thoughtthat he had been sent to me by some one far above him in position, but--"

"But, doctor, " interposed the Countess, "you spoke to me of proofs, ofthreats, of certain mysterious persons. "

"I simply repeated Daddy Tantaine's words. The old idiot said to me, 'Madame de Mussidan knows all about the fate of the Marquis, and thisis clearly proved by letters that she has received from him, as well asfrom the Duke de Champdoce. '"

This time the arrow went home. She grew deadly pale, and started to herfeet with her eyes dilated with horror. 

"My letters!" exclaimed she hoarsely. 

Hortebise appeared utterly overwhelmed by this display of consternation, of which he was the innocent cause. 

"Your letters, madame, " replied he with evident hesitation, "thisdouble-dyed scoundrel declares he has in his possession. "

With a cry like that of a wounded lioness, the Countess, taking nonotice of the doctor's presence, rushed from the room. Her rapidfootfall could be heard on the stairs, and the rustle of her silkenskirts against the banisters. As soon as he was left alone, the doctorrose from his seat with a cynical smile upon his face. 

"You may search, " mused he, "but you will find that the birds haveflown. " He walked up to one of the windows, and drummed on the glasswith his fingers. "People say, " remarked he, "that Mascarin nevermakes a mistake. One cannot help admiring his diabolical sagacity andunfailing logic. From the most trivial event he forges a long chain ofevidence, as the botanist is able, as he picks up a withered leaf, todescribe in detail the tree it came from. A pity, almost, that he didnot turn his talents to some nobler end; but no; he is now upstairsputting the Count on the rack, while I am inflicting tortures on theCountess. What a shameful business we are carrying on! There are momentswhen I think that I have paid dearly for my life of luxury, for I knowwell, " he added, half consciously fingering his locket, "that some daywe shall meet some one stronger than ourselves, and then the inevitablewill ensue. "

The reappearance of the Countess broke the chain of his thoughts. Herhair was disturbed, her eyes had a wild look in them, and everythingabout her betrayed the state of agitation she was in. 

"Robbed! robbed!" cried she, as she entered the room. Her excitement wasso extreme that she spoke aloud, forgetting that the door was open, and that the lackey in the ante-room could hear all she said. LuckilyHortebise did not lose his presence of mind, and, with the ease of aleading actor repairing the error of a subordinate, he closed the door. 

"What have you lost?" asked he. 

"My letters; they are all gone. "

She staggered on to a couch, and in broken accents went on. "And yetthese letters were in an iron casket closed by a secret spring; thatcasket was in a drawer, the key of which never leaves me. "

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Hortebise in affected tones, "then Tantainespoke the truth. "

"He did, " answered the Countess hoarsely. "Yes, " she continued, "I amthe bondslave to people whose names I do not even know, who can controlmy every movement and action. "

She hid her face in her hands as though her pride sought to conceal herdespair. 

"Are these letters, then, so terribly compromising?" asked the doctor. 

"I am utterly lost, " cried she. "In my younger days I had no experience;I only thought of vengeance, and lately the weapons I forged myselfhave been turned against me. I dug a pitfall for my adversaries and havefallen into it myself. "

Hortebise did not attempt to stay the torrent of her words, for theCountess was in one of those moods of utter despair when the innerfeelings of the soul are made manifest, as during a violent tempest theweeds of ocean are hurled up to the surface of the troubled waters. 

"I would sooner be lying in my grave a thousand times, " wailed she, "than see these letters in my husband's hands. Poor Octave! have I notcaused him sufficient annoyance already without this crowning sorrow?Well, Dr. Hortebise, I am menaced with the production of these letters, and they will be handed to my husband unless I agree to certain terms. What are they? Of course money is required; tell me to what amount. "

The doctor shook his head. 

"Not money?" cried the Countess; "what, then, do they require? Speak, and do not torture me more. "

Sometimes Hortebise confessed to Mascarin that, putting his interests onone side, he pitied his victims; but he showed no sign of this feeling, and went on, --

"The value of what they require, madame, is best estimated by yourself. "

"Tell me what it is; I can bear anything now. "

"These compromising letters will be placed in your hands upon the day onwhich your daughter marries Henry de Croisenois, the brother of George. "

Madame de Mussidan's astonishment was so great that she stood as thoughpetrified into a statue. 

"I am commissioned to inform you, madame, that every delay necessaryfor altering any arrangements that may exist will be accorded you;but, remember, if your daughter marries any one else than Henry deCroisenois, the letters will be at once placed in your husband's hands. "

As he spoke the doctor watched her narrowly. The Countess crossed theroom, faint and dizzy, and rested her head on the mantelpiece. 

"And that is all?" asked she. "What you ask me to do is utterlyimpossible: and perhaps it is for the best, for I shall have no longagony of suspense to endure. Go, doctor, and tell the villain who holdsmy letters that he can take them to the Count at once. "

The Countess spoke in such a decided tone that Hortebise was a littlepuzzled. 

"Can it be true, " she continued, "that scoundrels exist in our countrywho are viler than the most cowardly murderers, --men who trade in theshameful secrets that they have learned, and batten upon the moneythey earn by their odious trade? I heard of such creatures before, butdeclined to believe it; for I said to myself that such an idea onlyexisted in the unhealthy imaginations of novel writers. It seems, however that I was in error; but do not let these villains rejoice toosoon; they will reap but a scanty harvest. There is one asylum left forme where they cannot molest me. "

"Ah, madame!" exclaimed the doctor in imploring accents; but she paid noattention to his remonstrances, and went on with increasing violence, --

"Do the miserable wretches think that I fear death? For years Ihave prayed for it as a final mercy from the heaven I have so deeplyoffended. I long for the quiet of the sepulchre. You are surprised athearing one like me speak in this way, --one who has all her life beenadmired and flattered, --I, Diana de Laurebourg, Countess de Mussidan. Even in the hours of my greatest triumphs my soul shuddered at thethought of the grim spectre hidden away in the past; and I wished thatdeath would come and relieve my sufferings. My eccentricities have oftensurprised my friends, who asked if sometimes I were not a little mad. Mad? Yes, I am mad! They do not know that I seek oblivion in excitement, and that I dare not be alone. But I have learned by this time that Imust stifle the voice of conscience. "

She spoke like a woman utterly bereft of hope, who had resolved on thefinal sacrifice. Her clear voice rang through the room, and Hortebiseturned pale as he heard the footsteps of the servants pacing to and frooutside the door, as they made preparations for dinner. 

"All my life has been one continual struggle, " resumed she, --"a strugglewhich has cost me sore; but now all is over, and to-night, for the firsttime for many years, Diana de Mussidan will sleep a calm and untroubledsleep. "

The excitement of the Countess had risen to so high a pitch that thedoctor asked himself how he could allay a tempest which he had notforeseen; for her loud tones would certainly alarm the servants, whowould hasten to acquaint the Count, who was himself stretched upon therack; then the entire plot would be laid bare, and all would be lost. 

Madame de Mussidan was about to rush from the room, when the doctor, perceiving that he must act decisively, seized her by both wrists, and, almost by force, caused her to resume her seat. 

"In Heaven's name, madame, " he whispered, "for your daughter's sake, listen to me. Do not throw up all; am not I here ready to do yourbidding, whatever it may be? Rely upon me, --rely upon the knowledge of aman of the world, and of one who still possesses some portion of what iscalled a heart. Cannot we form an alliance to ward off this attack?"

The doctor continued in this strain, endeavoring to reassure theCountess as much as he had previously endeavored to terrify her, andsoon had the satisfaction of seeing his efforts crowned with success;for Madame de Mussidan listened to his flow of language, hardlycomprehending its import, but feeling calmer as he went on; and in aquarter of an hour he had persuaded her to look the situation boldlyin the face. Then Hortebise breathed more freely, and, wiping theperspiration from his brow, felt that he had gained the victory. 

"It is a nefarious plot, " said the Countess. 

"So it is, madame; but the facts remain. Only tell me one thing, haveyou any special objection to M. De Croisenois paying his addresses toyour daughter?"

"Certainly not. "

"He comes from a good family, is well educated, handsome, popular, andonly thirty-four. If you remember, George was his senior by fifteenyears. Why, then, is not the marriage a suitable one? Certainly, he hasled rather a fast life; but what young man is immaculate? They saythat he is deeply in debt; but then your daughter has enough for both. Besides, his brother left him a considerable fortune, not far short oftwo millions, I believe; and to this, of course Henry will eventuallysucceed. "

Madame de Mussidan was too overwhelmed by what she had already gonethrough to offer any further exposition of her feelings on the subject. 

"All this is very well, " answered she; "but the Count has decided thatSabine is to become the wife of M. De Breulh-Faverlay, and I have novoice in the matter. "

"But if you exert your influence?"

The Countess shook her head. "Once on a time, " said she sadly, "Ireigned supreme over Octave's heart; I was the leading spirit of hisexistence. Then he loved me; but I was insensible to the depths of hisaffection, and wore out a love that would have lasted as long as lifeitself. Yes, in my folly I slew it, and now----" She paused for a momentas if to collect her ideas, and then added more slowly: "and now ourlives are separate ones. I do not complain; it is all my own fault; heis just and generous. "

"But surely you can make the effort?"

"But suppose Sabine loves M. De Breulh-Faverlay?"

"But, madame, a mother can always influence her daughter. "

The Countess seized the doctor's hand, and grasped it so tightly that hecould hardly bear the pain. 

"I must, " said she in a hoarse whisper, "divulge to you the whole extentof my unhappiness. I am estranged from my husband, and my daughterdislikes and despises me. Some people think that life can be dividedinto two portions, one consecrated to pleasure and excitement, and theother to domestic peace and happiness; but the idea is a false one. Asyouth has been, so will be age, either a reward or an expiation. "

Dr. Hortebise did not care to follow this train of argument--for theCount might enter at any moment, or a servant might come in to announcedinner--and only sought to soothe the excited feelings of Madame deMussidan, and to prove to her that she was frightened by shadows, andthat in reality she was not estranged from her husband, nor did herdaughter dislike her; and finally a ray of hope illuminated the saddenedheart of the unfortunate lady. 

"Ah, doctor!" said she, "it is only misfortune that teaches us to knowour true friends. "

The Countess, like her husband, had now laid down her arms; she had madea longer fight of it, but in both cases the result had been the same. She promised that she would commence operations the next day, and do herutmost to break off the present engagement. 

Hortebise then took his leave, quite worn out with the severe conflicthe had waged during his two hours' interview with the Countess. In spiteof the extreme cold, the air outside seemed to refresh him considerably, and he inhaled it with the happy feeling that he had performed his dutyin a manner worthy of all praise. He walked up the Rue de Faubourg SaintHonore, and again entered the _café_ where he and his worthy confederatehad agreed to meet. Mascarin was there, an untasted cutlet before him, and his face hidden by a newspaper which his anxiety would not permithim to peruse. His suspense was terrible. Had Hortebise failed? had heencountered one of those unforeseen obstacles which, like a minute grainof sand, utterly hinders the working of a piece of delicate machinery?

"Well, what news?" said he eagerly, as soon as he caught sight of thedoctor. 

"Success, perfect success!" said Hortebise gayly. "But, " added he, as hesank exhausted upon a seat, "the battle has been a hard one. "

CHAPTER VII. 

IN THE STUDIO. 

Staggering like a drunken man, Paul Violaine descended the stairswhen his interview with Mascarin had been concluded. The sudden andunexpected good fortune which had fallen so opportunely at his feethad for the moment absolutely stunned him. He was now removed from aposition which had caused him to gaze with longing upon the still watersof the Seine, to one of comparative affluence. "Mascarin, " said he tohimself, "has offered me an appointment bringing in twelve thousandfrancs per annum, and proposed to give me the first month's salary inadvance. "

Certainly it was enough to bewilder any man, and Paul was utterly dazed. He went over all the events that had occurred during the day--the suddenappearance of old Tantaine, with his loan of five hundred francs, andthe strange man who knew the whole history of his life, and who, withoutmaking any conditions, had offered him a valuable situation. Paul wasin no particular hurry to get back to the Hotel de Perou, for he said tohimself that Rose could wait. A feeling of restlessness had seizedupon him. He wanted to squander money, and to have the sympathy of somecompanions, --but where should he go, for he had no friends? Searchingthe records of his memory, he remembered that, when poverty had firstovertaken him, he had borrowed twenty francs from a young fellow of hisown age, named Andre. Some gold coins still jingled in his pocket, andhe could have a thousand francs for the asking. Would it not add to hisimportance if he were to go and pay this debt? Unluckily his creditorlived a long distance off in the Rue de la Tour d'Auvergne. He, however, hailed a passing cab, and was driven to Andre's address. This young manwas only a casual acquaintance, whom Paul had picked up one day in asmall wine-shop to which he used to take Rose when he first arrivedin Paris. Andre, with whose other name Paul was unacquainted, was anartist, and, in addition, was an ornamental sculptor, and executedthose wonderful decorations on the outside of houses in which buildersdelight. The trade is not a pleasant one, for it necessitates workingat dizzy heights, on scaffolds that vibrate with every footstep, and exposes you to the heat of summer and the frosts of winter. Thebusiness, however, is well paid, and Andre got a good price for hisstone figures and wreaths. But all the money he earned went in the studyof the painter's art, which was the secret desire of his soul. Hehad taken a studio, and twice his pictures had been exhibited at the_Salon_, and orders began to come in. Many of his brother artistspredicted a glorious future for him. When the cab stopped, Paul threwthe fare to the driver, and asked the clean-looking portress, who waspolishing the brasswork on the door, if M. Andre was at home. 

"He is, sir, " replied the old woman, adding, with much volubility, "andyou are likely to find him in, for he has so much work; but he is such agood and quiet young man, and so regular in his habits! I don't believehe owes a penny in the world; and as for drink, why he is a perfectAnchorite. Then he has very few acquaintances, --one young lady, whoseface for a month past I have tried to see, but failed, because she wearsa veil, comes to see him, accompanied by her maid. "

"Good heavens, woman!" cried Paul impatiently, "will you tell me whereto find M. Andre?"

"Fourth floor, first door to the right, " answered the portress, angry atbeing interrupted; and as Paul ran up the stairs, she muttered, "A youngchap with no manners, taking the words out of a body's mouth like that!Next time he comes, I'll serve him out somehow. "

Paul found the door, with a card with the word "Andre" marked upon itnailed up, and rapped on the panel. He heard the sound of a piece offurniture being moved, and the jingle of rings being passed along a rod;then a clear, youthful voice answered, "Come in!"

Paul entered, and found himself in a large, airy room, lighted by askylight, and exquisitely clean and orderly. Sketches and drawings weresuspended on the walls; there was a handsome carpet from Tunis, anda comfortable lounge; a mirror in a carved frame, which would havegladdened the heart of a connoisseur, stood upon the mantelpiece. Aneasel with a picture upon it, covered with a green baize curtain, stoodin one corner. The young painter was in the centre of his studio, brushand palette in hand. He was a dark, handsome young man, well built andproportioned, with close-cut hair, and a curling beard flowing down overhis chest. His face was full of expression, and the energy and vigorimprinted upon it formed a marked contrast to the appearance ofMascarin's _protégé_. Paul noticed that he did not wear the usualpainter's blouse, but was carefully dressed in the prevailing fashion. As soon as he recognized Paul, Andre came forward with extended hand. "Ah, " said he, "I am pleased to see you, for I often wondered what hadbecome of you. "

Paul was offended at this familiar greeting. "I have had many worriesand disappointments, " said he. 

"And Rose, " said Andre, "how is she--as pretty as ever, I suppose?"

"Yes, yes, " answered Paul negligently; "but you must forgive me forhaving vanished so suddenly. I have come to repay your loan, with manythanks. "

"Pshaw!" returned the painter, "I never thought of the matter again;pray, do not inconvenience yourself. "

Again Paul felt annoyed, for he fancied that under the cloak of assumedgenerosity the painter meant to humiliate him; and the opportunity ofairing his newly-found grandeur occurred to him. 

"It was a convenience to me, certainly, " said he, "but I am all rightnow, having a salary of twelve thousand francs. "

He thought that the artist would be dazzled, and that the mention ofthis sum would draw from him some exclamations of surprise and envy. Andre, however, made no reply, and Paul was obliged to wind up with thelame conclusion, "And at my age that is not so bad. "

"I should call it superb. Should I be indiscreet in asking what you aredoing?"

The question was a most natural one, but Paul could not reply to it, as he was entirely ignorant as to what his employment was to be, and hefelt as angry as if the painter had wantonly insulted him. 

"I work for it, " said he, drawing himself up with such a strangeexpression of voice and feature that Andre could not fail to notice it. 

"I work too, " remarked he; "I am never idle. "

"But I have to work very hard, " returned Paul, "for I have not, likeyou, a friend or protector to interest himself in me. "

Paul, who had not a particle of gratitude in his disposition, hadentirely forgotten Mascarin. 

The artist was much amused by this speech. "And where do you think thata foundling, as I am, would find a protector?"

Paul opened his eyes. "What, " said he, "are you one of those?"

"I am; I make no secret of it, hoping that there is no occasion for meto feel shame, though there may be for grief. All my friends know this;and I am surprised that you are not aware that I am simply a foundlingfrom the Hopital de Vendome. Up to twelve years of age I was perfectlyhappy, and the master praised me for the knack I had of acquiringknowledge. I used to work in the garden by day, and in the evening Iwasted reams of paper; for I had made up my mind to be an artist. Butnothing goes easily in this world, and one day the lady superintendentconceived the idea of apprenticing me to a tanner. "

Paul, who had taken a seat on the divan in order to listen, herecommenced making a cigarette; but Andre stopped him. "Excuse me; butwill you oblige me by not smoking?"

Paul tossed the cigarette aside, though he was a little surprised, as the painter was an inveterate smoker. "All right, " said he, "butcontinue your story. "

"I will; it is a long one. I hated the tanner's business from thevery beginning. Almost the first day an awkward workman scalded me soseverely that the traces still remain. " As he spoke he rolled up hisshirt sleeve, and exhibited a scar that covered nearly all one sideof his arm. "Horrified at such a commencement, I entreated the ladysuperintendent, a hideous old woman in spectacles, to apprentice me tosome other trade, but she sternly refused. She had made up her mind thatI should be a tanner. "

"That was very nasty of her, " remarked Paul. 

"It was, indeed; but from that day I made up my mind, and I determinedto run away as soon as I could get a little money together. I thereforestuck steadily to the business, and by the end of the year, by means ofthe strictest economy, I found myself master of thirty francs. This, Ithought, would do, and, with a bundle containing a change of linen, Istarted on foot for Paris. I was only thirteen, but I had been gifted byProvidence with plenty of that strong will called by many obstinacy. Ihad made up my mind to be a painter. "

"And you kept your vow?"

"But with the greatest difficulty. Ah! I can close my eyes and see theplace where I slept that first night I came to Paris. I was so exhaustedthat I did not awake for twelve hours. I ordered a good breakfast; andfinding funds at a very low ebb, I started in search of work. "

Paul smiled. He, too, remembered _his_ first day in Paris. He wastwenty-two years of age, and had forty francs in his pocket. 

"I wanted to make money--for I felt I needed it--to enable me to pursuemy studies. A stout man was seated near me at breakfast, and to him Iaddressed myself. 

"'Look here, ' said I, 'I am thirteen, and much stronger than I look. Ican read and write. Tell me how I can earn a living. '

"He looked steadily at me, and in a rough voice answered, 'Go to themarket to-morrow morning, and try if one of the master masons, who areon the lookout for hands, will employ you. '"

"And you went?"

"I did; and was eagerly watching the head masons, when I perceived mystout friend coming toward me. 

"'I like the looks of you, my lad, ' he said; 'I am an ornamentalsculptor. Do you care to learn my trade?'

"When I heard this proposal, it seemed as if Paradise was opening beforeme, and I agreed with enthusiasm. "

"And how about your painting?"

"That came later on. I worked hard at it in all my hours of leisure. Iattended the evening schools, and worked steadily at my art and otherbranches of education. It was a very long time before I ventured toindulge in a glass of beer. 'No, no, Andre, ' I would say to myself, 'beer costs six sous; lay the money by. ' Finally, when I was earningfrom eighty to a hundred francs a week, I was able to give more time tothe brush. "

The recital of this life of toil and self-denial, so different from hisown selfish and idle career, was inexpressibly mortifying to Paul; buthe felt that he was called upon to say something. 

"When one has talents like yours, " said he, "success follows as a matterof course. "

He rose to his feet, and affected to examine the sketches on the walls, though his attention was attracted to the covered picture on the easel. He remembered what the garrulous old portress had said about the veiledlady who sometimes visited the painter, and that there had been somedelay in admitting him when he first knocked. Then he considered, forwhom had the painter dressed himself with such care? and why had herequested him not to smoke? From all these facts Paul came to theconclusion that Andre was expecting the lady's visit, and that theveiled picture was her portrait. He therefore determined to see it;and with this end in view, he walked round the studio, admiring all thepaintings on the walls, maneuvering in such a manner as to imperceptiblydraw nearer to the easel. 

"And this, " said he, suddenly extending his hand toward the cover, "is, I presume, the gem of your studio?"

But Andre was by no means dull, and had divined Paul's intention, and grasped the young man's outstretched hand just as it touched thecurtain. 

"If I veil this picture, " said he, "it is because I do not wish it to beseen. "

"Excuse me, " answered Paul, trying to pass over the matter as a jest, though in reality he was boiling over with rage at the manner and toneof the painter, and considered his caution utterly ridiculous. 

"At any rate, " said he to himself, "I will lengthen out my visit, andhave a glimpse of the original instead of her picture;" and, with thisamiable resolution, he sat down by the artist's table, and commenced anapparently interminable story, resolved not to attend to any hints hisfriend might throw out, who was glancing at the clock with the utmostanxiety, comparing it every now and then with his watch. 

As Paul talked on, he saw close to him on the table the photograph of ayoung lady, and, taking advantage of the artist's preoccupation, lookedat it. 

"Pretty, very pretty!" remarked he. 

At these words the painter flushed crimson, and snatching away thephotograph with some little degree of violence, thrust it between theleaves of a book. 

Andre was so evidently in a patina, that Paul rose to his feet, and fora second or two the men looked into each other's eyes as two adversariesdo when about to engage in a mortal duel. They knew but little ofeach other, and the same chance which had brought them togethermight separate them again at any moment, but each felt that the otherexercised some influence over his life. 

Andre was the first to recover himself. 

"You must excuse me; but I was wrong to leave so precious an articleabout. "

Paul bowed with the air of a man who accepts an apology which heconsiders his due; and Andre went on, --

"I very rarely receive any one except my friends; but to-day I havebroken through my rule. "

Paul interrupted him with a magniloquent wave of the hand. 

"Believe me, sir, " said he, in a voice which he endeavoured to rendercutting and sarcastic, "had it not been for the imperative duty I beforealluded to, I should not have intruded. "

And with these words he left the room, slamming the door behind him. 

"The deuce take the impudent fool!" muttered Andre. "I was stronglytempted to pitch him out of the window. "

Paul was in a furious rage for having visited the studio with the kindlydesire of humiliating the painter. He could not but feel that the tableshad been turned upon himself. 

"He shall not have it all his own way, " muttered he; "for I will see thelady, " and not reflecting on the meanness of his conduct, he crossed thestreet, and took up a position from which he could obtain a good view ofthe house where Andre resided. It was snowing; but Paul disregarded theinclemency of the weather in his eagerness to act the spy. 

He had waited for fully half an hour, when a cab drove up. Two womenalighted from it. The one was eminently aristocratic in appearance, while the other looked like a respectable servant. Paul drew closer;and, in spite of a thick veil, recognized the features he had seen inthe photograph. 

"Ah!" said he, "after all, Rose is more to my taste, and I will get backto her. We will pay up Loupins, and get out of his horrible den. "

CHAPTER VIII. 

MADEMOISELLE DE MUSSIDAN. 

Paul had not been the only watcher; for at the sound of the carriagewheels the ancient portress took up her position in the doorway, withher eyes fixed on the face of the young lady. When the two women hadascended the stairs, a sudden inspiration seized her, and she went outand spoke to the cabman. 

"Nasty night, " remarked she; "I don't envy you in such weather as this. "

"You may well say that, " replied the driver; "my feet are like lumps ofice. "

"Have you come far?"

"Rather; I picked them up in the Champs Elysees, near the Avenue deMatignon. "

"That is a distance. "

"Yes; and only five sous for drink money. Hang your respectable women!"

"Oh! they are respectable, are they?"

"I'll answer for that. The other lot are far more open-handed. I knowboth of them. "

And with these words and a knowing wink, he touched up his horse anddrove away; and the portress, only half satisfied, went back to herlodge. 

"Why that is the quarter where all the swells live, " murmured she. "I'lltip the maid next time, and she'll let out everything. "

After Paul's departure, Andre could not remain quiet; for it appeared tohim as if each second was a century. He had thrown open the door of hisstudio, and ran to the head of the stairs at every sound. 

At last their footsteps really sounded on the steps. The sweetest musicin the world is the rustle of the beloved one's dress. Leaning over thebanisters, he gazed fondly down. Soon she appeared, and in a short timehad gained the open door of the studio. 

"You see, Andre, " said she, extending her hand, "you see that I am trueto my time. "

Pale, and trembling with emotion, Andre pressed the little hand to hislips. 

"Ah! Mademoiselle Sabine, how kind you are! Thanks, a thousand thanks. "

Yes, it was indeed Sabine, the scion of the lordly house of Mussidan, who had come to visit the poor foundling of the Hotel de Vendome in hisstudio, and who thus risked all that was most precious to her inthe world, her honor and her reputation. Yes, regardless of theconventionalities among which she had been reared, dared to cross thatsocial abyss which separates the Avenue de Matignon from the Rue de laTour d'Auvergne. Cold reason finds no excuse for such a step, but theheart can easily solve this seeming riddle. Sabine and Andre had beenlovers for more than two years. Their first acquaintance had commencedat the Chateau de Mussidan. At the end of the summer of 1865, Andre, whose constant application to work had told upon his health, determinedto take a change, when his master, Jean Lanier, called him, and said, --

"If you wish for a change, and at the same time to earn three or fourhundred francs, now is your time. An architect has written to me, askingme for a skilled stone carver, to do some work in the country at amagnificent mansion in the midst of the most superb scenery. Would youcare about undertaking this?"

The proposal was a most acceptable one to Andre, and in a week's time hewas on his way to his work with a prospect of living for a month inpure country air. Upon his arrival at the Chateau, he made a thoroughexamination of the work with which he had been entrusted. He saw that hecould finish it with perfect ease, for it was only to restore the carvedwork on a balcony, which would not take more than a fortnight. He didnot, however, press on the work, for the beautiful scenery enchantedhim. 

He made many exquisite sketches, and his health began to return to him. But there was another reason why he was in no haste to complete histask, one which he hardly ventured even to confess to himself: he hadcaught a glimpse of a young girl in the park of the Chateau who hadcaused a new feeling to spring up in his heart. It was Sabine deMussidan. The Count, as the season came on, had gone to Germany, theCountess had flitted away to Luzon, and the daughter was sent to thedull old country mansion in charge of her old aunt. It was the old, oldstory; two young hearts loving with all the truth and energy of theirnatures. They had exchanged a few words on their first meeting, and onthe next Sabine went on to the balcony and watched the rapid play ofAndre's chisel with childish delight. For a long time they conversed, and Sabine was surprised at the education and refinement of the youngworkman. Utterly fresh, and without experience, Sabine could notunderstand her new sensations. Andre held, one night, a long conversewith himself, and was at last obliged to confess that he loved herfondly. He ran the extent of his folly and madness, and recognized thebarrier of birth and wealth that stood between them, and was overwhelmedwith consternation. 

The Chateau of Mussidan stands in a very lonely spot, and one of theroads leading to it passes through a dense forest, and therefore it hadbeen arranged that Andre was to take his meals in the house. Aftera time Sabine began to feel that this isolation was a needlesshumiliation. 

"Why can't M. Andre take his meals with us?" asked she of her aunt. "Heis certainly more gentlemanlike than many of those who visit us, and Ithink that his conversation would entertain you. "

The old lady was easily persuaded to adopt this suggestion, though atfirst it seemed an odd kind of thing to admit a mere working man to hertable; but she was so bored with the loneliness of the place that shehailed with delight anything that would break its monotony. Andre atonce accepted the proposal, and the old lady would hardly believe hereyes when her guest entered the room with the dress and manners of ahighbred gentleman. "It is hardly to be believed, " said she, as she waspreparing to go to bed, "that a mere carver of stone should be so likea gentleman. It seems to me that all distinctions of social rank havevanished. It is time for me to die, or we are rapidly approaching astate of anarchy. "

In spite of her prejudices, however, Andre contrived to win the oldlady's heart, and won a complete victory by painting her portrait infull gala costume. From that moment he was treated as one of the family, and, having no fear of a rebuff, was witty and sprightly in his manner. Once he told the old lady the true story of his life. Sabine was deeplyinterested, and marvelled at his energy and endurance, which had won forhim a place on the ladder that leads to future eminence. She saw inhim the realization of all her girlish dreams, and finally confessedto herself that she loved him. Both her father and mother had their ownpleasures and pursuits, and Sabine was as much alone in the world asAndre. 

The days now fled rapidly by. Buried in this secluded country house, they were as free as the breeze that played through the trees of theforest, for the old lady rarely disturbed them. After the morning meal, she would beg Andre to read the newspaper to her, and fell into a dozebefore he had been five minutes at the task. Then the young peoplewould slip quietly away, as merry as truants from school. They wanderedbeneath the shade of the giant oaks, or climbed the rocks that stoodby the river bank. Sometimes, seated in a dilapidated boat, they woulddrift down the stream with its flower-bedecked banks. The water wasoften almost covered with rushes and water lilies. Two months ofenchantment thus fled past, two months of the intoxications of love, though the mention of the tender passion never rose to their lipsfrom their hearts, where it was deeply imbedded. Andre had cast allreflections regarding the perils of the future to the winds, and onlythanked heaven for the happiness that he was experiencing. 

"Am I not too happy?" he would say to himself. "I fear this cannotlast. " And he was right. Anxious to justify his remaining at Mussidanafter his task was completed, Andre determined to add to what he hadalready done a masterpiece of modern art, by carving a garland of fruitand flowers over the old balcony, and every morning he rose with the sunto proceed with his task. 

One morning the valet came to him, saying that the old lady was desirousof seeing him, and begged him to lose no time, as the business wasurgent. A presentiment of evil came like a chilly blast upon the youngman's heart. He felt that his brief dream of happiness was at an end, and he followed the valet as a criminal follows his executioner to thescaffold. 

As he opened the door in which Sabine's aunt was awaiting him, the oldman whispered, --

"Have a care, sir, have a care. Madame is in a terrible state; I havenot seen her like this since her husband died. "

The old lady was in a terrible state of excitement, and in spite ofrheumatic pains was walking up and down the room, gesticulating wildly, and striking her crutch-handled stick on the floor. 

"And so, " cried she in that haughty tone adopted by women ofaristocratic lineage when addressing a supposed inferior, "you have, Ihear, had the impudence to make love to my niece?"

Andre's pale face grew crimson as he stammered out, --

"Madame--"

"Gracious powers, fellow!" cried the angry woman, "do you dare todeny this when your very face betrays you? Do you know that you are aninsolent rogue even to venture to look on Sabine de Mussidan? How dareyou! Perhaps you thought that if you compromised her, we should beforced to submit to this ignoble alliance. "

"On my honor, madame, I assure you--"

"On your honor! To hear you speak, one would suppose that you were agentleman. If my poor husband were alive, he would break every bone inyour body; but I am satisfied with ordering you out of the house. Pickup your tools, and be off at once. "

Andre stood as though petrified into stone. He took no notice of herimperious manner, but only realized the fact that he should never seeSabine again, and, turning deadly pale, staggered to a chair. Theold lady was so surprised at the manner in which Andre received hercommunication, that for a time she too was bewildered, and could notutter a word. 

"I am unfortunately of a violent temper, " said she, speaking in moregentle accents, "and perhaps I have spoken too severely, for I am muchto blame in this matter, as the priest of Berron said when he came toinform me of what was going on. I am so old that I forgot what happenswhen young people are thrown together, and I was the only one who didnot know what was going on when you were affording subject of gossip forthe whole countryside; my niece--"

But here Andre started to his feet with a threatening look upon hisface. 

"I could strangle them all, " cried he. 

"That is right, " returned the old lady, secretly pleased at his vigorand energy, "but you cannot silence every idle tongue. Fortunately, matters have not gone too far. Go away, and forget my niece. "

She might as well have told the young man to go away and die. 

"Madame!" cried he in accents of despair, "pray listen to me. I amyoung, and full of hope and courage. "

The old lady was so touched by his evident sorrow, that the tears rolleddown her wrinkled cheeks. 

"What is the good of saying this to me?" asked she. "Sabine is not mydaughter. All that I can do is never to say a word to her father andmother. Great heavens, if Mussidan should ever learn what has occurred!There, do go away. You have upset me so that I do not believe I shalleat a mouthful for the next two days. "

Andre staggered out of the room. It seemed to him as if the flooringheaved and rolled beneath his feet. He could see nothing, but he feltsome one take him by the hand. It was Sabine, pallid and cold as amarble statue. 

"I have heard everything, Andre, " murmured she. 

"Yes, " stammered he. "All is over, and I am dismissed. "

"Where are you going to?"

"Heaven only knows, and when once I leave this place I care not. "

"Do not be desperate, " urged Sabine, laying her hand upon his arm. 

His fixed glance terrified her as he muttered, --

"I cannot help it; I am driven to despair. "

Never had Sabine appeared so lovely; her eyes gleamed with some generousimpulse, and her face glowed. 

"Suppose, " said she, "I could give you a ray of future hope, what wouldyou do then?"

"What would I _not_ do then? All that a man could. I would fight my waythrough all opposition. Give me the hardest task, and I will fulfil it. If money is wanted, I will gain it; if a name, I will win it. "

"There is one thing that you have forgotten, and that is patience. "

"And that, Mademoiselle, I possess also. Do you not understand that withone word of hope from you I can live on?"

Sabine raised her head heavenwards. "Work!" she exclaimed. "Work andhope, for I swear that I will never wed other than you. "

Here the voice of the old lady interrupted the lovers. 

"Still lingering here!" she cried, in a voice like a trumpet call. Andrefled away with hope in his heart, and felt that he had now somethingto live for. No one knew exactly what happened after his departure. Nodoubt Sabine brought round her aunt to her way of thinking, for at herdeath, which happened two months afterward, she left the whole of herimmense fortune directly to her niece, giving her the income whileshe remained single, and the capital on her marriage, whether with orwithout the consent of her parents. Madame de Mussidan declared thatthe old lady had gone crazy, but both Andre and Sabine knew what she hadintended, and sincerely mourned for the excellent woman, whose last acthad been to smooth away the difficulties from their path. Andre workedharder than ever, and Sabine encouraged him by fresh promises. Sabinewas even more free in Paris than at Mussidan, and her attached maid, Modeste, would have committed almost any crime to promote the happinessof her beloved mistress. The lovers now corresponded regularly, andSabine, accompanied by Modeste, frequently visited the artist's studio, and never was a saint treated with greater respect and adoration thanwas Sabine by Andre. 

CHAPTER IX. 

ROSE'S PROMOTION. 

As soon as Andre had released her hand, Sabine took off her hat, and, handing it to Modeste, remarked, --

"How am I looking to-day, Andre?"

The young painter hastened to reassure her on this point, and shecontinued in joyous tones, --

"No, I do not want compliments; I want to know if I look the right thingfor sitting for my portrait. "

Sabine was very beautiful, but hers was a different style of beauty fromthat of Rose, whose ripe, sensuous charms were fitted to captivate theadmiration of the voluptuary, while Sabine was of the most refined andethereal character. Rose fettered the body with earthly trammels, whileSabine drew the soul heavenward. Her beauty was not of the kind thatdazzles, for the air of proud reserve which she threw over it, in someslight measure obscured its brilliancy. 

She might have passed unnoticed, like the work of a great master's brushhanging neglected over the altar of a village church; but when the eyehad once fathomed that hidden beauty, it never ceased to gaze on it withadmiration. She had a broad forehead, covered with a wealth of chestnuthair, soft, lustrous eyes, and an exquisitely chiselled mouth. 

"Alas!" said Andre, "when I gaze upon you, I have to confess howimpossible it is to do you justice. Before you came I had fanciedthat the portrait was completed, but now I see that I have only made afailure. "

As he spoke, he drew aside the curtain, and the young girl's portraitwas revealed. It was by no means a work of extraordinary merit. Theartist was only twenty-four years of age, and had been compelled tointerrupt his studies to toil for his daily bread, but it was full oforiginality and genius. Sabine gazed at it for a few moments in silence, and then murmured the words, --

"It is lovely!"

But Andre was too discouraged to notice her praise. 

"It is like, " remarked he, "but a photograph also has that merit. I haveonly got your features, but not your expression; it is an utter failure. Shall I try again?"

Sabine stopped him with a gesture of denial. 

"You shall not try again, " said she decidedly. 

"And why not?" asked he in astonishment. 

"Because this visit will be my last, Andre. "

"The last?" stammered the painter. "In what way have I so offended you, that you should inflict so terrible a punishment on me?"

"I do not wish to punish you. You asked for my portrait, and I yieldedto your request; but let us talk reasonably. Do you not know that I amrisking my reputation by coming here day after day?"

Andre made no reply, for this unexpected blow had almost stunned him. 

"Besides, " continued Mademoiselle de Mussidan, "what is to be done withthe portrait? It must be hidden away, as if it were something we wereashamed of. Remember, on your success hangs our marriage. "

"I do not forget that. "

"Hasten then to gain all honor and distinction, for the world must agreewith me in saying that my choice has been a wise one. "

"I will do so. "

"I fully believe you, dear Andre, and remember what I said to you a yearago. Achieve a name, then go to my father and ask for my hand. If herefuses, if my supplications do not move him, I will quit his roofforever. "

"You are right, " answered Andre. "I should indeed by a fool if Isacrificed a future happy life for a few hours of present enjoyment, andI will implicitly--"

"And now, " said Sabine, "that we have agreed on this point, let usdiscuss our mutual interests, of which it seems that we have been alittle negligent up till now. "

Andre at once began to tell her of all that had befallen him since theyhad last met, his defeats and successes. 

"I am in an awkward plight, " said he. "Yesterday, that well knowncollector, Prince Crescenzi, came to my studio. One of my pictures tookhis fancy, and he ordered another from me, for which he would pay sixthousand francs. "

"That was quite a stroke of luck. "

"Just so, but unfortunately he wants it directly. Then Jean Lamou, whohas more in his hand than he can manage, has offered me the decorationof a palatial edifice that he is building for a great speculator, M. Gandelu. I am to engage all the workmen, and shall receive some seven oreight hundred francs a month. "

"But how does this trouble you?"

"I will tell you. I have twice seen M. Gandelu, and he wants me to beginwork at once; but I cannot accept both, and must choose between them. "

Sabine reflected. 

"I should execute the Prince's commission, " said she. 

"So should I, only----"

The girl easily found the cause of his hesitation. 

"Will you never forget that I am wealthy?" replied she. 

"The one would bring in the most money, " he returned, "and the othermost credit. "

"Then accept the offer of M. Gandelu. "

The old cuckoo-clock in the corner struck five. 

"Before we part, dear Andre, " resumed she, "I must tell you of a freshtrouble which threatens us; there is a project for marrying me to M. DeBreulh-Faverlay. "

"What, that very wealthy gentleman?"

"Just so. "

"Well, if I oppose my father's wishes, an explanation must ensue, andthis just now I do not desire. I therefore intend to speak openly to M. De Breulh-Faverlay, who is an honorable, straightforward man; and when Itell him the real state of the case, he will withdraw his pretensions. "

"But, " replied Andre, "should he do so, another will come forward. "

"That is very possible, and in his turn the successor will bedismissed. "

"Ah!" murmured the unhappy man, "how terrible will be your life, --ascene of daily strife with your father and mother. "

After a tender farewell, Sabine and Modeste left. Andre had wished tobe permitted to go out and procure a vehicle, but this the young girlnegatived, and took her leave, saying. --

"I shall see M. De Breulh-Faverlay to-morrow. "

For a moment after he was left alone Andre felt very sad, but a happythought flashed across his brain. 

"Sabine, " said he, "went away on foot, and I may follow her withoutinjury to her reputation. "

In another moment he was in the street, and caught a glimpse of Sabineand her maid under a lamp at the next corner. He crossed to the otherside of the way and followed them cautiously. 

"Perhaps, " murmured he, "the time is not far distant when I shall havethe right to be with her in her walks, and feel her arm pressed againstmine. "

By this time Sabine and her companion had reached the Rue Blanche, andhailing a cab, were rapidly driven away. Andre gazed after it, and assoon as it was out of sight, decided to return to his work. As he passeda brilliantly lighted shop, a fresh young voice saluted him. 

"M. Andre, M. Andre. "

He looked up in extreme surprise, and saw a young woman, dressed inthe most extravagant style, standing by the door of a brougham, whichglittered with fresh paint and varnish. In vain he tried to think whoshe could be, but at length his memory served him. 

"Mademoiselle Rose, " said he, "or I am much mistaken. "

A shrill, squeaky voice replied, "Madame Zora Chantemille, if youplease. "

Andre turned sharply round and found himself face to face with a youngman who had completed an order he was giving to the coachman. 

"Ah, is that you?" said he. 

"Yes, Chantemille is the name of the estate that I intend to settle onmadame. "

The painter examined the personage who had just addressed him withmuch curiosity. He was dressed in the height or rather the burlesque offashion, wore an eyeglass, and an enormous locket on his chain. The facewhich surmounted all this grandeur was almost that of a monkey, andToto Chupin had not exaggerated its ugliness when he likened it to thatanimal. 

"Pooh, " cried Rose, "what matters a name? All you have to do is to askthis gentleman, who is an old friend of mine, to dinner. " And withoutwaiting for a reply, she took Andre by the hand and led him into abrilliantly lighted hall. "You must dine with us, " she exclaimed; "Iwill take no denial. Come, let me introduce you, M. Andre, M. Gaston deGandelu. There, that is all settled. "

The man bowed. 

"Andre, Andre, " repeated Gandelu; "why, the name is familiar to me, --andso is the face. Have I not met you at my father's house? Come in; weintend to have a jovial evening. "

"I really cannot, " pleaded Andre. "I have an engagement. "

"Throw it over then; we intend to keep you, now that we have got you. "

Andre hesitated for a moment, but he felt dispirited, and that herequired rousing. "After all, " thought he, "why should I refuse? If thisyoung man's friends are like himself, the evening will be an amusingone. "

"Come up, " cried Rose, placing her foot upon the stairs. Andre was aboutto follow her, but was held back by Gandelu, whose face was radiant withdelight. 

"Was there ever such a girl?" whispered he; "but there, don't jump atconclusions. I have only had her in hand for a short time, but I am areal dab at starting a woman grandly, and it would be hard to find myequal in Paris, you may bet. "

"That can be seen at a glance, " answered Andre, concealing a smile. 

"Well, look here, I began at once. Zora is a quaint name, is it not?It was my invention. She isn't a right down swell to-day, but I haveordered six dresses for her from Van Klopen; such swell gets up! Youknow Van Klopen, don't you, the best man-milliner in Paris. Such taste!such ideas! you never saw the like. "

Rose had by this time reached her drawing-room. "Andre, " said she, impatiently, "are you never coming up?"

"Quick, quick, " said Gandelu, "let us go at once; if she gets into atemper she is sure to have a nervous attack, so let us hurry up. "

Rose did all she could to dazzle Andre, and as a commencement exhibitedto him her domestics, a cook and a maid; then he was shown every articleof furniture, and not one was spared him. He was forced to admire thedrawing-room suite covered with old gold silk, trimmed blue, and to testthe thickness of the curtains. Bearing aloft a large candelabra, andcovering himself with wax, Gandelu led the way, telling them the priceof everything like an energetic tradesman. 

"That clock, " said he, "cost me a hundred louis, and dirt cheap at theprice. How funny that you should have known my father! Has he nota wonderful intellect? That flower stand was three hundred francs, absolutely given away. Take care of the governor, he is as sharp as aneedle. He wanted me to have a profession, but no, thank you. Yes, thatoccasional table was a bargain at twenty louis. Six months ago I thoughtthat the old man would have dropped off, but now the doctors say--" Hestopped suddenly, for a loud noise was heard in the vestibule. "Herecome the fellows I invited, " cried he, and placing the candelabra on thetable, he hurried from the room. 

Andre was delighted at so grand an opportunity of studying the _genus_masher. Rose felt flattered by the admiration her fine rooms evidentlycaused. 

"You see, " cried she, "I have left Paul; he bothered me awfully, andended by half starving me. "

"Why, you are joking; he came here to-day, and said he was earningtwelve thousand francs a year. "

"Twelve thousand humbugs. A fellow that will take five hundred francsfrom an old scarecrow he never met before is--"

Rose broke off abruptly, for at that moment young Gandelu brought in hisfriends, and introduced them; they were all of the same type astheir host, and Andre was about to study them more intently, when awhite-waistcoated waiter threw open the door, exclaiming pompously, "Madame, the dinner is on the table. "

CHAPTER X. 

"YOU ARE A THIEF. "

When Mascarin was asked what was the best way to achieve certainresults, his invariable reply was, "Keep moving, keep moving. " He hadone great advantage over other men, he put in practice the doctrines hepreached, and at seven o'clock the morning after his interview with theCount de Mussidan he was hard at work in his room. A thick fog hung overthe city, even penetrating into the office, which had begun to fillwith clients. This crowd had but little interest for the head of theestablishment, as it consisted chiefly of waiters from small eatinghouses, and cooks who knew little or nothing of what was going on in thehouses where they were in service. Finding this to be the case, Mascarinhanded them all over to Beaumarchef, and only occasionally nodded to theserviteur of some great family, who chanced to stroll in. 

He was busily engaged in arranging those pieces of cardboard which hadso much puzzled Paul in his first visit, and was so much occupied withhis task, that all he could do was to mutter broken exclamations: "Whata stupendous undertaking! but I have to work single-handed, and hold inmy hands all these threads, which for twenty years, with the patience ofa spider, I have been weaving into a web. No one, seeing me here, would believe this. People who pass me by in the street say, 'That isMascarin, who keeps a servants' registry office;' that is the way inwhich they look upon me. Let them laugh if they like; they little knowthe mighty power I wield in secret. No one suspects me, no, not one. Imay seem too sanguine, it is true, " he continued, still glancing overhis papers, "or the net may break and some of the fishes slip out. Thatidiot, Mussidan, asked me if I was acquainted with the Penal code. Ishould think I was, for no one has studied them more deeply than I have, and there is a clause in volume 3, chapter 2, which is always before me. Penal servitude for a term of years; and if I am convicted under Article306, then it means a life sentence. " He shuddered, but soon a smile oftriumph shone over his face as he resumed, "Ah, but to send a man likeMascarin for change of air to Toulon, he must be caught, and that is notsuch an easy task. The day he scents danger he disappears, and leavesno trace behind him. I fear that I cannot look for too much from mycompanions, Catenac and Hortebise; I have up to now kept them back. Croisenois would never betray me, and as for Beaumarchef, La Candele, Toto Chupin, and a few other poor devils, they would be a fine haulfor the police. They couldn't split, simply because they know nothing. "Mascarin chuckled, and then adjusting his spectacles with his favoritegesture, said, "I shall go on in the course I have commenced, straightas the flight of an arrow. I ought to make four millions throughCroisenois. Paul shall marry Flavia, that is all arranged, and Flaviawill make a grand duchess with her magnificent income. "

He had by this time arranged his pasteboard squares, then he took asmall notebook, alphabetically arranged, from a drawer, wrote a nameor two in it, and then closing it said with a deadly smile, "There, myfriends, you are all registered, though you little suspect it. You areall rich, and think that you are free, but you are wrong, for there isone man who owns you, soul and body, and that man is Baptiste Mascarin;and at his bidding, high as you hold your heads now, you will crawl tohis feet in humble abasement. " His musings were interrupted by a knockat the door. He struck the bell on his writing table, and the last soundof it was hardly died away, when Beaumarchef stood on the threshold. 

"You desired me, sir, " said he, with the utmost deference, "to completemy report regarding young M. Gandelu, and it so happens that the cookwhom he has taken into his service in the new establishment he hasstarted is on our list. She has just come in to pay us eleven francsthat she owed us, and is waiting outside. Is not this lucky?"

Mascarin made a little grimace. "You are an idiot, Beaumarchef, " saidhe, "to be pleased at so trivial a matter. I have often told you thatthere is no such thing as luck or chance, and that all comes to thosewho work methodically. "

Beaumarchef listened to his master's wisdom in silent surprise. 

"And pray, who is this woman?" asked Mascarin. 

"You will know her when you see her, sir. She is registered under classD, that is, for employment in rather fast establishments. "

"Go and fetch her, " observed Mascarin, and as the man left the room, hemuttered, "Experience has taught me that it is madness to neglect thesmallest precaution. "

In another moment the woman appeared, and Mascarin at once addressed herwith that air of friendly courtesy which made him so popular among suchwomen. "Well, my good girl, " said he, "and so you have got the sort ofplace you wanted, eh?"

"I hope so, sir, but you see I have only been with Madame Zora deChantemille since yesterday. "

"Ah, Zora de Chantemille, that is a fine name, indeed. "

"It is only a fancy name, and she had an awful row over it with master. She wanted to be called Raphaela, but he stood out for Zora. "

"Zora is a very pretty name, " observed Mascarin solemnly. 

"Yes, sir, just what the maid and I told her. She is a splendid woman, and doesn't she just squander the shiners? Thirty thousand francs havegone since yesterday. "

"I can hardly credit it. "

"Not cash, you understand, but tick. M. De Gandelu has not a sou of hisown in the world, so a waiter at Potier's told me, and he knew whatwas what; but the governor is rolling in money. Yesterday they had ahouse-warming--the dinner, with wine, cost over a thousand francs. "

Not seeing how to utilize any of this gossip, Mascarin made a gesture ofdismissal, when the woman exclaimed, --

"Stop, sir, I have something to tell you. "

"Well, " said Mascarin, throwing himself back in his chair with an air ofaffected impatience, "let us have it. "

"We had eight gents to dinner, all howling swells, but my master was thebiggest masher of the lot. Madame was the only woman at table. Well, byten o'clock, they had all had their whack of drink, and then they toldthe porter to keep the courtyard clear. What do you think they did then?Why, they threw plates, glasses, knives, forks, and dishes bang out ofthe window. That is a regular swell fashion, so the waiter at Potier'stold me, and was introduced into Paris by a Russian. "

Mascarin closed his eyes and answered languidly, "Go on. "

"Well, sir, there was one gent who was a blot on the whole affair. Hewas tall, shabbily dressed, and with no manners at all. He seemed allthe time to be sneering at the rest. But didn't Madame make up to himjust. She kept heaping up his plate and filling his glass. When theothers got to cards, he sat down by my mistress, and began to talk. "

"Could you hear what they said?"

"I should think so. I was in the bedroom, and they were near the door. "

"Dear me, " remarked Mascarin, appearing much shocked, "surely that wasnot right?"

"I don't care a rap whether it was right or not. I like to hear allabout the people whom I engage with. They were talking about a M. Paul, who had been Madame's friend before, and whom the gentleman also knew. Madame said that this Paul was no great shakes, and that he had stolentwelve thousand francs. "

Mascarin pricked up his ears, feeling that his patience was about tomeet its reward. 

"Can you tell me the gentleman's name, to whom Madame said all this?"asked he. 

"Not I. The others called him 'The painter. '"

This explanation did not satisfy Mascarin. 

"Look here, my good girl, " said he, "try and find out the fellow's name. I think he is an artist who owes me money. "

"All right! Rely on me; and now I must be off, for I have breakfast toget ready, but I'll call again to-morrow;" and with a curtsy she leftthe room. 

Mascarin struck his hand heavily on the table. 

"Hortebise has a wonderful nose for sniffing out danger, " said he. "ThisRose and the young fool who is ruining himself for her must both besuppressed. "

Beaumarchef again made a motion of executing a thrust with the rapier. 

"Pooh, pooh!" answered his master; "don't be childish. I can do betterthan that. Rose calls herself nineteen, but she is more, she is of age, while Gandelu is still a minor. If old Gandelu had any pluck, he wouldput Article 354 in motion. "

"Eh, sir?" said Beaumarchef, much mystified. 

"Look here. Before twenty-four hours have elapsed I must know everythingas to the habits and disposition of Gandelu senior. I want to know onwhat terms he is with his son. "

"Good. I will set La Candele to work. "

"And as the young fellow will doubtless need money, contrive to let himknow of our friend Verminet, the chairman of the Mutual Loan Society. "

"But that is M. Tantaine's business. "

Mascarin paid no heed to this, so occupied was he by his own thoughts. 

"This young artist seems to have more brains than the rest of the set, but woe to him if he crosses my path. Go back to the outer office, Beaumarchef, I hear some clients coming in. "

The man, however, did not obey. 

"Pardon me, sir, " said he, "but La Candele, who is outside, will seethem. I have my report to make. "

"Very good. Sit down and go on. "

Enchanted at this mark of condescension, Beaumarchef went on. "Yesterdaythere was nothing of importance, but this morning Toto Chupin came. "

"He had not lost Caroline Schimmel, I trust?"

"No, sir; he had even got into conversation with her. "

"That is good. He is a cunning little devil; a pity that he is not atrifle more honest. "

"He is sure, " continued Beaumarchef, "that the woman drinks, for she isalways talking of persons following her about who menace her, and she isso afraid of being murdered that she never ventures out alone. She liveswith a respectable workingman and his wife, and pays well for her board, for she seems to have plenty of money. "

"That is a nuisance, " remarked Mascarin, evidently much annoyed. "Wheredoes she live?"

"At Montmartre, beyond the Chateau Rouge. "

"Good. Tantaine will inquire and see if Toto has made no mistake, anddoes not let the woman slip through his fingers. "

"He won't do that, for he told me that he was on the right road to findout who she was, and where she got her money from. But I ought to warnyou against the young scamp, for I have found out that he robs us andsells our goods far below their value. "

"What do you mean?"

"I have long had my suspicions, and yesterday I wormed it all out froma disreputable looking fellow, who came here to ask for his friendChupin. "

Men accustomed to danger are over prompt in their decisions. "Verywell, " returned Mascarin, "if this is the case, Master Chupin shall havea taste of prison fare. "

Beaumarchef withdrew, but almost immediately reappeared. 

"Sir, " said he, "a servant from M. De Croisenois is here with a note. "

"Send the man in, " said Mascarin. 

The domestic was irreproachably dressed, and looked what he was, theservant of a nobleman. 

He had something the appearance of an Englishman, with a high collar, reaching almost to his ears. His face was clean shaved, and of aruddy hue. His coat was evidently the work of a London tailor, and hisappearance was as stiff as though carved out of wood. Indeed, he lookedlike a very perfect piece of mechanism. 

"My master, " said he, "desired me to give this note into your ownhands. "

Under cover of breaking the seal, Mascarin viewed this model servantattentively. He was a stranger to him, for he had never suppliedCroisenois with a domestic. 

"It seems, my good fellow, " said he, "that your master was up earlierthan usual this morning?"

The man frowned a little at this familiar address, and then slowlyreplied, --

"When I took service with the Marquis, he agreed to give me fifteenlouis over my wages for the privilege of calling me 'a good fellow, 'but I permit no one to do so gratis. I think that my master is stillasleep, " continued the man solemnly. "He wrote the note on his returnfrom the club. "

"Is there any reply. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Good; then wait a little. "

And Mascarin, opening the note, read the following:

"MY DEAR FRIEND, --

"Baccarat has served me an ugly turn, and in addition to all my readycash I have given an I. O. U. For three thousand francs. To save my creditI must have this by twelve to-morrow. "

"His credit, " said Mascarin. "His credit! That is a fine joke indeed. "The servant stood up stiffly erect, as one seeming to take no notice, and the agent continued reading the letter. 

"Am I wrong in looking to you for this trifle? I do not think so. Indeed, I have an idea that you will send me a hundred and fifty louisover and above, so that I may not be left without a coin in my pocket. How goes the great affair? I await your decision on the brink of aprecipice. 

"Yours devotedly, "HENRY DE CROISENOIS. "

"And so, " growled Mascarin, "he has flung away five thousand francs, and asks me to find it for him in my coffers. Ah, you fool, if I did notwant the grand name that you have inherited from your ancestors, aname that you daily bespatter and soil, you might whistle for your fivethousand francs. "

However, as Croisenois was absolutely necessary to him, Mascarin slowlytook from his safe five notes of a thousand francs each, and handed themto the man. 

"Do you want a receipt?" asked the man. 

"No; this letter is sufficient, but wait a bit;" and Mascarin, withan eye to the future, drew a twenty franc piece from his pocket, andplacing it on the table, said in his most honeyed accents, --

"There, my friend, is something for yourself. "

"No, sir, " returned the man; "I always ask wages enough to prevent thenecessity of accepting presents. " And with this dignified reply he bowedwith the stiff air of a Quaker, and walked rigidly out of the room. 

The agent was absolutely thunderstruck. In all his thirty years'experience he had never come across anything like this. 

"I can hardly believe my senses, " muttered he; "where on earth didthe Marquis pick this fellow up? Can it be that he is sharper than Ifancied?"

Suddenly a new and terrifying idea flashed across his mind. "Can it be, "said he, "that the fellow is not a real servant, after all? I haveso many enemies that one day they may strive to crush me, and howeverskilfully I may play my cards, some one may hold a better hand. " Thisidea alarmed him greatly, for he was in a position in which he hadnothing to fear; for when a great work is approaching completion, theanxiety of the promoter becomes stronger and stronger. "No, no, " hecontinued; "I am getting too full of suspicions;" and with these wordshe endeavored to put aside the vague terrors which were creeping intohis soul. 

Suddenly Beaumarchef, evidently much excited, appeared upon thethreshold. 

"What, you here again!" cried Mascarin, angrily; "am I to have no peaceto-day?"

"Sir, the young man is here. "

"What young man? Paul Violaine?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Why, I told him not to come until twelve; something must have gonewrong. " He broke off his speech, for at the half-open door stoodPaul. He was very pale, and his eyes had the expression of some huntedcreature. His attire was in disorder and betokened a night spent inaimless wanderings to and fro. 

"Ah, sir!" said he, as he caught sight of Mascarin. 

"Leave us, Beaumarchef, " said the latter, with an imperious wave of hishand; "and now, my dear boy, what is it?"

Paul sank into a chair. 

"My life is ended, " said he; "I am lost, dishonored for ever. "

Mascarin put on a face of the most utter bewilderment, though he wellknew the cause of Paul's utter prostration; but it was with the air ofa ready sympathizer that he drew his chair nearer to that of Paul, andsaid, --

"Come, tell me all about it; what can possibly have happened to affectyou thus?"

In deeply tragic tones, Paul replied, --

"Rose has deserted me. "

Mascarin raised his hands to heaven. 

"And is this the reason that you say you are dishonored? Do you not seethat the future is full of promise?"

"I loved Rose, " returned Paul, and his voice was so full of pathos thatMascarin could hardly repress a smile. "But this is not all, " continuedthe unhappy boy, making a vain effort to restrain his tears; "I amaccused of theft. "

"Impossible!" exclaimed Mascarin. 

"Yes, sir; and you who know everything are the only person in the worldwho can save me. You were so kind to me yesterday that I ventured tocome here before the time appointed, in order to entreat your help. "

"But what do you think I can do?"

"Everything, sir; but let me tell you the whole hideous complication. "

Mascarin's face assumed an air of the deepest interest, as he answered, "Go on. "

"After our interview, " began Paul, "I went back to the Hotel de Perou, and on the mantelpiece in my garret found this note from Rose. "

He held it out as he spoke, but Mascarin made no effort to take it. 

"In it, " resumed Paul, "Rose tells me she no longer loves me, and begsme not to seek to see her again; and also that, wearied out of poverty, she has accepted the offer of unlimited supplies of money, a carriage, and diamonds. "

"Are you surprised at this?" asked Mascarin, with a sneer. 

"How could I anticipate such an infidelity, when only the evening beforeshe swore by all she held most sacred that she loved me only? Why didshe lie to me? Did she write to make the blow fall heavier? When Iascended the staircase, I was picturing to myself her joy when I toldher of your kind promises to me. For more than an hour I remained in mygarret, overwhelmed with the terrible thought that I should never seeher again. "

Mascarin watched Paul attentively, and came to the conclusion that hiswords were too fine for his grief to be sincere. 

"But what about the accusation of theft?"

"I am coming to that, " returned the young man. "I then determined toobey your injunctions and leave the Hotel de Perou, with which I wasmore than ever disgusted. I went downstairs to settle with MadameLoupins, when ah! hideous disgrace! As I handed her the two weeks' rent, she asked me with a contemptuous sneer, where I had stolen the moneyfrom?"

Mascarin secretly chuckled over the success of his plans thus announcedby Paul. 

"What did you say?" asked he. 

"Nothing, sir; I was too horror-stricken; the man Loupins came up, andboth he and his wife scowled at me threateningly. After a short pause, they asserted that they were perfectly sure that Rose and I had robbedM. Tantaine. "

"But did you not deny this monstrous charge?"

"I was utterly bewildered, for I saw that every circumstance was againstme. The evening before, Rose, in reply to Madame Loupin's importunities, had told her that she had no money, and did not know where to get any. But, as you perceive, on the very next day I appeared in a suit of newclothes, and was prepared to pay my debts, while Rose had left thehouse some hours before. Does not all this form a chain of strangecoincidences? Rose changed the five hundred franc note that Tantaine hadlent me at the shop of a grocer, named Melusin, and this suspiciousfool was the first to raise a cry against us, and dared to assert that adetective had been ordered to watch us. "

Mascarin knew all this story better than Paul, but here he interruptedhis young friend. 

"I do not understand you, " said he, "nor whether your grief arises fromindignation or remorse. Has there been a robbery?"

"How can I tell? I have never seen M. Tantaine from that day. There isa rumor that he has been plundered and important papers taken from him, and that he has consequently been arrested. "

"Why did you not explain the facts?"

"It would have been of no use. It would clearly prove that Tantaine wasno friend of mine, not even an acquaintance, and they would have laughedme to scorn had I declared that the evening before he came into my roomand made me a present of five hundred francs. "

"I think that I can solve the riddle, " remarked Mascarin. "I know theold fellow so well. "

Paul listened with breathless eagerness. 

"Tantaine, " resumed Mascarin, "is the best and kindest fellow in theworld, but he is not quite right in the upper story. He was awealthy man once, but his liberality was his ruin. He is as poor asa church-mouse now, but he is as anxious as ever to be charitable. Unfortunately in the place I procured for him he had a certain amountof petty cash at his disposal, and moved to pity at the sight of yoursufferings, he gave you the money that really belonged to others. Thenhe sent in his accounts, and the deficiency was discovered. He lost hishead, and declared that he had been robbed. You lived in the next room;you were known to be in abject poverty on the one day and in ample fundson the next; hence these suspicions. "

All was too clear to Paul, and a cold shiver ran through his frame as hesaw himself arrested, tried, and condemned. 

"But, " stammered he, "M. Tantaine holds my note of hand, which is aproof that I acted honestly. "

"My poor boy, do you think that if he hoped to save himself at yourexpense he would produce it?"

"Luckily, sir, you know the real state of the case. "

Mascarin shook is head. 

"Would my story be credited?" asked he. "Justice is not infallible, andI must confess that appearances are against you. "

Paul was crushed down beneath this weight of argument. "There is noresource for me then but death, " murmured he, "for I will not live adishonored man. "

The conduct of Paul was precisely what Mascarin had expected, and hefelt that the moment had arrived to strike a final blow. 

"You must not give way to despair, my boy, " said he. 

But Paul made no reply; he had lost the power of hearing. Mascarin, however, had no time to lose, and taking him by the arm, shook himroughly. "Rouse yourself. A man in your position must help himself, andbring forward proofs of his innocence. "

"There is no use in fighting, " replied Paul. "Have you not just shown methat it is hopeless to endeavor to prove my innocence?"

Mascarin grew impatient at this unnecessary exhibition of cowardice, buthe concealed his feelings as best he could. 

"No, no, " answered he; "I only wished to show you the worst side of theaffair. "

"There is only one side. "

"Not so, for it is only a supposition that Tantaine had made awaywith money entrusted to him, and we are not certain of it. And we onlysurmise that he has been arrested, and thrown the blame on you. Beforegiving up the game, would it not be best to be satisfied on thesepoints?"

Paul felt a little reassured. 

"I say nothing, " continued Mascarin, "of the influence I exercise overTantaine, and which may enable me to compel him to confess the truth. "

Weak natures like Paul's are raised in a moment from the lowest depthsof depression to the highest pitch of exultation, and he alreadyconsidered that he was saved. 

"Shall I ever be able to prove my gratitude to you?" said heimpulsively. 

Mascarin's face assumed a paternal expression. 

"Perhaps you may, " answered he; "and as a commencement you must entirelyforget the past. Daylight dispels the hideous visions of the night. Ioffer you a fresh lease of life; will you become a new man?"

Paul heaved a deep sigh. "Rose, " he murmured; "I cannot forget her. "

Mascarin frowned. "What, " said he, "do you still let your thoughts dwellon that woman? There are people who cringe to the hand that strikesthem, and the more they are duped and deceived, the more they love. Ifyou are made of this kind of stuff, we shall never get on. Go andfind your faithless mistress, and beg her to come back and share yourpoverty, and see what she will say. "

These sarcasms roused Paul. "I will be even with her some day, " mutteredhe. 

"Forget her; that is the easiest thing for you to do. "

Even now Paul seemed to hesitate. "What, " said his patron reproachfully, "have you no pride?"

"I have, sir. "

"You have not, or you would never wish to hamper yourself with a womanlike Rose. You should keep your hands free, if you want to fight yourway through the battle of life. "

"I will follow your advice, sir, " said Paul hurriedly. 

"Very soon you will thank Rose deeply for having left you. You willclimb high, I can tell you, if you will work as I bid you. "

"Then, " stammered Paul, "this situation at twelve thousand francs ayear----"

"There never has been such a situation. "

A ghastly pallor overspread Paul's countenance, as he saw himself againreduced to beggary. 

"But, sir, " he murmured, "will you not permit me to hope--"

"For twelve thousand francs! Be at ease, you shall have that and muchmore. I am getting old. I have no ties in the world--you shall be myadopted son. "

A cloud settled on Paul's brow, for the idea that his life was to bepassed in this office was most displeasing to him. Mascarin divined hisinmost thoughts with perfect ease. "And the young fool does not knowwhere to go for a crust of bread, " thought he. "Ah, if there were noFlavia, no Champdoce;" then, speaking aloud, he resumed, "don't fancy, my dear boy, that I wish to condemn you to the treadmill that I amcompelled to pass my life in. I have other views for you, far moreworthy of your merits. I have taken a great liking to you, and I will doall I can to further your ambitious views. I was thinking a greatdeal of you, and in my head I raised the scaffolding of your futuregreatness. 'He is poor, ' said I, 'and at his age, and with his tastes, this is a cruel thing. Why, pray, should I not find a wife for him amongthose heiresses who have a million or two to give the man they marry?When I talk like this, it is because I know of an heiress, and myfriend, Dr. Hortebise, shall introduce her to you. She is nearly, ifnot quite, as pretty as Rose, and has the advantage of her in beingwell-born, well-educated, and wealthy. She has influential relatives, and if her husband should happen to be a poet, or a composer, she couldassist him in becoming famous. "

A flush came over Paul's face, This seemed like the realization of someof his former dreams. 

"With regard to your birth, " continued Mascarin, "I have devised awonderful plan. Before '93, you know, every bastard was treated asa gentleman, as he might have been the son of some high and mightypersonage. Who can say that your father may not have been of the noblestblood of France, and that he has not lands and wealth? He may even nowbe looking for you, in order to acknowledge you and make you his heir. Would you like to be a duke?"

"Ah, sir, " stammered the young man. 

Mascarin burst into a fit of laughter. "Up to now, " said he, "we areonly in the region of suppositions. "

"Well, sir, what do you wish me to do?" asked Paul, after a short pause. 

Mascarin put on a serious face. "I want absolute obedience fromyou, " said he; "a blind and undeviating obedience, one that makes noobjections and asks no questions. "

"I will obey you, sir; but, oh! do not desert me. "

Without making any reply, Mascarin rang for Beaumarchef, and as soon asthe latter appeared, said, "I am going to Van Klopen's, and shall leaveyou in charge here. " Then, turning to Paul, he added, "I always meanwhat I say; we will go and breakfast at a neighboring restaurant. I wantto have a talk with you, and afterward--afterward, my boy, I will showyou the girl I intend to be your wife. I am curious to know how you likeher looks. "

CHAPTER XI. 

THE MAN-MILLINER. 

Gaston de Gandelu was much surprised at finding that Andre should beignorant of the existence of Van Klopen, the best-known man in Paris. To assure oneself of this, it was only necessary to glance at hiscirculars, which were ornamented with the representations of medals wonat all sorts of exhibitions in different quarters of the world, togetherwith various decorations received from foreign potentates. One hadbeen presented to him by the Queen of Spain, while he had a diplomaappointing him the supplier to the Court of the Czar. The great VanKlopen was not an Alsatian, as was generally supposed, but a stout, handsome Dutchman, who, in the year 1850, had been a tailor in his smallnative town, and manufactured in cloth, purchased on credit, thelong waistcoats and miraculous coats worn by the wealthy citizens ofRotterdam. Van Klopen, however, was not successful in his business, andwas compelled to close his shop and abscond from his creditors. He tookrefuge in Paris, where he seemed likely to die of hunger. One day overa magnificent establishment in the Rue de Grammont appeared a signboardwith the name of Van Klopen, dressmaker, and in the thousands ofhandbills distributed with the utmost profusion, he called himselfthe "Regenerator of Fashion. " This was an idea that would have neveroriginated in the brain of the phlegmatic Dutchman, and whence came thefunds to carry on the business? On this point he was discreetly silent. The enterprise was at first far from a success, for during nearly amonth Paris almost split its sides laughing at the absurd pretensionsof the self-dubbed "Regenerator of Fashion. " Van Klopen bent before thestorm he had aroused, and in due time his advertisements brought him twocustomers, who were the first to blow the trumpet of his fame. One wasthe Duchess de Suirmeuse, a very great lady indeed, and renowned for hereccentricities and extravagant manner, while the other was an example ofanother class being no less than the celebrated Jennie Fancy, who wasat that time under the protection of the Count de Tremouselle; andfor these two Van Klopen invented such dresses as had never beenseen before. From this moment his success was certain; indeed, it wasstupendous, and Paris resounded with his praises. Now he has achieved aworld-wide reputation, and has nothing to fear from the attacks of hisrivals. He would not execute orders for every one, saying that he mustpick and choose his customers, and he did so, excising the names ofsuch as he did not think would add to his reputation. Rank and wealthdisputed the honor of being his customers. The haughtiest dames did notshrink from entrusting to him secrets of form and figure, which theyeven hid from their husbands. They endured without shrinking the touchof his coarse hands as he measured them. He was the rage, and hisshowrooms were a species of neutral ground, where women of all circlesof society met and examined each other. The Duchess of --- did notshrink from being in the same room with the celebrated woman for whomthe Baron de --- had blown out the few brains he possessed. Perhaps theDuchess thought that by employing the same costumier, she might alsogain some of the venal beauteous attractions. Mademoiselle D---, of theGymnase Theatre, who was well known to earn just one thousand francs perannum, took a delight in astonishing the haughty ladies of fashion bythe reckless extravagance of her orders. Van Klopen, who was a borndiplomatist, distributed his favors between his different customers;consequently he was termed the most charming and angelic of men. Manya time had he heard the most aristocratic lips let fall the words, "Ishall die, Van Klopen, if my dress is not ready. " On the evenings of themost aristocratic balls a long line of carriages blocked up the road infront of his establishment, and the finest women in Paris crowded theshowrooms for a word of approval from him. 

He gave credit to approved customers, and also, it was whispered, lent money to them. But woe to the woman who permitted herself to beentrapped in the snare of credit that he laid for her; for the woman whoowed him a bill was practically lost, never knowing to what depths shemight be degraded to obtain the money to settle her account. It was notsurprising that such sudden prosperity should have turned Van Klopen'shead. He was stout and ruddy, impudent, vain, and cynical. His admirerssaid that he was witty. 

It was to this man's establishment that Mascarin conducted Paul after asumptuous breakfast at Philipe's. 

It is necessary to give a slight description of Van Klopen'sestablishment. Carpets of the most expensive description covered thestairs to his door on the first floor, at which stood the liveriedmenials resplendent in gold lace and scarlet. As soon as Mascarin madehis appearance, one of these gorgeous creatures hastened to him andsaid, "M. Van Klopen is just now engaged with the Princess Korasoff, butas soon as he hears of your arrival he will manage to get rid of her. Will you wait for him in his private room?"

But Mascarin answered, --

"We are in no hurry, and may as well wait in the public room with theother customers. Are there many of them?"

"There are about a dozen ladies, sir. "

"Good; I am sure that they will amuse me. "

And, without wasting any more words, Mascarin opened a door which ledinto a magnificent drawing-room, decorated in very florid style. Thepaper on the walls almost disappeared beneath a variety of watercolorsketches, representing ladies in every possible style of costume. Eachpicture had an explanatory note beneath it, such as "Costume of Mde. De C--- for a dinner at the Russian Ambassador's, " "Ball costume of theMarchioness de V--- for a ball at the Hotel de Ville, " etc. 

Paul, who was a little nervous at finding himself among such splendor, hesitated in the doorway; but Mascarin seized his young friend by thearm, and, as he drew him to a settee, whispered in his ear, --

"Keep your eyes about you; the heiress is here. "

The ladies were at first a little surprised at this invasion of theroom by the male element, but Paul's extreme beauty soon attracted theirattention. The hum of conversation ceased, and Paul's embarrassmentincreased as he found a battery of twelve pairs of eyes directed fullupon him. 

Mascarin, however, was quite at his ease, and upon his entrance had madea graceful though rather old-fashioned bow to the fair inmates of theroom. His coolness was partly due to the contempt he felt for thehuman race in general, and also to his colored glasses, which hid theexpression of his countenance. When he saw that Paul still kept his eyeson the ground, he tapped him gently on the arm. 

"Is this the first time you ever saw well-dressed women? Surely you arenot afraid of them. Look to the right, " continued Mascarin, "and youwill see the heiress. "

A young girl, not more than eighteen, was seated near one of thewindows. She was not perhaps so beautiful as Mascarin had described, but her face was a very striking one nevertheless. She was slight andgood-looking, with the clear complexion of a brunette. Her featureswere not perhaps very regular, but her glossy black hair was a beautyin itself. She had a pair of dark, melting eyes, and her wide, highforehead showed that she was gifted with great intelligence. There wasan air of restrained voluptuousness about her, and she seemed the veryembodiment of passion. 

Paul felt insensibly attracted toward her. Their eyes met, and bothstarted at the same moment. Paul was fascinated in an instant, and thegirl's emotion was so evident that she turned aside her head to concealit. 

The babel had now commenced again, and general attention was being paidto a lady who was enthusiastically describing the last new costume whichhad made its appearance in the Bois de Boulogue. 

"It was simply miraculous, " said she; "a real triumph of Van Klopen'sart. The ladies of a certain class are furious, and Henry de Croisenoistells me that Jenny Fancy absolutely shed tears of rage. Imagine threegreen skirts of different shades, each draped----"

Mascarin, however, only paid attention to Paul and the young girl, and asarcastic smile curled his lips. 

"What do you think of her?" asked he. 

"She is adorable!" answered Paul, enthusiastically. 

"And immensely wealthy. "

"I should fall at her feet if she had not a sou. "

Mascarin gave a little cough, and adjusted his glasses. 

"Should you, my lad?" said he to himself; "whether your admiration isfor the girl or her money, you are in my grip. "

Then he added, aloud, --

"Would you not like to know her name?"

"Tell me, I entreat you. "

"Flavia. "

Paul was in the seventh heaven, and now boldly turned his eyes on thegirl, forgetting that owing to the numerous mirrors, she could see hisevery movement. 

The door was at this moment opened quietly, and Van Klopen appeared onthe threshold. He was about forty-four, and too stout for his height. His red, pimply face had an expression upon it of extreme insolence, and his accent was thoroughly Dutch. He was dressed in a ruby velvetdressing-gown, with a cravat with lace ends. A huge cluster-diamond ringblazed on his coarse, red hand. 

"Who is the next one?" asked he, rudely. 

The lady who had been talking so volubly rose to her feet, but thetailor cut her short, for catching sight of Mascarin, he crossed theroom, and greeted him with the utmost cordiality. 

"What!" said he; "is it you that I have been keeping waiting? Praypardon me. Pray go into my private room; and this gentleman is with you?Do me the favor, sir, to come with us. "

He was about to follow his guests, when one of the ladies startedforward. 

"One word with you, sir, for goodness sake!" cried she. 

Van Klopen turned sharply upon her. 

"What is the matter?" asked he. 

"My bill for three thousand francs falls due to-morrow. "

"Very likely. "

"But I can't meet it. "

"That is not my affair. "

"I have come to beg you will renew it for two months, or say one month, on whatever terms you like. "

"In two months, " answered the man brutally, "you will be no more able topay than you are to-day. If you can't pay it, it will be noted. "

"Merciful powers! then my husband will learn all. "

"Just so; that will be what I want; for he will then have to pay me. "

The wretched woman grew deadly pale. 

"My husband will pay you, " said she; "but I shall be lost. "

"That is not my lookout. I have partners whose interests I have toconsult. "

"Do not say that, sir! He has paid my debts once, and if he should beangry and take my children from me--Dear M. Van Klopen, be merciful!"

She wrung her hands, and the tears coursed down her cheeks; but thetailor was perfectly unmoved. 

"When a woman has a family of children, one ought to have in aneedlewoman by the hour. "

She did not desist from her efforts to soften him, and, seizing hishand, strove to carry it to her lips. 

"Ah! I shall never dare to go home, " wailed she; "never have the courageto tell my husband. "

"If you are afraid of your own husband, go to some one else's, " said heroughly; and tearing himself from her, he followed Mascarin and Paul. 

"Did you hear that?" asked he, as soon as he had closed the door of hisroom with an angry slam. "These things occasionally occur, and are notparticularly pleasant. "

Paul looked on in disgust. If he had possessed three thousand francs, hewould have given them to this unhappy woman, whose sobs he could stillhear in the passage. 

"It is most painful, " remarked he. 

"My dear sir, " said the tailor, "you attach too much importance to thesehysterical outbursts. If you were in my place, you would soon have toput their right value on them. As I said before, I have to look aftermy own and my partners' interests. These dear creatures care for nothingbut dress; father, husband, and children are as nothing in comparison. You cannot imagine what a woman will do in order to get a new dress, inwhich to outshine her rival. They only talk of their families when theyare called on to pay up. "

Paul still continued to plead for some money for the poor lady, and thediscussion was getting so warm that Mascarin felt bound to interfere. 

"Perhaps, " said he, "you have been a little hard. "

"Pooh, " returned the tailor; "I know my customer; and to-morrow myaccount will be settled, and I know very well where the money will comefrom. Then she will give me another order, and we shall have the wholecomedy over again. I know what I am about. " And taking Mascarin intothe window, he made some confidential communication, at which they bothlaughed heartily. 

Paul, not wishing to appear to listen, examined the consulting-room, as Van Klopen termed it. He saw a great number of large scissors, yardmeasures, and patterns of material, and heaps of fashion plates. 

By this time the two men had finished their conversation. 

"I had, " said Mascarin, as they returned to the fireplace, "I had meantto glance through the books; but you have so many customers waiting, that I had better defer doing so. "

"Is that all that hinders you?" returned Van Klopen, carelessly. "Wait amoment. "

He left the room, and in another moment his voice was heard. 

"I am sorry, ladies, very sorry, on my word; but I am busy with my silkmercer. I shall not be very long. "

"We will wait, " returned the ladies in chorus. 

"That is the way, " remarked Van Klopen, as he returned to theconsulting-room. "Be civil to women, and they turn their backs on you;try and keep them off, and they run after you. If I was to put up 'noadmittance' over my door, the street would be blocked up with women. Business has never been better, " continued the tailor, producing a largeledger. "Within the last ten days we have had in orders amounting toeighty-seven thousand francs. "

"Good!" answered Mascarin; "but let us have a look at the column headed'Doubtful. '"

"Here you are, " returned the arbiter of fashion, as he turned overthe leaves. "Mademoiselle Virginie Cluhe has ordered five theatricalcostumes, two dinner, and three morning dresses. "

"That is a heavy order. "

"I wanted for that reason to consult you. She doesn't owe usmuch--perhaps a thousand francs or so. "

"That is too much, for I hear that her friend has come to grief. Do notdecline the order, but avoid taking fresh ones. "

Van Klopen made a few mysterious signs in the margin of his ledger. 

"On the 6th of this month the Countess de Mussidan gave us an order--aperfectly plain dress for her daughter. Her account is a very heavy one, and the Count has warned us that he will not pay it. "

"Never mind that. Go on with the order, put press for payment. "

"On the 7th a new customer came--Mademoiselle Flavia, the daughter ofMartin Rigal, the banker. "

When Paul heard this name, he could not repress a start, of which, however, Mascarin affected to take no notice. 

"My good friend, " said he, turning to Van Klopen, "I confide this younglady to you; give her your whole stock if she asks for it. "

By the look of surprise which appeared upon the tailor's face, Paulcould see that Mascarin was not prodigal of such recommendations. 

"You shall be obeyed, " said Van Klopen, with a bow. 

"On the 8th a young gentleman of the name of Gaston de Gandelu wasintroduced by Lupeaux, the jeweller. His father is, I hear, verywealthy, and he will come into money on attaining his majority, whichis near at hand. He brought with him a lady, " continued the tailor, "andsaid her name was Zora de Chantemille, a tremendously pretty girl. "

"That young man is always in my way, " said Mascarin. "I would givesomething to get him out of Paris. "

Van Klopen reflected for a moment. "I don't think that would bedifficult, " remarked he; "that young fellow is capable of any act offolly for that fair girl. "

"I think so too. "

"Then the matter is easy. I will open an account with him; then, after alittle, I will affect doubts as to his solvency, and ask for a bill;and we shall then place our young friend in the hands of the MutualLoan Society, and M. Verminet will easily persuade him to write his nameacross the bottom of a piece of stamped paper. He will bring it to me; Iwill accept it, and then we shall have him hard and fast. "

"I should have proposed another course. "

"I see no other way, however, " He suddenly stopped, for a loud noise washeard in the ante-room, and the sound of voices in loud contention. 

"I should like to know, " said Van Klopen, rising to his feet, "who theimpudent scoundrel is, who comes here kicking up a row. I expect that itis some fool of a husband. "

"Go and see what it is, " suggested Mascarin. 

"Not I! My servants are paid to spare me such annoyances. "

Presently the noise ceased. 

"And now, " resumed Mascarin, "let us return to our own affairs. Underthe circumstances, your proposal appears to be a good one. Howabout writing in another name? A little forgery would make our handsstronger. " He rose, and taking the tailor into the window recess, againwhispered to him. 

During this conversation Paul's cheek had grown paler and paler, for, occupied as he was, he could not fail to comprehend something of whatwas going on. During the breakfast Mascarin had partially disclosed manystrange secrets, and since then he had been even more enlightened. Itwas but too evident to him that his protector was engaged in some darkand insidious plot, and Paul felt that he was standing over a mine whichmight explode at any moment. He now began to fancy that there wassome mysterious link between the woman Schimmel, who was so carefullywatched, and the Marquis de Croisenois, so haughty, and yet on suchintimate terms with the proprietor of the registry office. Then therewas the Countess de Mussidan, Flavia, the rich heiress, and Gaston deGandelu, who was to be led into a crime the result of which would bepenal servitude, --all jumbled and mixed up together in one strangephantasmagoria. Was he, Paul, to be a mere tool in such hands? Towardwhat a precipice was he being impelled! Mascarin and Van Klopen were notfriends, as he had at first supposed, but confederates in villainy. Toolate did he begin to see collusion between Mascarin and Tantaine, whichhad resulted in his being accused of theft during his absence. But theweb had been woven too securely, and should he struggle to break throughit, he might find himself exposed to even more terrible dangers. He felthorrified at his position, but with this there was mingled no horror ofthe criminality of his associates, for the skilful hand of Mascarin hadunwound and mastered all the bad materials of his nature. He was dazzledat the glorious future held out before him, and said to himself that aman like Mascarin, unfettered by law, either human or Divine, would bemost likely to achieve his ends. "I should be in no danger, " mused he tohimself, "if I yield myself up to the impetuous stream which is alreadycarrying me along, for Mascarin is practised swimmer enough to keep bothmy head and his own above water. "

Little did Paul think that every fleeting expression in his countenancewas caught up and treasured by the wily Mascarin; and it wasintentionally that he had permitted Paul to listen to this compromisingconversation. He had decided that very morning, that if Paul was to be auseful tool, he must be at once set face to face with the grim realitiesof the position. 

"Now, " said he, "for the really serious reason for my visit. How do westand now with regard to the Viscountess Bois Arden?"

Van Klopen gave his shoulders a shrug as he answered, "She is all right. I have just sent her several most expensive costumes. "

"How much does she owe you?"

"Say twenty-five thousand francs. She has owed us more than thatbefore. "

"Really?" remarked Mascarin, "that woman has been grossly libelled; sheis vain, frivolous, and fond of admiration, but nothing more. For awhole fortnight I have been prying into her life, but I can't hitupon anything in it to give us a pull over her. The debt may help us, however. Does her husband know that she has an account with us?"

"Of course he does not; he is most liberal to her, and if he inquired--"

"Then we are all right; we will send in the bill to him. "

"But, my good sir, " urged Van Klopen, "it was only last week that shepaid us a heavy sum on account. "

"The more reason to press her, for she must be hard up. "

Van Klopen would have argued further, but an imperious sign fromMascarin reduced him to silence. 

"Listen to me, " said Mascarin, "and please do not interrupt me. Are youknown to the domestics at the house of the Viscountess?"

"Not at all. "

"Well, then, at three o'clock sharp, the day after to-morrow, call onher. Her footman will say that Madame has a visitor with her. "

"I will say I will wait. "

"Not at all. You must almost force your way in, and you will findthe Viscountess talking to the Marquis de Croisenois. You know him, Isuppose?"

"By sight--nothing more. "

"That is sufficient. Take no notice of him; but at once present yourbill, and violently insist upon immediate payment. "

"What can you be thinking of? She will have me kicked out of doors. "

"Quite likely; but you must threaten to take the bill to her husband. She will command you to leave the house, but you will sit down doggedlyand declare that you will not move until you get the money. "

"But that is most unbusinesslike behavior. "

"I quite agree with you; but the Marquis de Croisenois will interfere;he will throw a pocketbook in your face, exclaiming, 'There is yourmoney, you impudent scoundrel!'"

"Then I am to slink away?"

"Yes, but before doing so, you will give a receipt in thisform--'Received from the Marquis de Croisenois, the sum of so manyfrancs, in settlement of the account of the Viscountess Bois Arden. '"

"If I could only understand the game, " muttered the puzzled Van Klopen. 

"There is no necessity for that now; only act up to your instructions. "

"I will obey, but remember that we shall not only lose her custom, butthat of all her acquaintance. "

Again the same angry sounds were heard in the corridor. 

"It is scandalous, " cried a voice. "I have been waiting an hour;my sword and armor. What, ho, lackeys; hither, I say. Van Klopen isengaged, is he? Hie to him and say I must see him at once. "

The two accomplices exchanged looks, as though they recognized theshrill, squeaky voice. 

"That is our man, " whispered Mascarin, as the door was violentlyflung open, and Gaston de Gandelu burst in. He was dressed even moreextravagantly than usual, and his face was inflamed with rage. 

"Here am I, " cried he; "and an awful rage I am in. Why, I have beenwaiting twenty minutes. I don't care a curse for your rules andregulations. "

The tailor was furious at this intrusion; but as Mascarin was present, and he felt that he must respect his orders, he by a great effortcontrolled himself. 

"Had I known, sir, " said he sulkily, "that you were here----"

These few words mollified the gorgeous youth, who at once broke in. 

"I accept your apologies, " cried he; "the lackeys remove our arms, thejoust is over. My horses have been standing all this time, and may havetaken cold. Of course you have seen my horses. Splendid animals, arethey not? Zora is in the other room. Quick, fetch her here. "

With these words he rushed into the passage and shouted out, "Zora, Mademoiselle de Chantemille, my dear one, come hither. "

The renowned tailor was exquisitely uncomfortable at so terrible a scenein his establishment. He cast an appealing glance at Mascarin, but theface of the agent seemed carved in marble. As to Paul, he was quiteprepared to accept this young gentleman as a perfect type of the glassof fashion and the mould of form, and could not forbear pitying him inhis heart. He went across the room to Mascarin. 

"Is there no way, " whispered he, "of saving this poor young fellow?"

Mascarin smiled one of those livid smiles which chilled the hearts ofthose who knew him thoroughly. 

"In fifteen minutes, " said he, "I will put the same question to you, leaving you to reply to it. Hush, this is the first real test that youhave been subjected to; if you are not strong enough to go through it, then we had better say farewell. Be firm, for a thunderbolt is about tofall!"

The manner in which these apparently trivial words were spoken startledPaul, who, by a strong effort, recovered his self-possession; but, prepared as he was, it was with the utmost difficulty that he stifledthe expression of rage and surprise that rose to his lips at the sightof the woman who entered the room. The Madame de Chantemille, the Zoraof the youthful Gandelu, was there, attired in what to his eyes seemeda most dazzling costume. Rose seemed a little timid as Gandelu almostdragged her into the room. 

"How silly you are!" said he. "What is there to be frightened at? He isonly in a rage with his flunkies for having kept us waiting. "

Zora sank negligently into an easy chair, and the gorgeously attiredyouth addressed the all-powerful Van Klopen. 

"Well, have you invented a costume that will be worthy of Madame'scharms?"

For a few moments Van Klopen appeared to be buried in profoundmeditation. 

"Ah, " said he, raising his hand with a grandiloquent gesture, "I haveit; I can see it all in my mind's eye. "

"What a man!" murmured Gaston in deep admiration. 

"Listen, " resumed the tailor, his eye flashing with the fire ofgenius. "First, a walking costume with a polonaise and a cape _ala pensionnaire_; bodice, sleeves, and underskirt of a brilliantchestnut----"

He might have continued in this strain for a long time, and Zora wouldnot have heard a word, for she had caught sight of Paul, and in spite ofall her audacity, she nearly fainted. She was so ill at ease, thatyoung Gandelu at last perceived it; but not knowing the effect that theappearance of Paul would necessarily cause, and being also rather dullof comprehension he could not understand the reason for it. 

"Hold hard, Van Klopen, hold hard! the joy has been too much for her, and I will lay you ten to one that she is going into hysterics. "

Mascarin saw that Paul's temper might blaze forth at any moment, andso hastened to put an end to a scene which was as absurd as it wasdangerous. 

"Well, Van Klopen, I will say farewell, " said he. "Good morning, madame;good morning, sir;" and taking Paul by the arm, he led him away by aprivate exit which did not necessitate their passing through the greatreception-room. 

It was time for him to do so, and not until they were in the street didthe wily Mascarin breathe freely. 

"Well, what do you say, now?" asked he. 

Paul's vanity had been so deeply wounded, and the effort that he hadmade to restrain himself so powerful, that he could only reply by agasp. 

"He felt it more than I thought he would, " said Mascarin to himself. "The fresh air will revive him. "

Paul's legs bent under him, and he staggered so that Mascarin led himinto a little _café_ hard by, and ordered a glass of cognac, and in ashort time Paul was himself once again. 

"You are better now, " observed Mascarin; and then, believing it would bebest to finish his work, he added, "A quarter of an hour ago I promisedthat I would ask you to settle what our intentions were to be regardingM. De Gandelu. "

"That is enough, " broke in Paul, violently. 

Mascarin put on his most benevolent smile. 

"You see, " remarked he, "how circumstances change ideas. Now you aregetting quite reasonable. "

"Yes, I am reasonable enough now; that is, that I mean to be wealthy. You have no need to urge me on any more. I am willing to do whatever youdesire, for I will never again endure degradation like that I have gonethrough to-day. "

"You have let temper get the better of you, " returned Mascarin, with ashrug of his shoulders. 

"My anger may pass over, but my determination will remain as strong asever. "

"Do not decide without thinking the matter well over, " answered theagent. "To-day you are your own master; but if you give yourself up tome, you must resign your dearly loved liberty. "

"I am prepared for all. "

Victory had inclined to the side of Mascarin, and he was proportionallyjubilant. 

"Good, " said he. "Then Dr. Hortebise shall introduce you to MartinRigal, the father of Mademoiselle Flavia, and one week after yourmarriage I will give you a duke's coronet to put on the panels of yourcarriage. "

CHAPTER XII. 

A STARTLING REVELATION. 

When Sabine de Mussidan told her lover that she would appeal to thegenerosity of M. De Breulh-Faverlay, she had not calculated on thenecessity she would have for endurance, but had rather listened to thedictates of her heart; and this fact came the more strongly before her, when in the solitude of her own chamber, she inquired of herself how shewas to carry out her promise. It seemed to her very terrible to have tolay bare the secrets of her soul to any one, but the more so to M. DeBreulh-Faverlay, who had asked for her hand in marriage. She uttered noword on her way home, where she arrived just in time to take her placeat the dinner table, and never was a more dismal company assembled forthe evening meal. Her own miseries occupied Sabine, and her fatherand mother were suffering from their interviews with Mascarin and Dr. Hortebise. What did the liveried servants, who waited at table withsuch an affectation of interest, care for the sorrows of their masteror mistress? They were well lodged and well fed, and nothing save theirwages did they care for. By nine o'clock Sabine was in her own roomtrying to grow accustomed to the thoughts of an interview with M. DeBreulh-Faverlay. She hardly closed her eyes all night, and felt worn outand dispirited by musing; but she never thought of evading the promiseshe had made to Andre, or of putting it off for a time. She had vowedto lose no time, and her lover was eagerly awaiting a letter from her, telling him of the result. In the perplexity in which she found herself, she could not confide in either father or mother, for she felt that acloud hung over both their lives, though she knew not what it was. Whenshe left the convent where she had been educated, and returned home, shefelt that she was in the way, and that the day of her marriage would beone of liberation to her parents from their cares and responsibilities. All this prayed terribly upon her mind, and might have driven a lesspure-minded girl to desperate measures. It seemed to her that itwould be less painful to fly from her father's house than to have thisinterview with M. De Breulh-Faverlay. Luckily for her, frail as shelooked, she possessed an indomitable will, and this carried her throughmost of her difficulties. 

For Andre's sake, as well as her own, she did not wish to violate anyof the unwritten canons of society, but she longed for the hour to comewhen she could acknowledge her love openly to the world. At one momentshe thought of writing a letter, but dismissed the thought as the heightof folly. As the time passed Sabine began to reproach herself for hercowardice. All at once she heard the clang of the opening of the maingates. Peeping from her window, she saw a carriage drive up, and, to herinexpressible delight, M. De Breulh-Faverlay alighted from it. 

"Heaven has heard my prayer, and sent him to me, " murmured she. 

"What do you intend to do, Mademoiselle?" asked the devoted Modeste;"will you speak to him now?"

"Yes, I will. My mother is still in her dressing-room, and no onewill venture to disturb my father in the library. If I meet M. DeBreulh-Faverlay in the hall and take him into the drawing-room, I shallhave time for a quarter of an hour's talk, and that will be sufficient. "

Calling up all her courage, she left her room on her errand. Had Andreseen the man selected by the Count de Mussidan for his daughter'shusband, he might well have been proud of her preference for him. M. DeBreulh-Faverlay was one of the best known men in Paris, and fortunehad showered all her blessings on his head. He was not forty, of anextremely aristocratic appearance, highly educated, and witty; and, inaddition, one of the largest landholders in the country. He had alwaysrefused to enter public life. "For, " he would say to those who spoke tohim on the matter, "I have enough to spend my money on without makingmyself ridiculous. " He was a perfect type of what a French gentlemanshould be--courteous, of unblemished reputation, and full of chivalrousdevotion and generosity. He was, it is said, a great favorite with thefair sex; but, if report spoke truly, his discretion was as great ashis success. He had not always been wealthy, and there was a mysteriousromance in his life. When he was only twenty, he had sailed for SouthAmerica, where he remained twelve years, and returned no richer thanhe was before; but shortly afterward his aged uncle, the Marquis deFaverlay, died bequeathing his immense fortune to his nephew on thecondition that he should add the name of Faverlay to that of De Breulh. De Breulh was passionately fond of horses; but he was really a lover ofthem, and not a mere turfite, and this was all that the world knew ofthe man who held in his hands the fates of Sabine de Mussidan and Andre. As soon as he caught sight of Sabine he made a profound inclination. 

The girl came straight up to him. 

"Sir, " said she, in a voice broken by conflicting emotions, "may Irequest the pleasure of a short private conversation with you?"

"Mademoiselle, " answered De Breulh, concealing his surprise beneathanother bow, "I am at your disposal. "

One of the footmen, at a word from Sabine, threw open the door of thedrawing-room in which the Countess had thrown down her arms in her duelwith Dr. Hortebise. Sabine did not ask her visitor to be seated, butleaning her elbow on the marble mantel-piece, she said, after a silenceequally trying to both, --

"This strange conduct on my part, sir, will show you, more than anyexplanation, my sincerity, and the perfect confidence with which youhave inspired me. "

She paused, but De Breulh made no reply, for he was perfectly mystified. 

"You are, " she continued, "my parents' intimate friend, and must haveseen the discomforts of our domestic hearth, and that though both myfather and mother are living, I am as desolate as the veriest orphan. "

Fearing that M. De Breulh might not understand her reason for speakingthus, she threw a shade of haughtiness into her manner as she resumed, --

"My reason, sir, for seeing you to-day is to ask, --nay, to entreatyou, to release me from my engagement to you, and to take the wholeresponsibility of the rupture on yourself. "

Man of the world as he was, M. De Breulh could not conceal his surprise, in which a certain amount of wounded self-love was mingled. 

"Mademoiselle!" commenced he--

Sabine interrupted him. 

"I am asking a great favor, and your granting it will spare me manyhours of grief and sadness, and, " she added, as a faint smile flickeredacross her pallid features, "I am aware that I am asking but a triflingsacrifice on your part. You know scarcely anything of me, and thereforeyou can only feel indifference toward me. "

"You are mistaken, " replied the young man gravely; "and you do not judgeme rightly. I am not a mere boy, and always consider a step before Itake it; and if I asked for your hand, it was because I had learned toappreciate the greatness both of your heart and intellect; and I believethat if you would condescend to accept me, we could be very happytogether. "

The girl seemed about to speak, but De Breulh continued, --

"It seems, however, that I have in some way displeased you, --I do notknow how; but, believe me, it will be a source of sorrow to me for therest of my life. "

De Breulh's sincerity was so evident, that Mademoiselle de Mussidan wasdeeply affected. 

"You have not displeased me in any way, " answered she softly, "and arefar too good for me. To have become your wife would have made me a proudand happy woman. "

Here she stopped, almost choked by her tears, but M. De Breulh wished tofathom this mystery. 

"Why then this resolve?" asked he. 

"Because, " replied Sabine faintly, as she hid her face, --"because I havegiven all my love to another. "

The young man uttered an exclamation so full of angry surprise, thatSabine turned upon him at once. 

"Yes, sir, " answered she, "to another; one utterly unknown to myparents, yet one who is inexpressibly dear to me. This ought not toirritate you, for I gave him my love long before I met you. Besides, youhave every advantage over him. He is at the foot, while you are at thesummit, of the social ladder. You are of aristocratic lineage, --he isone of the people. You have a noble name, --he does not even know hisown. Your wealth is enormous, --while he works hard for his daily bread. He has all the fire of genius, but the cruel cares of life drag andfetter him to the earth. He carries on a workman's trade to supply fundsto study his beloved art. "

Incautiously, Sabine had chosen the very means to wound this noblegentleman most cruelly, for her whole beauty blazed out as, inflamed byher passion, she spoke so eloquently of Andre and drew such a parallelbetween the two young men. 

"Now, sir, " said she, "do you comprehend me? I know the terrible socialabyss which divides me from the man I love, and the future may hold instore some terrible punishment for my fidelity to him, but no one shallever hear a word of complaint from my lips, for----" she hesitated, andthen uttered these simple words--"for I love him. "

M. De Breulh listened with an outwardly impassible face, but the venomedtooth of jealousy was gnawing at his heart. He had not told Sabine theentire truth, for he had studied her for a long time, and his love hadgrown firm and strong. Without an unkind thought the girl had shatteredthe edifice which he had built up with such care and pain. He would havegiven his name, rank, and title to have been in this unknown lover'splace, who, though he worked for his bread, and had no grand ancestralname, was yet so fondly loved. Many a man in his position would haveshrugged his shoulders and coldly sneered at the words, "I love him, "but he did not, for his nature was sufficiently noble to sympathizewith hers. He admired her courage and frankness, which disdaining allsubterfuges, went straight and unhesitatingly to the point she desiredto reach. She might be imprudent and reckless, but in his eyes theseseemed hardly to be faults, for it is seldom that convent-bred youngladies err in this way. 

"But this man, " said he, after a long pause, --"how do you manage ever tosee him?

"I meet him out walking, " replied she, "and I sometimes go to hisstudio. "

"To his studio?"

"Yes, I have sat to him several times for my portrait; but I havenever done anything that I need blush to own. You know all now, sir, "continued Sabine; "and it has been very hard for a young girl like meto say all this to you. It is a thing that ought to be confided to mymother. "

Only those who have heard a woman that they are ardently attached tosay, "I do not love you, " can picture M. De Breulh's frame of mind. Had any one else than Sabine made this communication he would not havewithdrawn, but would have contested the prize with his more fortunaterival. But now that Mademoiselle de Mussidan had, as it were, thrownherself upon his mercy, he could not bring himself to take advantage ofher confidence. 

"It shall be as you desire, " said he, with a faint tinge of bitternessin his tone. "To-night I will write to your father, and withdraw mydemand for your hand. It is the first time that I have ever gone backfrom my word; and I am sure that your father will be highly indignant. "

Sabine's strength and firmness had now entirely deserted her. "Fromthe depth of my soul, sir, " said she, "I thank you; for by this act ofgenerosity I shall avoid a contest that I dreaded. "

"Unfortunately, " broke in De Breulh, "you do not see how useless toyou will be the sacrifice that you exact from me. Listen! you have notappeared much in society; and when you did, it was in the character ofmy betrothed; as soon as I withdraw hosts of aspirants for your handwill spring up. "

Sabine heaved a deep sigh, for Andre had foreseen the same result. 

"Then, " continued De Breulh, "your situation will become even a moretrying one; for if your noble qualities are not enough to exciteadmiration in the bosoms of the other sex, your immense wealth willarouse the cupidity of the fortune-hunters. "

When De Breulh referred to fortune-hunters, was this a side blow atAndre? With this thought rushing through her brain, she gazed upon himeagerly, but read no meaning in his eyes. 

"Yes, " answered she dreamily, "it is true that I am very wealthy. "

"And what will be your reply to the next suitor, and to the one afterthat?" asked De Breulh. 

"I know not; but I shall find some loophole of escape when the timecomes; for if I act in obedience to the dictates of my heart andconscience, I cannot do wrong, for Heaven will come to my aid. "

The phrase sounded like a dismissal; but De Breulh, man of the world ashe was, did not accept it. 

"May I permit myself to offer you a word of advice?"

"Do so, sir. "

"Very well, then; why not permit matters to remain as they now are? Solong as our rupture is not public property, so long will you be leftin peace. It would be the simplest thing in the world to postpone alldecisive steps for a twelvemonth, and I would withdraw as soon as younotified me that it was time. "

Sabine put every confidence in this proposal, believing that everythingwas in good faith. "But, " said she, "such a subterfuge would be unworthyof us all. "

M. De Breulh did not urge this point; a feeling of deep sympathy hadsucceeded to his wounded pride; and, with all the chivalrous instinct ofhis race, he determined to do his best to assist these lovers. 

"Might I be permitted, " asked he, "now that you have placed so muchconfidence in me, to make the acquaintance of the man whom you havehonored with your love?"

Sabine colored deeply. "I have no reason to conceal anything from you:his name is Andre, he is a painter, and lives in the Rue de la Tourd'Auvergne. "

De Breulh made a mental note of the name, and continued, --

"Do not think that I ask this question from mere idle curiosity; my onlydesire is to aid you. I should be glad to be a something in your life. Ihave influential friends and connections----"

Sabine was deeply wounded. Did this man propose patronizing Andre, andthus place his position and wealth in contrast with that of the obscurepainter? In his eagerness de Breulh had made a false move. 

"I thank you, " answered she coldly; "but Andre is very proud, and anyoffer of assistance would wound him deeply. Forgive my scruples, whichare perhaps exaggerated and absurd. All he has of his own are hisself-respect and his natural pride. "

As she spoke, Sabine rang the bell, to show her visitor that theconversation was at an end. 

"Have you informed my mother of M. De Breulh-Faverlay's arrival?" askedshe, as the footman appeared at the door. 

"I have not, mademoiselle; for both the Count and Countess gave thestrictest order that they were not to be disturbed on any pretextwhatsoever. "

"Why did you not tell me that before?" demanded M. De Breulh; and, without waiting for any explanation, he bowed gravely to Sabine, andquitted the room, after apologizing for his involuntary intrusion, andby his manner permitted all the domestics to see that he was much putout. 

"Ah!" sighed Sabine, "that man is worthy of some good and true woman'saffection. "

As she was about to leave the room, she heard some one insisting uponseeing the Count de Mussidan. Not being desirous of meeting strangers, she remained where she was. The servant persisted in saying that hismaster could receive no one. 

"What do I care for your orders?" cried the visitor; "your master wouldnever refuse to see his friend the Baron de Clinchain;" and, thrustingthe lackey on one side, he entered the drawing-room; and his agitationwas so great that he hardly noticed the presence of the young girl. 

M. De Clinchain was a thoroughly commonplace looking personage in face, figure, and dress, neither tall nor short, handsome nor ill-looking. Theonly noticeable point in his attire was that he wore a coral hand on hiswatch chain; for the Baron was a firm believer in the evil eye. When ayoung man, he was most methodical in his habits; and, as he grew older, this became an absolute mania with him. When he was twenty, he recordedin his diary the pulsations of his heart, and at forty he added remarksregarding his digestion and general health. 

"What a fearful blow!" murmured he; "and to fall at such a moment when Ihad indulged in a more hearty dinner than usual. I shall feel it for thenext six months, even if it does not kill me outright. "

Just then M. De Mussidan entered the room, and the excited man ran up tohim, exclaiming, --

"For Heaven's sake, Octave, save us both, by cancelling your daughter'sengagement with M. De--"

The Count laid his hand upon his friend's lips. 

"Are you mad?" said he; "my daughter is here. "

In obedience to a warning gesture, Sabine left the room; but shehad heard enough to fill her heart with agitation and terror. Whatengagement was to be cancelled, and how could such a rupture affect herfather or his friend? That there was some mystery, was proved by thequestion with which the Count had prevented his friend from saying anymore. She was sure that it was the name of M. De Breulh-Faverlay withwhich the Baron was about to close his sentence, and felt that thedestiny of her life was to be decided in the conversation about to takeplace between her father and his visitor. It was deep anxiety that shefelt, not mere curiosity; and while these thoughts passed through herbrain, she remembered that she could hear all from the card-room, thedoorway of which was only separated from the drawing-room by a curtain. With a soft, gliding step she gained her hiding-place and listenedintently. The Baron was still pouring out his lamentations. 

"What a fearful day this has been!" groaned the unhappy man. "I ate muchtoo heavy a breakfast, I have been terribly excited, and came here agreat deal too fast. A fit of passion caused by a servant's insolence, joy at seeing you, then a sudden interruption to what I was going tosay, are a great deal more than sufficient to cause a serious illness atmy age. "

But the Count, who was usually most considerate of his friend's foibles, was not in a humor to listen to him. 

"Come, let us talk sense, " said he sharply; "tell me what has occurred. "

"Occurred!" groaned De Clinchain; "oh, nothing, except that the wholetruth is known regarding what took place in the little wood so manyyears back. I had an anonymous letter this morning, threatening me withall sorts of terrible consequences if I do not hinder you frommarrying your daughter to De Breulh. The rogues say that they can proveeverything. "

"Have you the letter with you?"

De Clinchain drew the missive from his pocket. It was to the full asthreatening as he had said; but M. De Mussidan knew all its contentsbeforehand. 

"Have you examined your diary, and are the three leaves really missing?"

"They are. "

"How were they stolen? Are you sure of your servants?"

"Certainly; my valet has been sixteen years in my service. You knowLorin? The volumes of my diary are always locked up in the escritoire, the key of which never leaves me. And none of the other servants everenter my room. "

"Some one must have done so, however. "

Clinchain struck his forehead, as though an idea had suddenly flashedacross his brain. 

"I can partly guess, " said he. "Some time ago Lorin went for a holiday, and got drunk with some fellows he picked up in the train. Drink broughton fighting, and he was so knocked about that he was laid up forsome weeks. He had a severe knife wound in the shoulder and was muchbruised. "

"Who took his place?"

"A young fellow that my groom got at a servants' registry office. "

M. De Mussidan felt that he was on the right track, for he rememberedthat the man who had called on him had had the audacity to leave a card, on which was marked:

"B. MASCARIN, "Servants' Registry Office, "Rue Montorgueil. "

"Do you know where this place is?" asked he. 

"Certainly; in the Rue du Dauphin nearly opposite to my house. "

The Count swore a deep oath. "The rogues are very wily; but, my dearfellow if you are ready, we will defy the storm together. "

De Clinchain felt a cold tremor pass through his whole frame at thisproposal. 

"Not I, " said he; "do not try and persuade me. If you have come to thisdecision, let me know at once, and I will go home and finish it all witha pistol bullet. "

He was just the sort of nervous, timorous man to do exactly as he said, and would sooner have killed himself than endure all kinds of annoyance, which might impair his digestion. 

"Very well, " answered his friend, with sullen resignation, "then I willgive in. "

De Clinchain heaved a deep sigh of relief, for he, not knowing what hadpassed before, had expected to have had a much more difficult task inpersuading his friend. 

"You are acting like a reasonable man for once in your life, " said he. 

"You think so, because I give ear to your timorous advice. A thousandcurses on that idiotic habit of yours of putting on paper not only yourown secrets, but those of others. "

But at this remark Clinchain mounted his hobby. 

"Do not talk like that, " said he. "Had you not committed the act, itwould not have appeared in my diary. "

Chilled to the very bone, and quivering like an aspen leaf, Sabine hadlistened to every word. The reality was even more dreadful than shehad dreamed of. There was a hidden sorrow, a crime in her father's pastlife. 

Again the Count spoke. "There is no use in recrimination. We cannot wipeout the past, and must, therefore, submit. I promise you, on my honor, that this day I will write to De Breulh, and tell him this marriage mustbe given up. "

These words threw the balm of peace and safety into De Clinchain's soul, but the excess of joy was too much for him, and murmuring, "Too muchbreakfast, and the shock of too violent an emotion, " he sank back, fainting, on a couch. 

The Count de Mussidan was terrified, he pulled the bell furiously, andthe domestics rushed in, followed by the Countess. Restoratives wereapplied, and in ten minutes the Baron opened one eye, and raised himselfon his elbow. 

"I am better now, " said he, with a faint smile. "It is weakness anddizziness. I know what I ought to take--two spoonfuls of _eau descarmes_ in a glass of sugar and water, with perfect repose of both mindand body. Fortunately, my carriage is here. Pray, be prudent, Mussidan. "And, leaning upon the arm of one of the lackeys, he staggered feeblyout, leaving the Count and Countess alone, and Sabine still listeningfrom her post of espial in the card-room. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

HUSBAND AND WIFE. 

Ever since Mascarin's visit, the Count de Mussidan had been in adeplorable state of mind. Forgetting the injury to his foot, he passedthe night pacing up and down the library, cudgelling his brains for somemeans of breaking the meshes of the net in which he was entangled. Heknew the necessity for immediate action, for he felt sure that thisdemand would only be the forerunner of numerous others of a similarcharacter. He thought over and dismissed many schemes. Sometimes he hadalmost decided to go to the police authorities and make a clean breast;then the idea of placing the affair in the hands of a private detectiveoccurred to him; but the more he deliberated, the more he realized thestrength of the cord that bound him, and the scandal which exposurewould cause. This long course of thought had in some measure softenedthe bitterness of his wrath, and he was able to receive his oldfriend M. De Clinchain with some degree of calmness. He was not atall surprised at the receipt of the anonymous letter, --indeed, he hadexpected that a blow would be struck in that direction. Still immersedin thought, M. De Mussidan hardly took heed of his wife's presence, and he still paced the room, uttering a string of broken phrases. Thisexcited the attention of the Countess, for her own threatened positioncaused her to be on the alert. 

"What is annoying you, Octave?" asked she. "Surely, not M. DeClinchain's attack of indigestion?"

For many years the Count had been accustomed to that taunting andsarcastic voice, but this feeble joke at such a moment was more than hecould endure. 

"Don't address me in that manner, " said he angrily. 

"What is the matter--are you not well?"

"Madame!"

"Will you have the kindness to tell me what has taken place?"

The color suffused the Count's face, and his rage burst forth the morefuriously from his having had to suppress it so long; and coming toa halt before the chair in which the Countess was lounging, his eyesblazing with hate and anger, he exclaimed, --

"All I wish to tell you is, that De Breulh-Faverlay shall not marry ourdaughter. "

Madame de Mussidan was secretly delighted at this reply, for it showedher that half the task required of her by Dr. Hortebise had beenaccomplished without her interference; but in order to act cautiously, she began at once to object, for a woman's way is always at first tooppose what she most desires. 

"You are laughing at me, Count!" said she. "Where can we hope to find sogood a match again?"

"You need not be afraid, " returned the Count, with a sneer; "you shallhave another son-in-law. "

These words sent a pang through the heart of the Countess. Was it anallusion to the past? or had the phrase dropped from her husband's lipsaccidentally? or had he any suspicion of the influence that had beenbrought to bear upon her? She, however, had plenty of courage, and wouldrather meet misfortune fact to face than await its coming in dread. 

"Of what other son-in-law are you speaking?" asked she negligently. "Hasany other suitor presented himself? May I ask his name? Do you intend tosettle my child's future without consulting me?"

"I do, madame. "

A contemptuous smile crossed the face of the Countess, which goaded theCount to fury. 

"Am I not the master here?" exclaimed he in accents of intense rage. "Am I not driven to the exercise of my power by the menaces of a pack ofvillains who have wormed out the hidden secrets which have overshadowedmy life from my youth upward? They can, if they desire, drag my namethrough the mire of infamy. "

Madame de Mussidan bounded to her feet, asking herself whether herhusband's intellect had not given way. 

"You commit a crime!" gasped she. 

"I, madame, I myself! Does that surprise you? Have you never had anysuspicion? Perhaps you have not forgotten a fatal accident which tookplace out shooting, and darkened the earlier years of our married life?Well, the thing was not an accident, but a deliberate murder committedby me. Yes, I murdered him, and this fact is known, and can be proved. "

The Countess grew deadly pale, and extended her hand, as though to guardherself from some coming danger. 

"You are horrified, are you?" continued the Count, with a sneer. "Perhaps I inspire you with horror; but do not fear; the blood is nolonger on my hands, but it is here, and is choking me. " And as he spokehe pressed his fingers upon his heart. "For twenty-three years I haveendured this hideous recollection and even now when I wake in the nightI am bathed in cold sweat, for I fancy I can hear the last gasps of theunhappy man. "

"This is horrible, too horrible!" murmured Madame de Mussidan faintly. 

"Ah, but you do not know why I killed him, --it was because the dead manhad dared to tell me that the wife I adored with all the passion of mysoul was unfaithful to me. "

Words of eager denial rose to the lips of the Countess; but her husbandwent on coldly, "And it was all true, for I heard all later on. 

"Poor Montlouis! _he_ was really loved. There was a little shop-girl, who toiled hard for daily bread, but she was a thousand times morehonorable than the haughty woman of noble race that I had just married. "

"Have mercy, Octave. "

"Yes, and she fell a victim to her love for Montlouis. Had he lived, he would have made her his wife. After his death, she could no longerconceal her fault. In small towns the people are without mercy; and whenshe left the hospital with her baby at her breast, the women peltedher with mud. But for me, " continued the Count, "she would have died ofhunger. Poor girl! I did not allow her much, but with it she managedto give her son a decent education. He has now grown up, and whateverhappens, his future is safe. "

Had M. De Mussidan and his wife been less deeply engaged in this hideousrecital, they would have heard the stifled sobs that came from theadjoining room. 

The Count felt a certain kind of savage pleasure in venting the rage, that had for years been suppressed, upon the shrinking woman before him. "Would it not be a cruel injustice, madame, to draw a comparison betweenyou and this unhappy girl? Have you always been deaf to the whisperingsof conscience? and have you never thought of the future punishmentwhich most certainly awaits you? for you have failed in the duties ofdaughter, wife, and mother. "

Generally the Countess cared little for her husband's reproaches, welldeserved as they might be, but to-day she quailed before him. 

"With your entrance into my life, " continued the Count, "came shame andmisfortune. When people saw you so gay and careless under the oak-treesof your ancestral home, who could have suspected that your heartcontained a dark secret? When my only wish was to win you for my wife, how did I know that you were weaving a hideous conspiracy against me?Even when so young, you were a monster of dissimulation and hypocrisy. Guilt never overshadowed your brow, nor did falsehood dim the franknessof your eyes. On the day of our marriage I mentally reproached myselffor any unworthiness. Wretched fool that I was, I was happy beyond allpower of expression, when you, madame, completed the measure of yourguilt by adding infidelity to it. "

"It is false, " murmured the Countess. "You have been deceived. "

M. De Mussidan laughed a grim and terrible laugh. 

"Not so, " answered he; "I have every proof. This seems strange to you, does it? You have always looked upon me as one of those foolish husbandsthat may be duped without suspicion on their parts. You thought thatyou had placed a veil over my eyes, but I could see through it when youlittle suspected that I could do so. Why did I not tell you this before?Because I had not ceased to love you, and this fatal love was strongerthan all honor, pride, and even self-respect. " He poured out thistirade with inconceivable rapidity, and the Countess listened to it inawe-struck silence. "I kept silence, " continued the Count, "because Iknew that on the day I uttered the truth you would be entirely lost tome. I might have killed you; I had every right to do so, but I could notlive apart from you. You will never know how near the shadow of deathhas been to you. When I have kissed you, I have fancied that your lipswere soiled with the kisses of others, and I could hardly keep myhands from clutching your ivory neck until life was extinct, and failedutterly to decide whether I loved you or hated you the most. "

"Have mercy, Octave! have mercy!" pleaded the unhappy woman. 

"You are surprised, I can see, " answered he, with a dark smile; "yetI could give you further food for wonder if I pleased, but I have saidenough now. "

A tremor passed over the frame of the Countess. Was her husbandacquainted with the existence of the letters? All hinged upon this. He could not have read them, or he would have spoken in very differentterms, had he known the mystery contained in them. 

"Let me speak, " began she. 

"Not a word, " replied her husband. 

"On my honor--"

"All is ended; but I must not forget to tell you of one of my youthfulfollies. You may laugh at it, but that signifies nothing. I actuallybelieved that I could gain your affection. I said to myself that one dayyou would be moved by my deep passion for you. I was a fool. As if loveor affection could ever penetrate the icy barriers that guarded yourheart. "

"You have no pity, " wailed she. 

He gazed upon her with eyes in which the pent-up anger of twenty yearsblazed and consumed slowly. "And you, what are you? I drained to thebottom the poisoned cup held out to a deceived husband by an unfaithfulwife. Each day widened the breach between us, until at last we sank intothis miserable existence which is wearing out my life. I kept no watchon you; I was not made for a jailer. What I wanted was your soul andheart. To imprison the body was easy, but your soul would still havebeen free to wander in imagination to the meeting-place where your loverexpected you. I know not how I had the courage to remain by your side. It was not to save an honor that had already gone, but merely to keepup appearances; for as long as we were nominally together the tongue ofscandal was forced to remain silent. "

Again the unhappy woman attempted to protest her innocence, and againthe Count paid no heed to her. "I wished too, " resumed he, "to save someportion of our property, for your insatiable extravagance swallowed upall like a bottomless abyss. At last your trades-people, believing me tobe ruined, refused you credit, and this saved me. I had my daughter tothink of, and have gathered together a rich dowry for her, and yet----"he hesitated, and ceased speaking for a moment. 

"And yet, " repeated Madame de Mussidan. 

"I have never kissed her, " he burst forth with a fresh and terribleexplosion of wrath, "without feeling a hideous doubt as to whether shewas really my child. "

This was more than the Countess could endure. 

"Enough, " she cried, "enough! I have been guilty, Octave; but not soguilty as you imagine. "

"Why do you venture to defend yourself?"

"Because it is my duty to guard Sabine. "

"You should have thought of this earlier, " answered the Count with asneer. "You should have moulded her mind--have taught her what was nobleand good, and have perused the unsullied pages of the book of her youngheart. "

In the deepest agitation the Countess answered, --

"Ah, Octave, why did you not speak of this sooner, if you knew all; butI will now tell you everything. "

By an inconceivable error of judgment the Count corrected her speech. "Spare us both, " said he. "If I have broken through the silence that Ihave maintained for many a year, it is because I knew that no word youcould utter would touch my heart. "

Feeling that all hope had fled, Madame de Mussidan fell backwardupon the couch, while Sabine, unable to listen to any more terriblerevelations, had crept into her own chamber. The Count was about toleave the drawing-room, when a servant entered, bearing a letter ona silver salver. De Mussidan tore it open; it was from M. DeBreulh-Faverlay, asking to be released from his engagement to Sabine deMussidan. This last stroke was almost too much for the Count's nerves, for in this act he saw the hand of the man who had come to him withsuch deadly threats, and terror filled his soul as he thought of thefar-stretching arm of him whose bondslave he found himself to be; butbefore he could collect his thoughts, his daughter's maid went into theroom crying with all her might, "Help, help; my poor mistress is dying!"

CHAPTER XIV. 

FATHER AND DAUGHTER. 

Van Klopen, the man-milliner, knew Paris and its people thoroughly likeall tradesmen who are in the habit of giving large credit. He knewall about the business of his customers, and never forgot an item ofinformation when he received one. Thus, when Mascarin spoke to him aboutthe father of the lovely Flavia, whose charms had set the susceptibleheart of Paul Violaine in a blaze, the arbiter of fashion had replied, --

"Martin Rigal; yes, I know him; he is a banker. " And a banker, indeed, Martin Rigal was, dwelling in a magnificent house in the Rue Montmartre. The bank was on the ground floor, while his private rooms were in thestory above. Though he did not do business in a very large way, yethe was a most respectable man, and his connection was chiefly with thesmaller trades-people, who seem to live a strange kind of hand-to-mouthexistence, and who might be happy were it not for the constantreappearance of that grim phantom--bills to be met. Nearly all thesepersons were in the banker's hands entirely. Martin Rigal used his powerdespotically and permitted no arguments, and speedily quelled rebellionon the part of any new customer who ventured to object to his arbitraryrules. In the morning the banker was never to be seen, being engaged inhis private office, and not a clerk would venture to knock at hisdoor. Even had one done so, no reply would have been returned; for theexperiment had been tried, and it was believed that nothing short of analarm of fire would have brought him out. 

The banker was a big man, quite bald, his face was clean shaved, andhis little gray eyes twinkled incessantly. His manner was charminglycourteous, and he said the most cruel things in the most honied accents, and invariably escorted to the door the man whom he would sell up thenext day. In his dress he affected a fashionable style, much used by themodern school of Shylocks. When not in business, he was a pleasant, and, as some say, a witty companion. He was not looked on as an ascetic, anddid not despise those little pleasures which enable us to sustain life'stortuous journey. He liked a good dinner, and had always a smile readyfor a young and attractive face. He was a widower, and all his lovewas concentrated on his daughter. He did not keep a very extravagantestablishment, but the report in the neighborhood was that MademoiselleFlavia, the daughter of the eminent banker, would one day come intomillions. The banker always did his business on foot, for the sake ofhis health, as he said; but Flavia had a sweet little Victoria, drawnby two thoroughbred horses, to drive in the Bois de Boulogne, under theprotection of an old woman, half companion and half servant, who wasdriven half mad by her charge's caprices. As yet her father has neverdenied her anything. He worked harder than all his clerks put together, for, after having spent the morning in his counting house over hispapers, he received all business clients. 

On the day after Flavia and Paul Violaine had met at Van Klopen's, M. Martin Rigal was, at about half-past five, closeted with one of hisfemale clients. She was young, very pretty, and dressed with simpleelegance, but the expression of her face was profoundly melancholy. Her eyes were overflowing with tears, which she made vain efforts torestrain. 

"If you refuse to renew our bill, sir, we are ruined, " said she. "Icould meet it in January. I have sold all my trinkets, and we areexisting on credit. "

"Poor little thing!" interrupted the banker. 

Her hopes grew under these words of pity. 

"And yet, " continued she, "business has never been so brisk. Newcustomers are constantly coming in, and though our profits are small, the returns are rapid. "

As Martin Rigal heard her exposition of the state of affairs, he noddedgravely. 

"That is all very well, " said he at last, "but this does not make thesecurity you offer me of any more value. I have more confidence in you. "

"But remember, sir, that we have thirty thousand francs' worth ofstock. "

"That is not what I was alluding to, " and the banker accompanied thesewords with so meaning a look, that the poor woman blushed scarlet andalmost lost her nerve. "Your stock, " said he, "is of no more value inmy eyes than the bill you offer me. Suppose, for instance, you were tobecome bankrupt, the landlord might come down upon everything, for hehas great power. "

He broke off abruptly, for Flavia's maid, as a privileged person, entered the room without knocking. 

"Sir, " said she, "my mistress wishes to see you at once. "

The banker got up directly. "I am coming, " said he; then, taking thehand of his client, he led her to the door, repeating: "Do not worryyourself; all the difficulties shall be got through. Come again, and wewill talk them over;" and before she could thank him he was half way tohis daughter's apartment. Flavia had summoned her father to show hima new costume which had just been sent home by Van Klopen, and whichpleased her greatly. Flavia's costume was a masterpiece of fashionablebad taste, which makes women look all alike and destroys all appearanceof individuality. It was a mass of frills, furbelows, fringes, andflutings of rare hue and form, making a series of wonderful contrasts. Standing in the middle of the room, with every available candle alight, for the day was fading away, she was so dainty and pretty that even the_bizarre_ dress of Van Klopen's was unable to spoil her appearance. Asshe turned round, she caught sight of her father in a mirror, pantingwith the haste he had made in running upstairs. 

"What a time you have been!" said she pettishly. 

"I was with a client, " returned he apologetically. 

"You ought to have got rid of him at once. But never mind that; look atme and tell me plainly what you think of me. "

She had no need to put the question, for the most intense admirationbeamed in his face. 

"Exquisite, delicious, heavenly!" answered he. 

Flavia, accustomed as she was to her father's compliments, was highlydelighted. "Then you think that he will like me?" asked she. 

She alluded to Paul Violaine, and the banker heaved a deep sigh as hereplied, --

"Is it possible that any human being exists that you cannot please?"

"Ah!" mused she, "if it were any one but he, I should have no doubts ormisgivings. "

Martin Rigal took a seat near the fire, and, drawing his daughter tohim, pressed a fond kiss upon her brow, while she with the grace andactivity of a cat, nestled upon his knee. "Suppose, after all, that heshould not like me, " murmured she; "I should die of grief. "

The banker turned away his face to hide the gloom that overspread it. "Do you love him, then, even now?" asked he. 

She paused for a moment, and he added, "More than you do me?"

Flavia pressed her father's hand between both her palms and answeredwith a musical laugh, "How silly you are, papa! Why, of course I loveyou. Are you not my father? I love you too because you are kind anddo all I wish, and because you are always telling me that you love me. Because you are like the cupids in the fairy stories--dear old peoplewho give their children all their heart's desire; I love you for mycarriage, my horses, and my lovely dresses; for my purse filled withgold, for my beautiful jewelry, and for all the lovely presents you makeme. "

Every word she spoke betrayed the utter selfishness of her soul, and yether father listened with a fixed smile of delight on his face. 

"And why do you love him?" asked he. 

"Because--because, " stammered the girl, "first, because he is himself;and then, --well, I can't say, but I _do_ love him. "

Her accents betrayed such depth of passion that the father uttered agroan of anguish. 

Flavia caught the expression of his features, and burst into a fit oflaughter. 

"I really believe that you are jealous, " said she, as if she werespeaking to a spoiled child. "That is very naughty of you; you ought tobe ashamed of yourself. I tell you that the first time I set eyes uponhim at Van Klopen's, I felt a thrill of love pierce through my heart, such love as I never felt for a human being before. Since then, I haveknown no rest. I cannot sleep, and instead of blood, liquid fire seemsto come through my veins. "

Martin Rigal raised his eyes to the ceiling in mute surprise at thisoutburst of feeling. 

"You do not understand me, " went on Flavia. "You are the best offathers, but, after all, you are but a man. Had I a mother, she wouldcomprehend me better. "

"What could your mother have done for you more than I? Have I neglectedanything for your happiness?" asked the banker, with a sigh. 

"Perhaps nothing; for there are times when I hardly understand my ownfeelings. "

In gloomy silence the banker listened to the narrative of his daughter'sstate of mind; then he said, --

"All shall be as you desire, and the man you love shall be yourhusband. "

The girl was almost beside herself with joy, and, throwing her armsaround his neck, pressed kiss upon kiss on his cheeks and forehead. 

"Darling, " said she, "I love you for this more than for anything thatyou have given me in my life. "

The banker sighed again; and Flavia, shaking her pretty little fist athim, exclaimed, "What is the meaning of that sigh, sir? Do you by anychance regret your promise? But never mind that. How do you mean tobring him here without causing any suspicion?"

A benevolent smile passed over her father's face, as he answered, --

"That, my pet, is my secret. "

"Very well, keep it; I do not care what means you use, as long as I seehim soon, very soon, --to-night perhaps, in an hour, or even in a fewminutes. You say Dr. Hortebise will bring him here; he will sit at ourtable. I can look at him without trouble, I shall hear his voice--"

"Silly little puss!" broke in the banker; "or, rather, I should say, unhappy child. "

"Silly, perhaps; but why should you say unhappy?"

"You love him too fondly, and he will take advantage of your feeling forhim. "

"Never; I do not believe it, " answered the girl. 

"I hope to heaven, darling, that my fears may never be realized. But heis not the sort of husband that I intended for you; he is a composer. "

"And is that anything against him!" exclaimed Flavia in angry tones;"one would think from your sneers that this was a crime. Not only is hea composer, but he is a genius. I can read that in his face. He may bepoor, but I am rich enough for both, and he will owe all to me; so muchthe better, for then he will not be compelled to give lessons for hislivelihood, and he will have leisure to compose an opera more beautifulthan any that Gounod has ever written, and I shall share all his glory. Why, perhaps, he may even sing his own songs to me alone. "

Her father noticed her state of feverish excitement and gazed upon hersadly. Flavia's mother had been removed from this world at the earlyage of twenty-four by that insidious malady, consumption, which defiesmodern medical science, and in a brief space changes a beautiful girlinto a livid corpse, and the father viewed her excited manner, flushedcheeks, and sparkling eyes with tears and dismay. 

"By heavens!" cried he, bursting into a sudden fit of passion; "if everhe ill treats you, he is a dead man. "

The girl was startled at the sudden ferocity of his manner. 

"What have I done to make you angry?" asked she; "and why do you havesuch evil thoughts of him?"

"I tremble for you, in whom my whole soul is wrapped up, " answered thebanker. "This man has robbed me of my child's heart, and you will behappier with him than you are with your poor old father. I tremblebecause of your inexperience and his weakness, which may prove a sourceof trouble to you. "

"If he is weak, all the better; my will can guide him. "

"You are wrong, " replied her father, "as many other women have beenbefore you. You believe that weak and vacillating dispositions areeasily controlled, but I tell you that this is an error. Only determinedcharacters can be influenced, and it is on substantial foundations thatwe find support. "

Flavia made no reply, and her father drew her closer to him. 

"Listen to me, my child, " said he. "You will never have a better friendthan I am. You know that I would shed every drop of blood in my veinsfor you. He is coming, so search your heart to discover if this is notsome mere passing fancy. "

"Father!" cried she. 

"Remember that your happiness is in your own hands now, so be carefuland conceal your feelings, and do not let him discover how deep yourlove is for him. Men's minds are so formed that while they blame a womanfor duplicity, they complain far more if she acts openly and allows herfeelings to be seen----"

He paused, for the door-bell rang. Flavia's heart gave a bound ofintense joy. 

"He has come!" gasped she, and, with a strong effort to retain hercomposure, she added, "I will obey you, my dear father; I will not comehere again until I have entirely regained my composure. Do not fear, andI will show you that your daughter can act a part as well as any otherwoman. "

She fled from the room as the door opened, but it was not Paul who madehis appearance, but some other guests--a stout manufacturer and hiswife, the latter gorgeously dressed, but with scarcely a word to say forherself. For this evening the banker had issued invitations to twenty ofhis friends, and among this number Paul would scarcely be noticed. He indue time made his appearance with Dr. Hortebise, who had volunteered tointroduce him into good society. Paul felt ill at ease; he had justcome from the hands of a fashionable tailor, who, thanks to Mascarin'sinfluence, had in forty-eight hours prepared an evening suit of suchsuperior cut that the young man hardly knew himself in it. Paul hadsuffered a good deal from conflicting emotions after the visit to VanKlopen's, and more than once regretted the adhesion that he had givento Mascarin's scheme; but a visit the next day from Hortebise, and theknowledge that the fashionable physician was one of the confederates, had reconciled him to the position he had promised to assume. 

He was moreover struck with Flavia's charms, and dazzled with theaccounts of her vast prospective fortune. To him, Hortebise, gay, rich, and careless, seemed the incarnation of happiness, and contributedgreatly to stifle the voice of Paul's conscience. He would, however, perhaps have hesitated had he known what the locket contained thatdangled so ostentatiously from the doctor's chain. 

Before they reached the banker's door, driven in the doctor's elegantbrougham, a similar one to which Paul mentally declared he would have, as soon as circumstances would permit, the young man's mentor spoke. 

"Let me say a few words to you. You have before you a chance which isseldom afforded to any young man, whatever his rank and social standing. Mind that you profit by it. "

"You may be sure I will, " said Paul, with a smile of self-complacency. 

"Good, dear boy; but let me fortify your courage with a little of myexperience. Do you know what an heiress really is?"

"Well, really----"

"Permit me to continue. An heiress and more so if she is an only child, is generally a very disagreeable person, headstrong, capricious, and puffed up with her own importance. She is utterly spoiled by theflattery to which she has been accustomed from her earliest years, andthinks that all the world is made to bend before her. "

"Ah!" answered Paul, a little discomfited. "I hope it is notMademoiselle Flavia's portrait that you have been sketching?"

"Not exactly, " answered the doctor, with a laugh. "But I must warn youthat even she has certain whims and fancies. For instance, I am quitesure that she would give a suitor every encouragement, and then repulsehim without rhyme or reason. "

Paul, who up to this time had only seen the bright side of affairs, wasa good deal disconcerted. 

"Buy why should you introduce me to her then?"

"In order that you may win her. Have you not everything to insuresuccess? She will most likely receive you with the utmost cordiality;but beware of being too sanguine. Even if she makes desperate love toyou, I say, take care; it may be only a trap; for, between ourselves, a girl who has a million stitched to her petticoats is to be excused ifshe endeavors to find out whether the suitor is after her or her money. "

Just then the brougham stopped, and Dr. Hortebise and his young friendentered the house in the Rue Montmartre, where they were cordiallygreeted by the banker. 

Paul glanced round, but there were no signs of Flavia, nor did shemake her appearance until five minutes before the dinner hour, when theguests flocked round her. She had subdued all her emotions, and nota quiver of the eyelids disclosed the excitement under which she waslaboring. Her eye rested on Paul, and he bowed ceremoniously. The bankerwas delighted, for he had not believed much in her self-command. ButFlavia had taken his advice to heart, and when seated at table abstainedfrom casting a glance in Paul's direction. When dinner was over and manyof the guests had sat down to whist; Flavia ventured to approach Paul, and in a low voice, which shook a little in spite of her efforts, said, --

"Will you not play me one of your own compositions, M. Violaine?"

Paul was but a medium performer, but Flavia seemed in the seventhheaven, while her father and Dr. Hortebise, who had taken their seatsnot far away, watched the young couple with much anxiety. 

"How she adores him!" whispered the banker. "And yet I cannot judge ofthe effect that she has produced upon him. "

"Surely Mascarin will worm it all out of him to-morrow, " returned thedoctor. "To-morrow the poor fellow will have his hands full, for thereis to be a general meeting, when we shall hear all about Catenac'sideas, and I shall be glad to know what Croisenois's conduct will bewhen he knows what he is wanted for. "

It was growing late, and the guests began to drop off. Dr. Hortebisesignalled to Paul, and they left the house together. According to thepromise to her father, Flavia had acted her part so well, that Paul didnot know whether he had made an impression or not. 

CHAPTER XV. 

MASTER CHUPIN. 

Beaumarchef, when Mascarin called a general meeting of his associates, was in the habit of assuming his very best attire; for as he was oftencalled into the inner office to answer questions, he was muchimpressed with the importance of the occasion. This time, however, thesubordinate, although he had received due notice of the meeting, wasstill in his every-day dress. This discomposed him a good deal, thoughhe kept muttering to himself that he meant no disrespect by it. Early inthe morning he had been compelled to make up the accounts of twocooks, who, having obtained situations, were leaving the servants'lodging-house. When this matter was completed, he had hoped for half anhour's leisure. As he was crossing the courtyard, however, he fell inwith Toto Chupin bringing in his daily report, which Beaumarchef thoughtwould be what it usually was--a mere matter of form. He was, however, much mistaken; for though outwardly Toto was the same, yet his ideas hadtaken an entirely new direction; and when Beaumarchef urged him to looksharp, the request was received with a great deal of sullenness. 

"I ain't lost no time, " said he, "and have fished up a thing or twofresh; but before saying a word--"

He stopped, and seemed a little confused. 

"Well, go on. "

"I want a fresh arrangement. "

Beaumarchef was staggered. 

"Arrangement!" he echoed. 

"Of course you can lump it if yer don't like it, " said the boy. "Doyou think as how I'm going to work like a horse, and not get a wink ofsleep, just for a 'thank ye, Chupin?' No fear. I'm worth a sight morenor that. "

Beaumarchef flew into a rage. 

"Then you are not worth a pinch of salt, " said he. 

"All right, my cove. "

"And you are an ungrateful young villain to talk like this after all thekindness your master has shown you. "

Chupin gave a sarcastic laugh. 

"Goodness!" cried he. "To hear you go on, one would think that the bosshad ruined himself for my sake. "

"He took you out of the streets, and has given you a room ever since. "

"A room, do you say? I call it a dog kennel. "

"You have your breakfast and dinner every day regularly. "

"I know that, and half a bottle of wine at each meal, which has so muchwater in it that it cannot even stain the tablecloth. "

"You are an ungrateful young hound, " exclaimed Beaumarchef, "and forgetthat, in addition to this, he has set you up in business as a hotchestnut seller. "

"Good old business! I am allowed to stand all day under the gateway, roasted on one side, and frozen on the other, and gain, perhaps twentysous. "

"You know that in summer he has promised to set you up in the friedpotato line. "

"Thank ye for nothing; I don't like the smell of grease. "

"What is it you want, then?"

"Nothing. I feels that I ought to be a gentleman at large. "

Beaumarchef cast a furious glance at the shameless youth, and told himthat he would report everything to his master. The boy, however, did notseem to care a pin. 

"I intends to see Master Mascarin myself presently, " remarked Chupin. 

"You are an idiot. "

"Why so? Do you think I didn't live better before I had anything todo with this blooming old cove? I never worked then. I used to sing infront of the pubs, and easily made my three francs a day. My pal and Isoon check 'em though, and then off we went to the theatre. Sometimeswe'd make tracks for Ivry, and take our doss in a deserted factory, intowhich the crushers never put their noses. In the winter we used to go tothe glass houses and sleep in the warm ashes. All these were good times, while now--"

"Well, what have you to grumble at now? Don't I hand you a five-francpiece every day that you are at work?"

"But that ain't good enough. Come, don't get shirty; all I asks is arise of salary. Only say either Yes or No; and if you say No, why, Isends in my resignation. "

Beaumarchef would have given a five-franc piece out of his own pocketfor Mascarin to have heard the boy's impertinence. 

"You are a young rascal!" said he, "and keep the worst of company. Thereis no use in denying it, for a hang-dog fellow, calling himself Polyte, has been here asking after you. "

"My company ain't any business of yours. "

"Well, I give you warning, you will come to grief. "

"How?" returned Toto Chupin sulkily. "How can I come to grief? If oldMascarin interferes, I'll shut up his mouth pretty sharp. I wish you andyour master wouldn't poke their noses into my affairs. I'm sick of youboth. Don't you think I'm up to you? When you make me follow some onefor a week at a time, it isn't to do 'em a kindness, I reckon. If thingsturn out badly, I've only to go before a beak and speak up; I should getoff easily enough then; and if I do so, you will be sorry for not havinggiven me more than my five francs a day. "

Beaumarchef was an old soldier and a bold man, but he was easily upset, for the lad's insolence made him believe that he was uttering words thathad been put in his mouth by some wily adviser; and not knowing howto act, the ex-soldier thought it best to adopt a more conciliatingdemeanor. 

"How much do you want?" asked he. 

"Well, seven francs to start with. "

"The deuce you do! Seven francs a day is a sum. Well, I'll give it youmyself to-day and will speak about you to the master. "

"You won't get me to loosen my tongue for that amount to-day; you maybet your boots on that, " answered the lad insolently. "I wants onehundred francs down on the nail. "

"One hundred francs, " echoed Beaumarchef, scandalized at such a demand. 

"Yes, my cove, that and no less. "

"And what will you give in return? No, no, my lad; your demand is apreposterous one; besides, you wouldn't know how to spend such a sum. "

"Don't you flurry yourself about that; but of one thing you may be sure, I sha'n't spend my wages as you do--in wax for your mustache. "

Beaumarchef could not endure an insult to his mustache, and Chupin wasabout to receive the kick he had so richly earned, when Daddy Tantainesuddenly made his appearance, looking exactly as he did when he visitedPaul in his garret. 

"Tut, tut; never quarrel with the door open. "

Beaumarchef thanked Providence for sending this sudden reinforcement tohis aid, and began in a tone of indignation, --

"Toto Chupin--"

"Stop! I have heard every word, " broke in Tantaine. 

On hearing this, Toto felt that he had better make himself scarce; forthough he hardly knew Mascarin, and utterly despised Beaumarchef, hetrembled before the oily Tantaine, for in him he recognized a being whowould stand no nonsense. He therefore began in an apologetic tone, --

"Just let me speak, sir; I only wanted--"

"Money, of course, and very natural too. Come, Beaumarchef, hand thisworthy lad the hundred francs that he has so politely asked for. "

Beaumarchef was utterly stupefied, and was about to make some objectionwhen he was struck by a signal which Toto did not perceive, and, drawingout his pocketbook, extracted a note which he offered to the lad. Totoglanced at the note, then at the faces of the two men, but was evidentlyafraid to take the money. 

"Take the money, " said Tantaine. "If your information is not worth themoney, I will have it back from you; come into the office, where weshall not be disturbed. "

Tantaine took a chair, and glancing at Toto, who stood before himtwirling his cap leisurely, said, --

"I heard you. "

The lad had by this time recovered his customary audacity. 

"Five days ago, " he began, "I was put on to Caroline Schimmel; I havefound out all about her by this time. She is as regular as clockwork inher duties at least. She wakes at ten and takes her absinthe. Then shegoes to a little restaurant she knows, and has her breakfast and a gameat cards with any one that will play with her. At six in the eveningshe goes to the Grand Turk, a restaurant and dancing-shop in the Rue desPoisonnieres. Ain't it a swell ken just! You can eat; drink, dance, orsing, just as you like; but you must have decent togs on, or they won'tlet you in. "

"Wouldn't they let you through then?"

Toto pointed significantly to his rags as he replied, --

"This rig out wouldn't pass muster, but I have a scheme in hand. "

Tantaine took down the address of the dancing-saloon, and then, addressing Toto with the utmost severity, --

"Do you think, " said he, "that this report is worth a hundred francs?"

Toto made a quaint grimace. 

"Do you think, " asked he, "that Caroline can lead the life she doeswithout money? No fear. Well, I have found out where the coin comesfrom. "

The dim light in the office enabled Tantaine to hide the pleasure hefelt on hearing these words. 

"Ah, " answered he carelessly, as if it was a matter of but littlemoment, "and so you have found out all that, have you?

"Yes, and a heap besides. Just you listen. After her breakfast, my sweetCarry began to play cards with some chaps who had been grubbing at thenext table. 'Regular right down card sharpers and macemen, ' said Ito myself, as I watched the way in which they faked the pasteboards. 'They'll get everything out of you, old gal. ' I was in the right, for inless than an hour she had to go up to the counter and leave one of herrings as security for the breakfast. He said he knew her, and would giveher credit. 'You are a trump, ' said she. 'I'll just trot off to my owncrib and get the money. '"

"Did she go home?"

"Not she; she went to a real swell house in a bang up part of Paris, the Rue de Varennes. She knocked at the door, and in she went, while Ilounged about outside. "

"Do you know who lives there?"

"Of course I do. The grocer round the corner told me that it wasinhabited by the Duke--what was his blessed name? Oh, the Duke----"

"Was it the Duke de Champdoce?"

"That is the right one, a chap they say as has his cellars chock full ofgold and silver. "

"You are rather slow, my lad, " said Tantaine, with his assumed air ofindifference. "Get on a bit, do. "

Toto was much put out; for he had expected that his intelligence wouldhave created an immense sensation. 

"Give a cove time to breathe in. Well, in half an hour out comes myCarry as lively as a flea. She got into a passing cab and away she went. Fortunately I can run a bit, and reached the Palais Royal in time tosee Caroline change two notes of two hundred francs each at themoney-changers. "

"How did you find out that?"

"By looking at 'em. The paper was yellow. "

Tantaine smiled kindly. "You know a banknote then?"

"Yes, but I have precious few chances of handling them. Once I went intoa money-changer's shop and asked them just to let me feel one, and theysaid, 'Get out sharp. '"

"Is that all?" demanded Tantaine. 

"No; I have kept the best bit for a finish. I want to tell you thatthere are others on the lookout after Caroline. "

Toto had no reason this time to grumble at the effect he had produced, for the old man gave such a jump that his hat fell off. 

"What are you saying?" said he. 

"Simply that for the last three days a big chap with a harp on his backhas been keeping her in view. I twigged him at once, and he too saw hergo into the swell crib that you say belongs to that Duke. "

Tantaine pondered a little. 

"A street musician, " muttered he. "I must find out all about this. Now, Toto, listen to me; chuck Caroline over, and stick to the fellow withthe harp; be off with you, for you have earned your money well. "

As Chupin went off, the old man shook his head. 

"Too sharp by a good bit, " said he; "he won't have a long lease oflife. "

Beaumarchef was about to ask Tantaine to remain in the office whilehe went off to put on his best clothes, but the old man stopped thisrequest by saying, --

"As M. Mascarin does not like to be disturbed, I will just go in withoutknocking. When the other gentlemen arrive, show them in; for look youhere, my good friend, the pear is so ripe that if it is not plucked, itwill fall to the ground. "

CHAPTER XVI. 

A TURN OF THE SCREW. 

Dr. Hortebise was the first to arrive. It was a terrible thing for himto get up so early; but for Mascarin's sake he consented even to thisinconvenience. When he passed through the office, the room was fullof clients; but this did not prevent the doctor from noticing thenegligence of Beaumarchef's costume. 

"Aha!" remarked the doctor, "on the drunk again, I am afraid. "

"M. Mascarin is within, " answered the badgered clerk, endeavoring to puton an air of dignity; "and M. Tantaine is with him. "

A brilliant idea flashed across the doctor's mind, but it was with anair of gravity that he said, --

"I shall be charmed to meet that most worthy old gentleman. "

When, however, he entered the inner sanctum, he found Mascarin alone, occupied in sorting the eternal pieces of pasteboard. 

"Well, what news?" asked he. 

"There is none that I know of. "

"What, have you not seen Paul?"

"No. "

"Will he be here?"

"Certainly. "

Mascarin was often laconic, but he seldom gave such short answers asthis. 

"What is the matter?" asked the doctor. "Your greeting is quitefunereal. Are you not well?"

"I am merely preoccupied, and that is excusable on the eve of the battlewe are about to fight, " returned Mascarin. 

He only, however, told a portion of the truth; for there was more inthe background, which he did not wish to confide to his friend. TotoChupin's revolt had disquieted him. Let there be but a single flaw inthe axletree, and one day it will snap in twain; and Mascarin wanted toeliminate this flaw. 

"Pooh!" remarked the doctor, playing with his locket, "we shall succeed. What have we to fear, after all, --opposition on Paul's part?"

"Paul may resent a little, " answered Mascarin disdainfully; "but I havedecided that he shall be present at our meeting of to-day. It will bea stormy one, so be prepared. We might give him his medicine in minims, but I prefer the whole dose at once. "

"The deuce you do! Suppose he should be frightened, and make off withour secret. "

"He won't make off, " replied Mascarin in a tone which froze hislistener's blood. "He can't escape from us any more than the cockchafercan from the string that a child has fastened to it. Do you notunderstand weak natures like his? He is the glove, I the strong handbeneath it. "

The doctor did not argue this point, but merely murmured, --

"Let us hope that it is so. "

"Should we have any opposition, " resumed Mascarin, "it will come fromCatenac. I may be able to force him into co-operation with us, but hisheart will not be in the enterprise. "

"Do you propose to bring Catenac into this affair?" asked Hortebise ingreat surprise. 

"Assuredly. "

"Why have you changed your plan?"

"Simply because I have recognized the fact that, if we dispensed withhis services, we should be entirely at the mercy of a shrewd man ofbusiness, because----"

He broke off, listened for a moment, and then said, --

"Hush! I can hear his footstep. "

A dry cough was heard outside, and in another moment Catenac entered theroom. 

Nature, or profound dissimulation, had gifted Catenac with an exteriorwhich made every one, when first introduced to him, exclaim, "This is anhonest and trustworthy man. " Catenac always looked his clients boldly inthe face. His voice was pleasant, and had a certain ring of jovialityin it, and his manner was one of those easy ones which always insurepopularity. He was looked upon as a shrewd lawyer; but yet he did notshine in court. He must therefore, to make those thirty thousand francsa year which he was credited with doing, have some special line ofbusiness. He assayed rather risky matters, which might bring bothparties into the clutches of the criminal law, or, at any rate, leavethem with a taint upon both their names. A sensational lawsuit isbegun, and the public eagerly await the result; suddenly the whole thingcollapses, for Catenac has acted as mediator. He has even settled thedisputes of murderers quarreling over their booty. But he has even gonefarther than this. More than once he has said of himself, "I have passedthrough the vilest masses of corruption. " In his office in the Rue Jacobhe has heard whispered conferences which were enough to bring down theroof above his head. Of course this was the most lucrative businessthat passed into Catenac's hands. The client conceals nothing from hisattorney, and he belongs to him as absolutely as the sick man belongs tohis physician or the penitent to his confessor. 

"Well, my dear Baptiste, " said he, "here I am; you summoned me, and I amobedient to the call. "

"Sit down, " replied Mascarin gravely. 

"Thanks, my friend, many thanks, a thousand thanks; but I am muchhurried; indeed I have not a moment to spare. I have matters on my handsof life and death. "

"But for all that, " remarked Hortebise, "you can sit down for a moment. Baptiste has something to say to you which is as important as any ofyour matters can be. "

With a frank and genial smile Catenac obeyed; but in his heart wereanger and an abject feeling of alarm. 

"What is it that is so important?" asked he. 

Mascarin had risen and locked the door. When he had resumed his seat hesaid, --

"The facts are very simple. Hortebise and I have decided to put ourgreat plan into execution, which we have as yet only discussed generallywith you. We have the Marquis de Croisenois with us. "

"My dear sir, " broke in the lawyer. 

"Wait a little; we must have your assistance, and----"

Catenac rose from his seat. "That is enough, " said he. "You have made avery great mistake if it is on this matter that you have sent for me; Itold you this before. "

He was turning away, and looking for his hat, proposed to beat aretreat; but Dr. Hortebise stood between him and the door, gazing uponhim with no friendly expression of countenance. Catenac was not a man tobe easily alarmed, but the doctor's appearance was so threatening, andthe smile upon Mascarin's lips was of so deadly a character, that hestood still, positively frightened into immobility. 

"What do you mean?" stammered he; "what is it you say now?"

"First, " replied the doctor, speaking slowly and distinctly, --"first, wewish that you should listen to us when we speak to you. "

"I am listening. "

"Then sit down again, and hear what Baptiste has to say. "

The command Catenac had over his countenance was so great that it wasimpossible to see to what conclusion he had arrived from the words andmanner of his confederates. 

"Then let Baptiste explain himself, " said he. 

"Before entering into matters completely, " said he coolly, "I first wantto ask our dear friend and associate if he is prepared to act with us?"

"Why should there be any doubt on that point?" asked the lawyer. "Do allmy repeated assurances count as nothing?"

"We do not want promises now; what we do want is good faith and realco-operation. "

"Can it be that you--"

"I ought to inform you, " continued Mascarin, unheeding the interruption, "that we have every prospect of success; and, if we carry the matterthrough, we shall certainly have a million apiece. "

Hortebise had not the calm patience of his confederate, and exclaimed, --

"You understand it well enough. Say Yes or No. "

Catenac was in the agonies of indecision, and for fully a minute made noreply. 

"_No_, then!" he broke out in a manner which betrayed his intenseagitation. "After due consideration, and having carefully weighed thechances for and against, I answer you decidedly, No. "

Mascarin and Hortebise evidently expected this reply, and exchangedglances. 

"Permit me to explain, " said Catenac, "what you consider as a cowardlywithdrawal upon my part--"

"Call it treachery. "

"I will not quibble about words. I wish to be perfectly straightforwardwith you. "

"I am glad to hear it, " sneered the doctor, "though that is not yourusual form. "

"And yet I do not think that I have ever concealed my real opinion fromyou. It is fully ten years ago since I spoke to you of the necessity ofbreaking up this association. Can you recall what I said? I said onlyour extreme need and griping poverty justified our acts. They are nowinexcusable. "

"You talked very freely of your scruples, " observed Mascarin. 

"You remember my words then?"

"Yes, and I remember too that those inner scruples never hindered youfrom drawing your share of the profits. "

"That is to say, " burst in the doctor, "you repudiated the work, butshared the booty. You wished to play the game without staking anything. "

Catenac was in no way disconcerted at this trenchant argument. 

"Quite true, " said he, "I always received my share; but I have donequite as much as you in putting the agency in its present prosperouscondition. Does it not work smoothly like a perfect piece of mechanism?Have we not succeeded in nearly all our schemes? The income comes inmonthly with extreme regularity, and I, according to my rights, havereceived one-third. If you desire to throw up this perilous means oflivelihood, say so, and I will not oppose it. "

"You are really too good, " sneered the doctor, with a look of menace inhis glance. 

"Nor, " continued Catenac, "will I oppose you if you prefer to letmatters stand as they are; but if you start on fresh enterprises, andembark on the tempestuous sea of danger, then I put down my foot andvery boldly 'halt. ' I will not take another step with you. I can see bythe looks of both of you that you think me a fool and a coward. Heavengrant that the future may not show you only too plainly that I have beenin the right. Think over this. For twenty years fortune has favored us, but, believe me, it is never wise to tempt her too far, for it is wellknown that at some time or other she always turns. "

"Your imagery is really charming, " remarked Hortebise sarcastically. 

"Good, I have nothing else to say but to repeat my warning: _reflect_. Grand as your hopes and expectations may be, they are as nothing to theperils that you will encounter. "

This cold flood of eloquence was more than the doctor could bear. 

"It is all very well for you, " exclaimed he, "to reason like this, foryou are a rich man. "

"I have enough to live on, I allow; for in addition to the incomederived from my profession, I have saved two hundred thousand francs;and if you can be induced to renounce your projects, I will divide thissum with you. You have only to think. "

Mascarin, who had taken no part in the dispute, now judged it time tointerfere. 

"And so, " said he, turning to Catenac, "you have only two hundredthousand francs?"

"That or thereabouts. "

"And you offer to divide this sum with us. Really we ought to be deeplygrateful to you, but----"

Mascarin paused for a moment; then settling his spectacles more firmly, he went on, --

"But even if you were to give us what you propose, you would still haveeleven hundred thousand francs remaining!"

Catenac burst into a pleasant laugh. "You are jesting, " said he. 

"I can prove the correctness of my assertion;" and as he spoke, Mascarinunlocked a drawer, and taking a small notebook from it, turned over thepages, and leaving it open at a certain place, handed it to the lawyer. 

"There, " said he, "that is made up to December last, and shows preciselyhow you stand financially. Twice, then, you have increased your funds. These deposits you will find in an addenda at the end of the book. "

Catenac started to his feet; all his calmness had now disappeared. 

"Yes, " he said, "I have just the sum you name; and I, for that veryreason, refuse to have anything further to do with your schemes. I havean income of sixty thousand francs; that is to say, sixty thousand goodreasons for receiving no further risks. You envy me my good fortune, butdid we not all start penniless? I have taken care of my money, whileyou have squandered yours. Hortebise has lost his patients, while I haveincreased the number of my clients; and now you want me to tread thedangerous road again. Not I; go your way, and leave me to go home. "

Again he took up his hat, but a wave of the hand from Mascarin detainedhim. 

"Suppose, " said he coldly, "that I told you that your assistance wasnecessary to me. "

"I should say so much the worse for you. "

"But suppose I insist?"

"And how can you insist? We are both in the same boat, and sink or swimtogether. "

"Are you certain of that?"

"So certain that I repeat from this day I wash my hands of you. "

"I am afraid you are in error. "

"How so?"

"Because for twelve months past; I have given food and shelter to a girlof the name of Clarisse. Do you by any chance know her?"

At the mention of this name, the lawyer started, as a man starts who, walking peacefully along, suddenly sees a deadly serpent coiled acrosshis path. 

"Clarisse, " stammered he, "how did you know of her? who told you?"

But the sarcastic sneer upon the lips of his two confederateswounded his pride so deeply, that in an instant he recovered hisself-possession. 

"I am getting foolish, " said he, "to ask these men how they learned mysecret. Do they not always work by infamous and underhand means?"

"You see I know all, " remarked Mascarin, "for I foresaw the day wouldcome when you would wish to sever our connection, and even give us up tojustice, if you could do so with safety to yourself. I therefore took myprecautions. One thing, however, I was not prepared for, and that was, that a man of your intelligence should have played so paltry a game, and even twelve months back thought of betraying us. It is almostincredible. Do you ever read the _Gazette des Tribunaux_? I saw in itspages yesterday a story nearly similar to your own. Shall I tell it toyou? A lawyer who concealed his vices beneath a mantle of joviality andcandor, brought up from the country a pretty, innocent girl to act asservant in his house. This lawyer occupied his leisure time in leadingthe poor child astray, and the moment at last came when the consequencesof her weakness were too apparent. The lawyer was half beside himself atthe approaching scandal. What would the neighbors say? Well, to cut thestory short, the infant was suppressed, --you understand, suppressed, andthe mother turned into the street. "

"Baptiste, have mercy!"

"It was a most imprudent act, for such things always leak out somehow. You have a gardener at your house at Champigny, and suppose the ideaseized upon this worthy man to dig up the ground round the wall at theend of the garden. "

"That is enough, " said Catenac, piteously. "I give in. "

Mascarin adjusted his spectacles, as he always did in important moments. 

"You give in, do you? Not a bit. Even now you are endeavoring to find ameans of parrying my home thrusts. "

"But I declare to you----"

"Do not be alarmed; dig as deeply as he might, your gardener woulddiscover nothing. "

The lawyer uttered a stifled exclamation of rage as he perceived the pitinto which he had fallen. 

"He would find nothing, " resumed Mascarin, "and yet the story is alltrue. Last January, on a bitterly cold night, you dug a hole, and init deposited the body of a new-born infant wrapped in a shawl. And whatshawl? Why the very one that you purchased at the _Bon Marche_, when youwere making yourself agreeable to Clarisse. The shopman who sold it toyou has identified it, and is ready to give evidence when called upon. You may look for that shawl, Catenac, but you will not find it. "

"Have you got that shawl?" asked Catenac hoarsely. 

"Am I a fool?" asked Mascarin contemptuously. "Tantaine has it; but _I_know where the body is, and will keep the information to myself. Do notbe alarmed; act fairly, and you are safe; but make one treacherous move, and you will read in the next day's papers a paragraph something to thiseffect: 'Yesterday some workmen, engaged in excavations near so-and-so, discovered the body of a new-born infant. Every effort is being madeto discover the author of the crime. ' You know me, and that I workpromptly. To the shawl I have added a handkerchief and a few otherarticles belonging to Clarisse, which will render it an easy matter tofix the guilt on you. "

Catenac was absolutely stunned, and had lost all power of defendinghimself. The few incoherent words that he uttered showed his state ofutter despair. 

"You have killed me, " gasped he, "just as the prize, that I have beenlooking for for twenty years, was in my grasp. "

"Work does a man no harm, " remarked the doctor sententiously. 

There was, however, little time to lose; the Marquis de Croisenois andPaul might be expected to arrive at any moment, and Mascarin hastened torestore a certain amount of calmness to his prostrate antagonist. 

"You make as much noise as if we were going to hand you over to theexecutioner on the spot. Do you think that we are such a pair of foolsas to risk all these hazards without some almost certain chance ofsuccess? Hortebise was as much startled as yourself when I first spoketo him of this affair, but I explained everything fully to him, and nowhe is quite enthusiastic in the matter. Of course you can lay aside allfear, and, as a man of the world, will bear no malice against those whohave simply played a better game than yourself. "

"Go on, " said Catenac, forcing a smile, "I am listening. "

Mascarin made a short pause. 

"What we want of you, " answered he, "will not compromise you in theslightest degree. I wish you to draw up a document, the particularsof which I will give you presently, and you will outwardly have noconnection with the matter. "

"Very good. "

"But there is more yet. The Duke of Champdoce has placed a difficulttask in your hands. You are engaged in a secret on his behalf. "

"You know that also?"

"I know everything that may be made subservient to our ends. I also knowthat instead of coming direct to me you went to the very man that wehave every reason to dread, that fellow Perpignan, who is nearly assharp as we are. "

"Go on, " returned Catenac impatiently. "What do you expect from me onthis point?"

"Not much; you must only come to me first, and report any discovery youmay have made, and never give any information to the Duke without firstconsulting us. "

"I agree. "

The contending parties seemed to have arrived at an amicabletermination, and Dr. Hortebise smiled complacently. 

"Now, " said he, "shall we not confess, after all, that there was no usein making such a fuss?"

"I allow that I was in the wrong, " answered Catenac meekly; and, extending his hands to his two associates with an oily smile, he said:"Let us forget and forgive. "

Was he to be trusted? Mascarin and the doctor exchanged glances ofsuspicion. A moment afterward a knock came to the door, and Paulentered, making a timid bow to his two patrons. 

"My dear boy, " said Mascarin, "let me present you to one of my oldestand best friends. " Then, turning to Catenac, he added: "I wish to askyou to help and assist my young friend here. Paul Violaine is a goodfellow, who has neither father nor mother, and whom we are trying tohelp on in his journey through life. "

The lawyer started as he caught the strange, meaning smile whichaccompanied these words. 

"Great heavens!" said he, "why did you not speak sooner?"

Catenac at once divined Mascarin's project, and understood the allusionto the Duke de Champdoce. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

SOME SCRAPS OF PAPER. 

The Marquis de Croisenois was never punctual. He had received a noteasking him to call on Mascarin at eleven o'clock, and twelve had strucksome time before he made his appearance. Faultlessly gloved, his glassfirmly fixed in his eye, and a light walking cane in his hand, and withthat air of half-veiled insolence that is sometimes affected by certainpersons who wish the world to believe that they are of great importance, the Marquis de Croisenois entered the room. 

At the age of twenty-five Henry de Croisenois affected the airs andmanners of a lad of twenty, and so found many who looked upon hisescapades with lenient eyes, ascribing them to the follies of youth. Under this youthful mask, however he concealed a most astute and cunningintellect, and had more than once got the better of the women with whomhe had had dealings. His fortune was terribly involved, because he hadinsisted on living at the same rate as men who had ten times his income. Forming one of the recklessly extravagant band of which the Duke deSaumeine was the head, Croisenois, too, kept his racehorses, whichwas certainly the quickest way to wreck the most princely fortune. TheMarquis had found out this, and was utterly involved, when Mascarinextended a helping hand to him, to which he clung with all the energy ofa drowning man. 

Whatever Henry de Croisenois' anxieties may have been on the day inquestion, he did not allow a symptom of them to appear, and on hisentrance negligently drawled, "I have kept you waiting, I fear; butreally my time is not my own. I am quite at your service now, and willwait until these gentlemen have finished their business with you. " Andas he concluded, he again placed the cigar which he had removed whilesaying these words, to his lips. 

His manner was very insolent, and yet the amiable Mascarin did not seemoffended, although he loathed the scent of tobacco. 

"We had begun to despair of seeing you, Marquis, " answered he politely. "I say so, because these gentlemen are here to meet you. Permit me tointroduce to you, Dr. Hortebise, M. Catenac of the Parisian bar, and oursecretary, " pointing as he spoke, to Paul. 

As soon as Croisenois had taken his seat, Mascarin went straight to thepoint, as a bullet to the target. "I do not intend, " began he, "to leaveyou in doubt for a moment. Beatings about the bush would be absurd amongpersons like ourselves. "

At finding himself thus classed with the other persons present, theMarquis gave a little start, and then drawled out, "You flatter me, really. "

"I may tell you, Marquis, " resumed Mascarin, "that your marriage hasbeen definitely arranged by myself and my associates. All you have to dois to get the young lady's consent; for that of the Count and Countesshas already been secured. "

"There will be no difficulty in that, " lisped the Marquis. "I willpromise her the best horsed carriage in the Bois, a box at the opera, unlimited credit at Van Klopen's, and perfect freedom. There will beno difficulty, I assure you. Of course, however, I must be presented bysome one who holds a good position in society. "

"Would the Viscountess de Bois Arden suit you?"

"No one better; she is a relation of the Count de Mussidan. "

"Good; then when you wish, Madame de Bois Arden will introduce you as asuitor for the young lady's hand, and praise you up to the skies. "

The Marquis looked very jubilant at hearing this. "All right, " cried he;"then that decides the matter. "

Paul wondered whether he was awake or dreaming. He too had been promiseda rich wife, and here was another man who was being provided for in thesame manner. "These people, " muttered he, "seem to keep a matrimonialagency as well as a servants' registry office!"

"All that is left, then, " said the Marquis, "is to arrange the--shall Icall it the commission?"

"I was about to come to that, " returned Mascarin. 

"Well, I will give you a fourth of the dowry, and on the day of mymarriage will hand you a cheque for that amount. "

Paul now imagined that he saw how matters worked. "If I marry Flavia, "thought he, "I shall have to share her dowry with these highlyrespectable gentlemen. "

The offer made by the Marquis did not, however, seem to please Mascarin. "That is not what we want, " said he. 

"No, --well, must I give you more? Say how much. "

Mascarin shook his head. 

"Well then, I will give you a third; it is not worth while to give youmore. "

"No, no; I would not take half, nor even the whole of the dowry. You maykeep that as well as what you owe us. "

"Well, but tell me what you _do_ want. "

"I will do so, " answered Mascarin, adjusting his spectacles carefully;"but before doing so, I feel that I must give you a short account of therise and progress of this association. "

At this statement Hortebise and Catenac sprang to their feet in surpriseand terror. "Are you mad?" said they at length, with one voice. 

Mascarin shrugged his shoulders. 

"Not yet, " answered he gently, "and I beg that you will permit me to goon. "

"But surely we have some voice in the matter, " faltered Catenac. 

"That is enough, " exclaimed Mascarin angrily, "Am not I the head of thisassociation? Do you think, " he continued in tones of deep sarcasm, "thatwe cannot speak openly before the Marquis?"

Hortebise and the lawyer resignedly resumed their seats. Croisenoisthought that a word from him might reassure them. 

"Among honest men--" began he. 

"We are not honest men, " interrupted Mascarin. "Sir, " added he in asevere tone, "nor are you either. "

This plain speaking brought a bright flush to the face of the Marquis, who had half a mind to be angry, but policy restrained him, and heaffected to look on the matter as a joke. "Your joke is a littlepersonal, " said he. 

But Mascarin took no heed of his remark. "Listen to me, " said he, "forwe have no time to waste, and do you, " he added, turning to Paul, "paythe greatest attention. "

A moment of perfect silence ensued, broken only by the hum of voices inthe outer office. 

"Marquis, " said Mascarin, whose whole face blazed with a gleam ofconscious power, "twenty-five years ago I and my associates were youngand in a very different position. We were honest then, and all theillusions of youth were in full force; we had faith and hope. We allthen tenanted a wretched garret in the Rue de la Harpe, and loved eachother like brothers. "

"That was long, long ago, " murmured Hortebise. 

"Yes, " rejoined Mascarin; "and yet the effluxion of times does nothinder me from seeing things as they then were, and my heart aches as Icompare the hopes of those days with the realities of the present. Then, Marquis, we were poor, miserably poor, and yet we all had vague hopes offuture greatness. "

Croisenois endeavored to conceal a sneer; the story was not a veryinteresting one. 

"As I said before, each one of us anticipated a brilliant career. Catenac had gained a prize by his 'Treatise on the Transfer of RealEstate, ' and Hortebise had written a pamphlet regarding which the greatOrfila had testified approval. Nor was I without my successes. Hortebisehad unluckily quarrelled with his family. Catenac's relatives were poor, and I, well, I had no family. I stood alone. We were literally starving, and I was the only one earning money. I prepared pupils for the militarycolleges, but as I only earned twenty-five sous a day by cramming a dullboy's brain with algebra and geometry, that was not enough to feed usall. Well, to cut a long story short, the day came when we had not acoin among us. I forgot to tell you that I was devotedly attached to ayoung girl who was dying of consumption, and who had neither food norfuel. What could I do? I knew not. Half mad, I rushed from the house, asking myself if I had better plead for charity or take the money Irequired by force from the first passer-by. I wandered along thequays, half inclined to confide my sorrow to the Seine, when suddenlyI remembered it was a holiday at the Polytechnic School, and that ifI went to the _Café Semblon_ or the Palais Royal, I should most likelymeet with some of my old pupils, who could perhaps lend me a few sous. Five francs perhaps, Marquis, --that is a very small sum, but in that dayit meant the life of my dear Marie and of my two friends. Have you everbeen hungry, M. De Croisenois?"

De Croisenois started; he had never suffered from hunger, but how couldhe tell what the future might bring? for his resources were so nearlyexhausted, that even to-morrow he might be compelled to discard hisfictitious splendor and sink into the abyss of poverty. 

"When I reached the _Café Semblon_, " continued Mascarin, "I could notsee a single pupil, and the waiter to whom I addressed my inquirieslooked at me with the utmost contempt, for my clothes were in tatters;but at length he condescended to inform me that the young gentlemen hadbeen and gone, but that they would return. I said that I would wait forthem. The man asked me if I would take anything, and when I replied inthe negative, contemptuously pointed to a chair in a distant corner, where I patiently took my seat. I had sat for some time, when suddenly ayoung man entered the _café_, whose face, were I to live for a century, I shall never forget. He was perfectly livid, his features rigid, andhis eyes wild and full of anguish. He was evidently in intense agony ofmind or body. Evidently, however, it was not poverty that was oppressinghim, for as he cast himself upon a sofa, all the waiters rushed forwardto receive his orders. In a voice that was almost unintelligible, he asked for a bottle of brandy, and pen, ink, and paper. In somemysterious manner, the sight of this suffering brought balm to my achingheart. The order of the young man was soon executed, and pouring out atumbler of brandy, he took a deep draught. The effect was instantaneous, he turned crimson, and for a moment almost fell back insensible. I keptmy eyes on him, for a voice within me kept crying out that there wassome mysterious link connecting this man and myself, and that his lifewas in some manner interwoven with mine, and that the influence he wouldexercise over me would be for evil. So strongly did this idea becomerooted, that I should have left the _café_, had not my curiosity been sogreat. In the meantime the stranger had recovered himself, and seizinga pen, scrawled a few lines on a sheet of paper. Evidently he was notsatisfied with his composition, for after reading it over, he lit amatch and burnt the paper. He drank more brandy, and wrote a secondletter, which, too, proved a failure, for he tore it to fragments, whichhe thrust into his waistcoat pocket. Again he commenced, usinggreater care. It was plain that he had forgotten where he was, for hegesticulated, uttered a broken sentence or two and evidently believedthat he was in his own house. His last letter seemed to satisfy him, andhe recopied it with care. He closed and directed it; then, tearing theoriginal into pieces, he flung it under the table; then calling thewaiter, he said, 'Here are twenty francs; take this letter to theaddress on the envelope. Bring the answer to my house; here is my card. 'The man ran out of the room, and the nobleman, only waiting to pay hisbill, followed almost immediately. The morsels of white paper beneaththe table had a strange fascination for me; I longed to gather them up, to put them together, and to learn the secret of the strange drama thathad been acted before me. But, as I have told you, then I was honest andvirtuous, and the meanness of such an act revolted all my instincts; andI should have overcome this temptation, had it not been for one of thosetrifling incidents which too often form the turning-point of a life. A draught from a suddenly opened door caught one of these morsels ofpaper, and wafted it to my feet. I stooped and picked it up, and readon it the ominous words, 'blow out my brains!' I had not been mistaken, then, and was face to face with some coming tragedy. Having onceyielded, I made no further efforts at self-control. The waiters wererunning about; no one paid any attention to me; and creeping to theplace that the unknown had occupied, I obtained possession of two morescraps of paper. Upon one I read, 'shame and horror!' upon the other, 'one hundred thousand francs by to-night. ' The meaning of these fewwords were as clear as daylight to me; but for all that, I managed tocollect every atom of the torn paper, and piecing them together, readthis:--

"'CHARLES, --'I must have one hundred thousand francs to-night, andyou are the only one to whom I can apply. The shame and horror of myposition are too much for me. Can you send it me in two hours? As youact, so I regulate my conduct. I am either saved, or I blow out mybrains. '

"You are probably surprised, Marquis, at the accuracy of my memory, andeven now I can see this scrawl as distinctly as if it were before me. Atthe end of this scrawl was a signature, one of the best known commercialnames, which, in common with other financial houses, was strugglingagainst a panic on the Bourse. My discovery disturbed me very much. Iforgot all my miseries, and thought only of his. Were not our positionsentirely similar? But by degrees a hideous temptation began to creepinto my heart, and, as the minutes passed by, assume more vivid colorand more tangible reality. Why should I not profit by this stolensecret? I went to the desk and asked for some wafers and a Directory. Then, returning, I fastened the torn fragments upon a clean sheet ofpaper, discovered the address of the writer, and then left the _café_. The house was situated in the Rue Chaussee d'Autin. For fully half anhour I paced up and down before his magnificent dwelling-place. Was healive? Had the reply of Charles been in the affirmative? I decided atlast to venture, and rang the bell. A liveried domestic appeared at mysummons, and said that his master did not receive visitors at that hour;besides, he was at dinner. I was exasperated at the man's insolence, and replied hotly, 'If you want to save your master from a terriblemisfortune, go and tell him that a man has brought him the rough draftof the letter he wrote a little time back at the _Café Semblon_. ' Theman obeyed me without a word, no doubt impressed by the earnestness ofmy manner. My message must have caused intense consternation, for ina moment the footman reappeared, and, in an obsequious manner, said, 'Follow at once, sir; my master is waiting for you. ' He led me into alarge room, magnificently furnished as a library, and in the centre ofthis room stood the man of the _Café Semblon_. His face was deadly pale, and his eyes blazed with fury. I was so agitated that I could hardlyspeak. 

"'You have picked up the scraps of paper I threw away?' exclaimed he. 

"I nodded, and showed him the fragments fastened on to the sheet ofnote-paper. 

"'How much do you want for that?' asked he. 'I will give you a thousandfrancs. '

"I declare to you, gentlemen, that up to this time I had no intentionof making money by the secret. My intention in going had been simply tosay, 'I bring you this paper, of which some one else might have taken anundue advantage. I have done you a service; lend me a hundred francs. 'This is what I meant to say, but his behavior irritated me, and Ianswered, --

"'No, I want two thousand francs. '

"He opened a drawer, drew out a bundle of banknotes, and threw them inmy face. 

"'Pay yourself, you villain!' said he. 

"I can, I fear, never make you understand what I felt at this undeservedinsult. I was not myself, and Heaven knows that I was not responsiblefor any crime that I might have committed in the frenzy of the moment, and I was nearly doing so. That man will, perhaps, never see death sonear him, save at his last hour. On his writing table lay one of thoseCatalan daggers, which he evidently used as a paper-cutter. I snatchedit up, and was about to strike, when the recollection of Marie dying ofcold and starvation occurred to me. I dashed the knife to the ground, and rushed from the house in a state bordering on insanity. I went intothat house an honest man, and left it a degraded scoundrel. But I mustfinish. When I reached the street, the two banknotes which I had takenfrom the packet seemed to burn me like coals of fire. I hastened to amoney-changer, and got coin for them. I think, from my demeanor, hemust have thought that I was insane. With my plunder weighing me down, I regained our wretched garret in the Rue de la Harpe. Catenac andHortebise were waiting for me with the utmost anxiety. You remember thatday, my friends. Marquis, my story is especially intended for you. Assoon as I entered the room, my friends ran up to me, delighted at seeingme return in safety, but I thrust them aside. 

"'Let me alone!' cried I; 'I am no longer fit to take an honest man'shand; but we have money, money!' And I threw the bags upon the table. One of them burst, and a flood of silver coins rolled to every part ofthe room. 

"Marie started from her chair with upraised hands. 'Money!' sherepeated, 'money! we shall have food, and I won't die. '

"My friends, Marquis, were not as they are now, and they started back inhorror, fearing that I had committed some crime. 

"'No, ' said I, 'I have committed no crime, not one, at least, that willbring me within the reach of the strong arm of the law. This money isthe price of our honor, but no one will know that fact but ourselves. '

"Marquis, there was no sleeping in the garret all that night; but whendaylight peered through the broken windows, it beamed on a table coveredwith empty bottles, and round it were seated three men, who, having castaside all honorable scruples, had sworn that they would arrive at wealthand prosperity by any means, no matter how foul and treacherous theymight be. That is all. "

CHAPTER XVIII. 

AN INFAMOUS TRADE. 

Mascarin, who was anxious to make as deep an impression as possible uponCroisenois and Paul, broke off his story abruptly, and paced up and downthe room. Had his intention been to startle his audience, he had mostcertainly succeeded. Paul was breathless with interest, and Croisenoisbroke down in attempting to make one of his usual trivial remarks. Hewas not particularly intelligent, except as regarded his self-interests, and though, of course, he knew that there must be some connectionbetween his interests and the recital that Mascarin had just made, hecould not for the life of him make out what it was. Mascarin seemedutterly careless of the effect that he had produced. But the next timethat his walk brought him to his desk he stopped, and, adjusting hisglasses, said, "I trust, Marquis, that you will forgive this longpreliminary address, which would really make a good sensational novel;but we have now arrived at the really practical part of the business. "As he said these words, he took up an imposing attitude, with his elbowresting on the mantelpiece. 

"On the night of which I have spoken, I and my friends releasedourselves from all the bonds of virtue and honor, and freed ourselvesfrom all the fetters of duty to our fellow-men. The plan emanated frommy brain complete in all its details in the will I made twenty years agoto my friends. Marquis, as the summer goes on, you know that the ripestand reddest cherries are the fullest flavored, just so, in the noblestand wealthiest of families in Paris there is not one that has not someterrible and ghostly secret which is sedulously concealed. Now, supposethat one man should gain possession of all of them, would he not be soleand absolute master? Would he not be more powerful than a despot onhis throne? Would he not be able to sway society in any manner he mightthink fit? Well, I said to myself, I will be that man!"

Ever since the Marquis had been in relation with Mascarin, he hadshrewdly suspected that his business was not conducted on really fairprinciples. 

"What you mention, " said he, "is nothing but an elaborate and extendedsystem of blackmail. "

Mascarin bowed low, with an ironical smile on his face. "Just so, Marquis, just so; you have hit on the very name. The word is modern, butthe operation doubtless dates from the earliest ages. The day upon whichone man began to trade upon the guilty secret of another was the dateof the institution of this line of business. If antiquity makes a thingrespectable, then blackmailing is worthy of great respect. "

"But, sir, " said the Marquis, with a flush upon his face, "but, sir--"

"Pshaw!" broke in Mascarin, "does a mere word frighten you? Who has notdone some of it in his time? Why, look at yourself. Do you not recollectthis winter that you detected a young man cheating at cards? You saidnothing to him at the time, but you found out that he was rich, and, calling upon him the next day, borrowed ten thousand francs. When do youintend to repay that loan?"

Croisenois sank back in his chair, overcome with surprise at thisdisplay of knowledge on Mascarin's part. "This is too terrible, "muttered he, but Mascarin went on, --

"I know, at least, two thousand persons in Paris who only exist bythe exercise of this profession; for I have studied them all, fromthe convict who screws money out of his former companions, in penalservitude, to the titled villain, who, having discovered the frailty ofsome unhappy woman, forces her to give him her daughter as his wife. I know a mere messenger in the Rue Douai, who in five years amassed acomfortable fortune. Can you guess how? When he was intrusted witha letter, he invariably opened it, and made himself master of itscontents, and if there was a compromising word in it, he pounced downupon either the writer or the person to whom it was addressed. I alsoknow of one large limited company which pays an annual income to ascoundrel with half a dozen foreign orders, who has found out that theyhave broken their statues of association, and holds proofs of theirhaving done so. But the police are on the alert, and our courts dealvery severely with blackmailers. "

Mascarin went on: "The English, however, are our masters, for in Londona compromising servant is as easily negotiable as a sound bill ofexchange. There is in the city a respectable jeweller, who will advancemoney on any compromising letter with a good name at the foot. His shopis a regular pawnshop of infamy. In the States it has been elevatedto the dignity of a profession, and the citizen at New York dreads theblackmailers more than the police, if he is meditating some dishonorableaction. Our first operations did not bring in any quick returns, and theharvest promised to be a late one; but you have come upon us just aswe are about to reap our harvest. The professions of Hortebise andCatenac--the one a doctor and the other a lawyer--facilitated ouroperations greatly. One administered to the diseases of the body, and the other to that of the purse, and, of course, thus they becameprofessors of many secrets. As for me, the head and chief, it would notdo to remain an idle looker-on. Our funds had dwindled down a good deal, and, after mature consideration, I decided to hire this house, and opena Servants' Registry Office. Such an occupation would not attract anyattention, and in the end it turned out a perfect success, as my friendscan testify. "

Catenac and Hortebise both nodded assent. 

"By the system which I have adopted, " resumed Mascarin, "the wealthyand respectable man is as strictly watched in his own house as is thecondemned wretch in his cell; for no act of his escapes the eyes of theservants whom we have placed around him. He can hardly even conceal histhoughts from us. Even the very secret that he has murmured to his wifewith closed doors reaches our ears. "

The Marquis gave a supercilious smile. 

"You must have had some inkling of this, " observed Mascarin, "for youhave never taken a servant from our establishment; but for all that, I am as well posted up in your affairs as yourself. You have even nowabout you a valet of whom you know nothing. "

"Morel was recommended to me by one of my most intimate friends--SirRichard Wakefield. "

"But for all that I have had my suspicions of him; but we will talk ofthis later, and we will now return to the subject upon which we havemet. As I told you, I conceal the immense power I had attained throughour agency, and use it as occasion presents itself, and after twentyyears' patient labor, I am about to reap a stupendous harvest. Thepolice pay enormous sums to their secret agents, while I, withoutopening my purse, have an army of devoted adherents. I see perhaps fiftyservants of both sexes daily; calculate what this will amount to in ayear. "

There was an air of complacency about the man as he explained theworking of his system, and a ring of triumph in his voice. 

"You must not think that all my agents are in my secrets, for thegreater part of them are quite unaware of what they are doing, and inthis lies my strength. Each of them brings me a slender thread, which Itwine into the mighty cord by which I hold my slaves. These unsuspectingagents remind me of those strange Brazilian birds, whose presence isa sure sign that water is to be found near at hand. When one of themutters a note, I dig, and I find. And now, Marquis, do you understandthe aim and end of our association?"

"It has, " remarked Hortebise quietly, "brought us in some years twohundred and fifty thousand francs apiece. "

If M. De Croisenois disliked prosy tales, he by no means underrated theeloquence of figures. He knew quite enough of Paris to understand thatif Mascarin threw his net regularly, he would infallibly catch manyfish. With this conviction firmly implanted in his mind, he did notrequire much urging to look with favor on the scheme, and, putting on agracious smile, he now asked, "And what must I do to deserve admissioninto this association?"

Paul had listened in wonder and terror, but by degrees all feelings ofdisgust at the criminality of these men faded away before the power thatthey unquestionably possessed. 

"If, " resumed Mascarin, "we have up to this met with no seriousobstacles, it is because, though apparently acting rashly, we are inreality most prudent and cautious. We have managed our slaves well, andhave not driven any one to desperation. But we are beginning to wearyof our profession; we are getting old, and we have need of repose. We intend, therefore, to retire, but before that we wish to haveall matters securely settled. I have an immense mass of documentaryevidence, but it is not always easy to realize the value they represent, and I wait upon your assistance to enable me to do so. "

Croisenois' face fell. Was he to take compromising letters round tohis acquaintances and boldly say, "Your purse or your honor?" He had noobjection to share the profits of this ignoble trade, but he objectedstrongly to showing his connection with it openly. "No, no, " cried hehastily, "you must not depend upon me. "

He seemed so much in earnest that Hortebise and Catenac exchangedglances of dismay. 

"Let us have no nonsense, " returned Mascarin sternly, "and wait a littlebefore you display so much fierceness. I told you that my documentaryevidence was of a peculiar kind. We very often had among our fishmarried people who cannot deal with their personal property. A husband, for instance, will say, 'I can't take ten thousand francs without mywife, knowing of it. ' Women say, 'Why, I get all my money through myhusband, ' and both are telling the truth. They kneel at my feet andentreat me to have mercy, saying, 'Find me some excuse for using aportion of my funds and you shall have more than you ask. ' For a longtime I have sought for this means, and at last I have found it in theLimited Company, which you, Marquis, will float next month. "

"Really!" returned the Marquis. "I do not see--"

"I beg your pardon; you see it all clearly. A husband who cannot, without fear of disturbing his domestic peace, put in five thousandfrancs, can put in ten thousand if he tells his wife, 'It is aninvestment;' and many a wife who has not any money of her own willpersuade her husband to bring in the money we require by the proposal totake shares. Now, what do you say to the idea?"

"I think that it is an excellent one, but what part am I to play in it?"

"In taking the part of Chairman of the Company. I could not do so, beingmerely the proprietor of a Servant's Registry Office. Hortebise, as adoctor, and more than all a homeopath, would inspire no confidence, andCatenac's legal profession prevents him appearing in the matter openly. He will act as our legal adviser. "

"But really I do not see anything about me that would induce people toinvest, " remarked De Croisenois. 

"You are too modest; you have your name and rank, which, however we maylook upon them, have a great effect upon the general public. There aremany Companies who pay directors of rank and credible connection verylargely. Before starting this enterprise you can settle all your debts, and the world will then conclude that you are possessed of great wealth, while, at the same time, the news of your approaching marriage withMademoiselle du Mussidan will be the general talk of society. Whatbetter position could you be in?"

"But I have the reputation of being a reckless spendthrift. "

"All the better. The day the prospectus comes out with your name at thehead of it, there will be a universal burst of laughter. Men will say, 'Do you see what Croisenois is at now? What on earth possessed him to gointo Company work?' But as this proceeding on your part will have paidyour debts and given you Mademoiselle Sabine's dowry, I think that thelaugh will be on your side. "

The prospect dazzled Des Croisenois. 

"And suppose I accept, " asked he, "what will be the end of the farce?"

"Very simple. When all the shares are taken up, you will close theoffice and let the Company look after itself. "

Croisenois started to his feet angrily. "Why, " cried he, "you intendto make a catspaw of me! Such a proceeding would send me to penalservitude. "

"What an ungrateful man he is!" said Mascarin, appealing to hisaudience, "when I am doing all I can to prevent his going there. "

"Sir!"

But Catenac now felt it time to interfere. "You do not understand, "remarked he, addressing Croisenois. "You will start a Company for thedevelopment of some native product, let us say Pyrenean marble, forinstance, issue a prospectus, and the shares will be at once taken up byMascarin's clients. "

"Well, what happens then?"

"Why, out of the funds thus obtained we will take care when the crashcomes to reimburse any outsiders who may have taken shares in theconcern, telling them that the thing has been a failure, and that we areruined; while Mascarin will take care to obtain from all his clients adischarge in full, so the Company will quietly collapse. "

"But, " objected the Marquis, "all the shareholders will know that I am arogue. "

"Naturally. "

"They would hold me in utter contempt. "

"Perhaps so, but they would never venture to let you see it. I neverthought that you would make objections; and whose character, howeverdeep, will bear investigation?"

"Are you sure that you hold your people securely?" asked he; "and thatnone of them will turn surly?"

Mascarin was waiting for this question, and taking from his desk thepieces of cardboard which he took so much pains to arrange, he replied, "I have here the names of three hundred and fifty people who will eachinvest ten thousand francs in the Company. Listen to me, and judge foryourself. "

He put all three pieces of cardboard together, and then drawing out onehe read, --

"'N---, civil engineer. Five letters written by him to the gentlemanwho procured his appointment for him: worth fifteen thousand francs. '

"'P---, merchant. Absolute proof that his last bankruptcy was afraudulent one, and that he kept back from his creditors two hundredthousand francs. Good for twenty thousand francs. '

"'Madame V---. A photograph taken in very light and airy costume. Poor, but can pay three thousand francs. '

"'M. H---. Three letters from her mother, proving that the daughterhad compromised herself before marriage. Letter from a monthly nurseappended. Can be made to pay ten thousand francs. '

"'X---, a portion of his correspondence with L--- in 1848. Threethousand francs. '

"'Madame M. De M---. A true history of her adventure with M. J---. '"

This sample was quite sufficient to satisfy M. De Croisenois. "Enough, "cried he, "I yield. I bow before your gigantic power, which utterlysurpasses that of the police. Give me your orders. "

Before this Mascarin had conquered Hortebise and Paul Violaine, and nowhe had the Marquis at his feet. Many times during this conversation theMarquis had more than once endeavored to make up his mind to withdrawentirely from the business, but he had been unable to resist the strangefascination of that mysterious person who had been laying bare hisscheme with such extraordinary audacity. The few vestiges of honestythat were still left in his corrupted soul revolted at the thought ofthe shameful compact into which he was about to enter, but the dazzlingprospect held out before his eyes silenced his scruples, and he felt acertain pride in being the associate of men who possessed such seeminglyillimitable power. Mascarin saw that there was no longer any necessityfor the extreme firmness with which he had before spoken, and it waswith the most studied courtesy that he replied: "I have no orders togive you, Marquis, our interests are identical, and we must all have avoice in the deliberations as to the best means of carrying them out. "

This change from _hauteur_ to suavity gratified Croisenois' prideimmensely. 

"Now, " continued Mascarin, "let us speak of your own circumstances. Youwrote to me recently that you had nothing, and I am aware that you haveno expectations for the future. "

"Excuse me, but there is the fortune of my poor brother George, whodisappeared so mysteriously. "

"Let me assure you, " answered Mascarin, "that we had better be perfectlyfrank with each other. "

"And am I not so?" answered the Marquis. 

"Why, in talking of this imaginary fortune?"

"It is not imaginary; it is real, and a very large one, too, abouttwelve or fourteen hundred thousand francs, and I can obtain it, for, byArticles 127 and 129 of the Code Napoleon---"

He interrupted himself, as he saw an expression of hardly-restrainedlaughter upon the features of Dr. Hortebise. 

"Do not talk nonsense, " answered Mascarin. "You could at first havefiled an affidavit regarding your brother's disappearance, and appliedto the Court to appoint you trustee, but this is now exactly what youwish to avoid. "

"Why not, pray? Do you think----"

"Pooh, pooh, but you have raised so much money on this inheritance thatthere is nothing of it left hardly, certainly not sufficient to pay yourdebts. It is the bait you used to allure your tradespeople into givingyou credit. "

At finding himself so easily fathomed, Croisenois burst into a peel oflaughter. Mascarin had by this time thrown himself into an armchair, asthough utterly worn out by fatigue. 

"There is no necessity, Marquis, " said he, "to detain you here longer. We shall meet again shortly, and settle matters. Meanwhile Catenacwill draw up the prospectus and Articles of Association of the proposedCompany, and post you up in the financial slang of which you mustoccasionally make use. "

The Marquis and the lawyer at once rose and took their leave. As soon asthe door had closed behind them, Mascarin seemed to recover his energy. 

"Well, Paul, " said he, "what do you think of all this?"

Like all men with weak and ductile natures, Paul, after being almostprostrated by the first discovery of his master's villainy, had nowsucceeded in smothering the dictates of his conscience, and adopted acynical tone quite worthy of his companions. 

"I see, " said he, "that you have need of me. Well, I am not a Marquis, but you will find me quite as trustworthy and obedient. "

Paul's reply did not seem to surprise Mascarin, but it is doubtfulwhether he was pleased by it, for his countenance showed traces of astruggle between extreme satisfaction and intense annoyance, while thedoctor was surprised at the cool audacity of the young man whose mind hehad undertaken to form. 

Paul was a little disturbed by the long and continued silence of hispatron, and at last he ventured to say timidly, --

"Well, sir, I am anxious to know under what conditions I am to be shownthe way to make my fortune and marry Mademoiselle Flavia Rigal, whom Ilove. "

Mascarin gave a diabolical smile. 

"Whose dowry you love, " he observed. "Let us speak plainly. "

"Pardon me, sir, I said just what I meant. "

The doctor, who had not Mascarin's reasons for gravity, now burst into ajovial laugh. 

"And that pretty Rose, " said he, "what of her?"

"Rose is a creature of the past, " answered Paul. "I can now see what anidiot I was, and I have entirely effaced her from my memory, and I amhalf inclined to deplore that Mademoiselle Rigal is an heiress, the moreso if it is to form a barrier between us. "

This declaration seemed to make Mascarin more easy. 

"Reassure yourself, my boy, " said he, "we will remove that barrier; butI will not conceal from you that the part you have to play is much moredifficult than that assigned to the Marquis de Croisenois; but if it isharder and more perilous, the reward will be proportionately greater. "

"With your aid and advice I feel capable of doing everything necessary, "returned Paul. 

"You will need great self-confidence, the utmost self-possession, and asa commencement you must utterly destroy your present identity. "

"That I will do with the utmost willingness. "

"You must become another person entirely; you must adopt his name, hisgait, his behavior, his virtues, and even his failings. You must forgetall that you have either said or done. You must always think that youare in reality the person you represent yourself to be, for this is theonly way in which you can lead others into a similar belief. Your taskwill be a heavy one. "

"Ah, sir, " cried the young man, enthusiastically, "can you doubt me?"

"The glorious beam of success that shines ahead of you will take yourattention from the difficulties and dangers of the road that you aretreading. "

The genial Dr. Hortebise rubbed his hands. 

"You are right, " cried he, "quite right. "

"When you have done this, " resumed Mascarin, "we shall not hesitate toacquaint you with the secret of the lofty destiny that awaits you. Doyou understand me fully?"

Here the speaker was interrupted by the entrance of Beaumarchef, who hadsignified his desire to come in by three distinct raps upon the door. He was now gorgeous to look upon, for having taken advantage of a sparehalf hour, he had donned his best clothes. 

"What is it?" demanded Mascarin. 

"Here are two letters, sir. "

"Thank you; hand them to me, and leave us. "

As soon as they were once more alone, Mascarin examined the letters. 

"Ah, " cried he, "one from Van Klopen, and the other from the Hotel deMussidan. Let us first see what our friend the man-milliner has to say. 

"DEAR SIR, --

"You may be at ease. Our mutual friend Verminet has executed your ordersmost adroitly. At his instigation Gaston de Gandelu has forged thebanker Martin Rigal's signature on five different bills. I hold them, and awaiting your further orders regarding them, and also with respectto Madame de Bois Arden, "I remain your obedient servant, "VAN KLOPEN. "

Tossing it on the table, Mascarin opened the other letter, which he alsoread aloud. 

"SIR, --

"I have to report to you the breaking off of the marriage betweenMademoiselle Sabine and M. De Breulh-Faverlay. Mademoiselle is veryill, and I heard the medical man say that she might not survive the nexttwenty-four hours. 

"FLORESTAN. "

Mascarin was so filled with rage on learning this piece of news, whichseemed likely to interfere with his plans, that he struck his hand downheavily on the table. 

"Damnation!" cried he. "If this little fool should die now, all our workwill have to be recommenced. "

He thrust aside his chair, and paced hurriedly up and down the room. 

"Florestan is right, " said he; "this illness of the girl comes on at thedate of the rupture of the engagement. There is some secret that we mustlearn, for we dare not work in the dark. "

"Shall I go to the Hotel de Mussidan?" asked Hortebise. 

"Not a bad idea. Your carriage is waiting, is it not? You can go in yourcapacity as a medical man. "

The doctor was preparing to go, when Mascarin arrested his progress. 

"No, " said he, "I have changed my mind. We must neither of us be seennear the place. I expect that one of our mines has exploded; that theCount and Countess have exchanged confidences, and that between the twothe daughter has been struck down. "

"How shall we find this out?"

"I will see Florestan and try and find out. "

In an instant he vanished into his inner room, and as he changed hisdress, continued to converse with the doctor. 

"This blow would be comparatively trifling, if I had not so much onhand, but I have Paul to look after. The Champdoce affair must bepressed on, for Catenac, the traitor, has put the Duke and Perpignaninto communication. I must see Perpignan and discover how much hasbeen told him, and how much he has guessed. I will also see CarolineSchimmel, and extract something from her. I wish to heaven that therewere thirty-six hours in the day instead of only twenty-four. "

By this time he had completed his change of costume and called thedoctor into his room. 

"I am off, now, " whispered he; "do not lose sight of Paul for a singleinstant, for we are not sufficiently sure of him to let him go aboutalone with our secret in his possession. Take him to dine at MartinRigal's, and then make some excuse for keeping him all night at yourrooms. See me to-morrow. "

And he went out so hurriedly that he did not hear the cheery voice ofthe doctor calling after him, --

"Good luck; I wish you all good luck. "

CHAPTER XIX. 

A FRIENDLY RIVAL. 

On leaving the Hotel de Mussidan, M. De Breulh-Faverlay dismissedhis carriage, for he felt as a man often does after experiencing someviolent emotion, the absolute necessity for exercise, and to be alonewith his thoughts, and by so doing recover his self-possession. Hisfriends would have been surprised if they had seen him pacing hurriedlyalong the Champs Elysees. The usual calm of his manner had vanished, andthe generally calm expression of his features was entirely absent. As hewalked, he talked to himself, and gesticulated. 

"And this is what we call being a man of the world. We think ourselvestrue philosophers, and a look from a pair of beautiful, pleading eyesscatters all our theories to the winds. "

He had loved Sabine upon the day on which he had asked for her hand, but not so fondly as upon this day when he had learned that she could nolonger be his wife, for, from the moment he had made this discovery, sheseemed to him more gifted and fascinating than ever. No one could havebelieved that he, the idol of society, the petted darling of the women, and the successful rival of the men, could have been refused by theyoung girl to whom he had offered his hand. 

"Yes, " murmured he with a sigh, "for she is just the companion for lifethat I longed for. Where could I find so intelligent an intellect andso pure a mind, united with such radiant beauty, so different from thewomen of society, who live but for dress and gossip. Has Sabine anythingin common with those giddy girls who look upon life as a perpetualvalue, and who take a husband as they do a partner, because they cannotdance without one? How her face lighted up as she spoke of him, and howthoroughly she puts faith in him! The end of it all is that I shall diea bachelor. In my old age I will take to the pleasures of the table, foran excellent authority declares that a man can enjoy his four meals aday with comfort. Well, that is something to look forward to certainly, and it will not impair my digestion if my heirs and expectants come andsquabble round my armchair. Ah, " he added, with a deep sigh, "my lifehas been a failure. "

M. De Breulh-Faverlay was a very different type of man to that whichboth his friends and his enemies popularly supposed him to be. Upon thedeath of his uncle, he had plunged into the frivolous vortex of Parisiandissipation, but of this he had soon wearied. 

All that he had cared for was to see the doings of his racehorsechronicled in the sporting journals, and occasionally to expend a fewthousand francs in presents of jewelry to some fashionable actress. Buthe had secretly longed for some more honorable manner of fulfilling hisduties in life, and he had determined that before his marriage he wouldsell his stud and break with his old associates entirely; and now thiswished-for marriage would never take place. 

When he entered his club, the traces of his agitation were so visibleupon his face, that some of the card-players stopped their game toinquire if Chambertin, the favorite for the Chantilly cup, had brokendown. 

"No, no, " replied he, as he hurriedly made his way to the writing-room, "Chambertin is as sound as a bell. "

"What the deuce has happened to De Breulh?" asked one of the members. 

"Goodness gracious!" remarked the man to whom the question wasaddressed, "he seems in a hurry to write a letter. "

The gentleman was right. M. De Breulh was writing a withdrawal from hisdemand for Sabine's hand to M. De Mussidan, and he found the task byno means an easy one, for on reading it over he found that there wasa valid strain of bitterness throughout it, which would surely attractattention and perhaps cause embarrassing questions to be put to him. 

"No, " murmured he, "this letter is quite unworthy of me. " And tearing itup, he began another, in which he strung together several conventionalexcuses, alleging the difficulty of breaking off his former habits andof an awkward entanglement which he had been unable to break with, ashe had anticipated. When this little masterpiece of diplomacy wascompleted, he rang the bell, and, handing it to one of the clubservants, told him to take it to the Count de Mussidan's house. Whenthis unpleasant duty was over, M. De Breulh had hoped to experience somefeeling of relief, but in this he was mistaken. He tried cards, but rosefrom the table in a quarter of an hour; he ordered dinner, but appetitewas wanting; he went to the opera, but then he did nothing but yawn, andthe music grated on his nerves. At length he returned home. The day hadseemed interminable, and he could not sleep, for Sabine's face was everbefore him. Who could this man be whom she so fondly loved and preferredbefore all others? He respected her too much not to feel assured thather choice was a worthy one, but his experience had taught him that whenso many men of the world fell into strange entanglements, a poor girlwithout knowledge of the dangers around her might easily be entrapped. "If he is worthy of her, " thought he, "I will do my best to aid her; butif not, I will open her eyes. "

At four o'clock in the morning he was still seated musing before theexpiring embers of his fire; he had made up his mind to see Andre--therewas no difficulty in this, for a man of taste and wealth can find aready excuse for visiting the studio of a struggling artist. He had nofixed plan as to what he would say or do, he left all to chance, andwith this decision he went to bed, and by two in the afternoon he drovestraight to the Rue de la Tour d'Auvergne. 

Andre's discreet portress was as usual leaning on her broom in thegallery as M. De Breulh's magnificent equipage drew up. 

"Gracious me!" exclaimed the worthy woman, dazzled by the gorgeousnessof the whole turnout; "he can't be coming here, he must have mistakenthe house. "

But her amazement reached its height when M. De Breulh, on alighting, asked for Andre. 

"Fourth story, first door to the right, " answered the woman; "but I willshow you the way. "

"Don't trouble yourself;" and with these words M. De Breulh ascended thestaircase that led to the painter's studio and knocked on the door. Ashe did so, he heard a quick, light step upon the stairs, and a youngand very dark man, dressed in a weaver's blouse and carrying a tin pailwhich he had evidently just filled with water from the cistern, came up. 

"Are you M. Andre?" asked De Breulh. 

"That is my name, sir. "

"I wish to say a few words to you. "

"Pray come in, " replied the young artist, opening the door of his studioand ushering his visitor in. Andre's voice and expression had madea favorable impression upon his visitor; but he was, in spite of hishaving thrown aside nearly all foolish prejudices, a little startled athis costume. He did not, however, allow his surprise to be visible. 

"I ought to apologize for receiving you like this, " remarked Andrequickly, "but a poor man must wait upon himself. " As he spoke, he threwoff his blouse and set down the pail in a corner of the room. 

"I rather should offer my excuse for my intrusion, " returned M. DeBreulh. "I came here by the advice of one of my friends;" he stopped foran instant, endeavoring to think of a name. 

"By Prince Crescensi, perhaps, " suggested Andre. 

"Yes, yes, " continued M. De Breulh, eagerly snatching at the rope theartist held out to him. "The Prince sings your praises everywhere, and speaks of your talents with the utmost enthusiasm. I am, on hisrecommendation, desirous of commissioning you to paint a picture forme, and I can assure you that in my gallery it will have no need to beashamed of its companions. "

Andre bowed, coloring deeply at the compliment. 

"I am obliged to you, " said he, "and I trust that you will not bedisappointed in taking the Prince's opinion of my talent. "

"Why should I be so?"

"Because, for the last four months I have been so busy that I havereally nothing to show you. "

"That is of no importance. I have every confidence in you. "

"Then, " returned Andre, "all that we have to do is to choose a subject. "

Andre's manner had by this time so captivated De Breulh that he mutteredto himself, "I really ought to hate this fellow, but on my word I likehim better than any one I have met for a long time. "

Andre had by this time placed a large portfolio on the table. "Here, "said he, "are some twenty or thirty sketches; if any of them took yourfancy, you could make your choice. "

"Let me see them, " returned De Breulh politely, for having made anestimate of the young man's character, he now wished to see what hisartistic talents were like. With this object in view he examined allthe sketches in the portfolio minutely, and then turned to those on thewalls. Andre said nothing, but he somehow felt that this visit wouldprove the turning-point of his misfortunes. But for all that the youngman's heart was very sad, for it was two days since Sabine had lefthim, promising to write to him the next morning regarding M. DeBreulh-Faverlay, but as yet he had received no communication, and hewas on the tenterhooks of expectation, not because he had any doubtof Sabine, but for the reason that he had no means of obtaining anyinformation of what went on in the interior of the Hotel de Mussidan. M. De Breulh had now finished his survey, and had come to the conclusionthat though many of Andre's productions were crude and lacking infinish, yet that he had the true artistic metal in him. He extended hishand to the young man and said forcibly, "I am no longer influenced bythe opinion of a friend. I have seen and judged for myself, and am moredesirous than ever of possessing one of your pictures. I have made mychoice of a subject, and now let us discuss the details. "

As he spoke he handed a little sketch to Andre. It was a view ofeveryday life, which the painter had entitled, "Outside the Barrier. "Two men with torn garments and wine-flushed faces were struggling intipsy combat, while on the right hand side of the picture lay a woman, bleeding profusely from a cut on the forehead, and two of her terrifiedcompanions were bending over her, endeavoring to restore her toconsciousness. In the background were some flying figures, who werehastening up to separate the combatants. The sketch was one of reallife, denuded of any sham element of romance, and this was the one thatM. De Breulh had chosen. The two men discussed the size of the picture, and not a single detail was omitted. 

"I am sure that you will do all that is right, " remarked De Breulh. "Letyour own inspiration guide you, and all will be well. " In reality he wasdying to get away, for he felt in what a false position he was, and witha violent effort he approached the money part of the matter. 

"Monsieur, " said Andre, "it is impossible to fix a price; whencompleted, a picture may only be worth the canvas that it is painted on, or else beyond all price. Let us wait. "

"Well, " broke in M. De Breulh, "what do you say to ten thousand francs?"

"Too much, " returned Andre with a deprecatory wave of his hand; "fartoo much. If I succeed in it, as I hope to do, I will ask six thousandfrancs for it. "

"Agreed!" answered De Breulh, taking from his pocket an elegantnote-case with his crest and monogram upon it and extracting from itthree thousand francs. "I will, as is usual, deposit half the price inadvance. "

Andre blushed scarlet. "You are joking, " said he. 

"Not at all, " answered De Breulh quietly; "I have my own way of doingbusiness, from which I never deviate. "

In spite of this answer Andre's pride was hurt. 

"But, " remarked he, "this picture will not be ready for perhaps six orseven months. I have entered into a contract with a wealthy builder, named Candele, to execute the outside decorations of his house. "

"Never mind that, " answered M. De Breulh; "take as long as you like. "

Of course, after this, Andre could offer no further opposition; hetherefore took the money without another word. 

"And now, " said De Breulh, as he paused for a moment at the opendoorway, "let me wish you my good luck, and if you will come andbreakfast with me one day, I think I can show you some pictures whichyou will really appreciate. " And handing his card to the artist, he wentdownstairs. 

At first Andre did not glance at the card, but when he did so, theletters seemed to sear his eyeballs like a red-hot iron. For a momenthe could hardly breathe, and then a feeling of intense anger tookpossession of him, for he felt that he had been trifled with anddeceived. 

Hardly knowing what he was doing, he rushed out on the landing, and, leaning over the banister, called out loudly, "Sir, stop a moment!"

De Breulh, who had by this time reached the bottom of the staircase, turned round. 

"Come back, if you please, " said Andre. 

After a moment's hesitation, De Breulh obeyed; and when he was againin the studio, Andre addressed him in a voice that quivered withindignation. 

"Take back these notes, sir; I will not accept them. "

"What do you mean?"

"Only that I have thought the matter over, and that I will not acceptyour commission. "

"And why this sudden change?"

"You know perfectly well, M. De Breulh-Faverlay. "

The gentleman at once saw that Sabine had mentioned his name to theyoung artist, and with a slight lacking of generous feeling said, --

"Let me hear your reasons, sir. "

"Because, because----" stammered the young man. 

"Because is not an answer. "

Andre's confusion became greater. He would not tell the whole truth, forhe would have died sooner than bring Sabine's name into the discussion;and he could only see one way out of his difficulty. 

"Suppose I say that I do not like your manner or appearance, " returnedhe disdainfully. 

"Is it your wish to insult me, M. Andre?"

"As you choose to take it. "

M. De Breulh was not gifted with an immense stock of patience. He turnedlivid, and made a step forward; but his generous impulses restrainedhim, and it was in a voice broken by agitation that he said, --

"Accept my apologies, M. Andre; I fear that I have played a partunworthy of you and of myself. I ought to have given you my name atonce. I know everything. "

"I do not comprehend you, " answered Andre in a glacial voice. 

"Why doubt, then, if you do not understand? However, I have given youcause to do so. But, let me reassure you, Mademoiselle Sabine has spokento me with the utmost frankness; and, if you still distrust me, let metell you that this veiled picture is her portrait. I will saymore, " continued De Breulh gravely, as the artist still kept silent;"yesterday, at Mademoiselle de Mussidan's request, I withdrew from myposition as a suitor for her hand. "

Andre had already been touched by De Breulh's frank and open manner, andthese last words entirely conquered him. 

"I can never thank you enough, " began he. 

But De Breulh interrupted him. 

"A man should not be thanked for performing his duty. I should lie toyou if I said that I am not painfully surprised at her communication;but tell me, had you been in my place, would you not have acted in thesame manner?"

"I think that I should. "

"And now we are friends, are we not?" and again De Breulh held out hishand, which Andre clasped with enthusiasm. 

"Yes, yes, " faltered he. 

"And now, " continued De Breulh, with a forced smile, "let us say no moreabout the picture, which was, after all, merely a pretext. As I camehere I said to myself, 'If the man to whom Mademoiselle de Mussidan hasgiven her heart is worthy of her, I will do all I can to advance hissuit with her family!' I came here to see what you were like; and nowI say to you, do me a great honor, and permit me to place myself, myfortune, and the influence of my friends, at your disposal. "

The offer was made in perfect good faith, but Andre shook his head. 

"I shall never forget your kindness in making this offer, but----"; hepaused for a moment, and then went on: "I will be as open as you havebeen, and will tell you the whole truth. You may think me foolish; butremember, though I am poor, I have still my self-respect to maintain. Ilove Sabine, and would give my life for her. Do not be offended at whatI am about to say. I would, however, sooner give up her hand than beindebted for it to you. "

"But this is mere madness. "

"No, sir, it is the purest wisdom; for were I to accede to your wishes, I should feel deeply humiliated by the thought of your self-denial; forI should be madly jealous of the part you were playing. You are of highbirth and princely fortune, while I am utterly friendless and unknown;all that I am deficient in you possess. "

"But I have been poor myself, " interposed De Breulh, "and perhapsendured even greater miseries than ever you have done. Do you know whatI was doing at your age? I was slowly starving to death at Sonora, andhad to take the humblest position in a cattle ranch. Do you think thatthose days taught me nothing?"

"You will be able to judge me all the more clearly then, " returnedAndre. "If I raise myself up to Sabine's level, as she begged me to, then I shall feel that I am your equal; but if I accept your aid, I amyour dependent; and I will obey her wishes or perish in the effort. "

Up to this moment the passion which stirred Andre's inmost soul hadbreathed in every word he uttered; but, checking himself by a mightyeffort, he resumed in a tone of greater calmness, --

"But I ought to remember how much we already owe you, and I hope thatyou will allow me to call myself your friend?"

M. De Breulh's noble nature enabled him to understand Andre's scruples;his feelings, however, would not for the instant enable him to speak. He slowly put the notes back in their receptacle, and then said in a lowvoice, --

"Your conduct is that of an honorable man; and remember this, at alltimes and seasons you may rely upon De Breulh-Faverlay. Farewell!"

As soon as he was alone, Andre threw himself into an armchair, and musedover this unexpected interview, which had proved a source of such solaceto his feelings. All that he now longed for was a letter from Sabine. At this moment the portress entered with a letter. Andre was so occupiedwith his thoughts that he hardly noticed this act of condescension onthe part of the worthy woman. 

"A letter!" exclaimed he; and, tearing it open, he glanced at thesignature. But Sabine's name was not there; it was signed Modeste. What could Sabine's maid have to say to him? He felt that some greatmisfortune was impending, and, trembling with excitement, he read theletter. 

"SIR, --

"I write to tell you that my mistress has succeeded in the matter shespoke of to you; but I am sorry to say that I have bad news to give you, for she is seriously ill. "

"Ill!" exclaimed Andre, crushing up the letter in his hands, and dashingit upon the floor. "Ill! ill!" he repeated, not heeding the presenceof the portress; "why, she may be dead;" and, snatching up his hat, hedashed downstairs into the street. 

As soon as the portress was left alone, she picked up the letter, smoothed it out, and read it. 

"And so, " murmured she, "the little lady's name was Sabine--a prettyname; and she is ill, is she? I expect that the old gent who called thismorning, and asked so many questions about M. Andre, would give a gooddeal for this note; but no, that would not be fair. "

CHAPTER XX. 

A COUNCIL OF WAR. 

Mad with his terrible forebodings, Andre hurried through the streets inthe direction of the Hotel de Mussidan, caring little for the attentionthat his excited looks and gestures caused. He had no fixed plan as towhat to do when he arrived there, and it was only on reaching the Ruede Matignon that he recovered sufficient coolness to deliberate andreflect. 

He had arrived at the desired spot; how should he set to work to obtainthe information that he required? The evening was a dark one, and thegas-lamps showed a feeble light through the dull February fog. Therewere no signs of life in the Rue de Matignon, and the silence was onlybroken by the continuous surge of carriage wheels in the Faubourg SaintHonore. This gloom, and the inclemency of the weather, added to theyoung painter's depression. He saw his utter helplessness, and feltthat he could not move a step without compromising the woman he somadly adored. He walked to the gate of the house, hoping to gain someinformation even from the exterior aspect of the house; for it seemed tohim that if Sabine were dying, the very stones in the street would uttersounds of woe and lamentation; but the fog had closely enwrapped thehouse, and he could hardly see which of the windows were lighted. Hisreasoning faculties told him that there was no use in waiting, but aninner voice warned him to stay. Would Modeste, who had written to him, divine, by some means that he was there, in an agony of suspense, andcome out to give him information and solace? All at once a thoughtdarted across his mind, vivid as a flash of lightning. 

"M. De Breulh will help me, " cried he; "for though I cannot go to thehouse, he will have no difficulty in doing so. "

By good luck, he had M. De Breulh's card in his pocket, and hurriedoff to his address. M. De Breulh had a fine house in the Avenue del'Imperatrice, which he had taken more for the commodiousness of thestables than for his own convenience. 

"I wish to see M. De Breulh, " said Andre, as he stopped breathless atthe door, where a couple of footmen were chatting. 

The men looked at him with supreme contempt. "He is out, " one of them atlast condescended to reply. 

Andre had by this time recovered his coolness, and taking out DeBreulh's card, wrote these words on it in pencil: "One moment'sinterview. ANDRE. "

"Give this to your master as soon as he comes in, " said he. 

Then he descended the steps slowly. He was certain that M. De Breulh wasin the house, and that he would send out after the person who had leftthe card almost at once. His conclusion proved right; in five minuteshe was overtaken by the panting lackey, who, conducting him back tothe house, showed him into a magnificently furnished library. De Breulhfeared that some terrible event had taken place. 

"What has happened?" said he. 

"Sabine is dying;" and Andre at once proceeded to inform De Breulh ofwhat had happened since his departure. 

"But how can I help you?"

"You can go and make inquiries at the house. "

"Reflect; yesterday I wrote to the Count, and broke off a marriage, the preliminaries of which had been completely settled; and withintwenty-four hours to send and inquire after his daughter's health wouldbe to be guilty of an act of inexcusable insolence; for it would lookas if I fancied that Mademoiselle de Mussidan had been struck down by myrupture of the engagement. "

"You are right, " murmured Andre dejectedly. 

"But, " continued De Breulh, after a moment's reflection, "I have adistant relative, a lady who is also a connection of the Mussidanfamily, the Viscountess de Bois Arden, and she will be glad to be ofservice to me. She is young and giddy, but as true as steel. Come withme to her; my carriage is ready. "

The footman were surprised at seeing their master on such terms ofintimacy with the shabbily dressed young man, but ventured, of course, on no remarks. 

Not a word was exchanged during the brief drive to Madame de BoisArden's house. 

"Wait for me, " exclaimed De Breulh, springing from the vehicle as soonas it drew up; "I will be back directly. "

Madame de Bois Arden is justly called one of the handsomest women inParis. Very fair, with masses of black hair, and a complexion to whichart has united itself to the gifts of nature, she is a woman who hasbeen everywhere, knows everything, talks incessantly, and generally verywell. She spends forty thousand francs per annum on dress. She is alwayscommitting all sorts of imprudent acts, and scandal is ever busy withher name. Half a dozen of the opposite sex have been talked of inconnection with her, while in reality she is a true and faithful wife, for, in spite of all her frivolity, she adores her husband, and isin great awe of him. Such was the character of the lady into whoseapartment M. De Breulh was introduced. Madame de Bois Arden was engagedin admiring a very pretty fancy costume of the reign of Louis XV. , oneof Van Klopen's masterpieces, when M. De Breulh was announced, which shewas going to wear, on her return from the opera, at a masquerade ball atthe Austrian Ambassador's. Madame de Bois Arden greeted her visitor witheffusion, for they had been acquaintances from childhood, and alwaysaddressed each other by their Christian names. 

"What, you here at this hour, Gontran!" said the lady. "Is it a vision, or only a miracle?" But the smile died away upon her lips, as she caughta glimpse of her visitor's pale and harassed face. "Is there anythingthe matter?" asked she. 

"Not yet, " answered he, "but there may be, for I hear that Mademoisellede Mussidan is dangerously ill. "

"Is she really? Poor Sabine! what is the matter with her?"

"I do not know; and I want you, Clotilde, to send one of your people toinquire into the truth of what we have heard. "

Madame de Bois Arden opened her eyes very wide. 

"Are you joking?" said she. "Why do you not send yourself?"

"It is impossible for me to do so; and if you have any kindness ofheart, you do as I ask you; and I want you also to promise me not to saya word of this to any one. "

Excited as she was by this mystery, Madame de Bois Arden did not askanother question. 

"I will do exactly what you want, " replied she, "and respect yoursecret. I would go at once, were it not that Bois Arden will never sitdown to dinner without me; but the moment we have finished I will go. "

"Thanks, a thousand times; and now I will go home and wait for news fromyou. "

"Not at all, --you will remain here to dinner. "

"I must, --I have a friend waiting for me. "

"Do as you please, then, " returned the Viscountess, laughing. "I willsend round a note this evening. "

De Breulh pressed her hand, and hurried down, and was met by Andre atthe door, for he had been unable to sit still in the carriage. 

"Keep up your courage. Madame de Bois Arden had not heard ofMademoiselle Sabine's illness, and this looks as if it was not a veryserious matter. We shall have the real facts in three hours. "

"Three hours!" groaned Andre, "what a lapse of time!"

"It is rather long, I admit; but we will talk of her while we wait, foryou must stay and dine with me. "

Andre yielded, for he had no longer the energy to contest anything. Thedinner was exquisite, but the two men were not in a condition of mindto enjoy it, and scarcely consumed anything. Vainly did they endeavorto speak on indifferent subjects, and when the coffee had been served inthe library, they relapsed into utter silence. As the clock struck ten, however, a knock was heard at the door, then whisperings, and the rustleof female attire, and lastly Madame de Bois Arden burst upon them like atornado. 

"Here I am, " cried she. 

It was certainly rather a hazardous step to pay such a late visit to abachelor's house, but then the Viscountess de Bois Arden did exactly asshe pleased. 

"I have come here, Gontran, " exclaimed she, with extreme vehemence, "totell you that I think your conduct is abominable and ungentlemanly. "

"Clotilde!"

"Hold your tongue! you are a wretch! Ah! now I can see why you did notwish to write and inquire about poor Sabine. You well knew the effectthat your message would have on her. "

M. De Breulh smiled as he turned to Andre and said, --

"You see that I was right in what I told you. "

This remark for the first time attracted Madame de Bois Arden'sattention to the fact that a stranger was present, and she trembled lestshe had committed some grave indiscretion. 

"Gracious heavens!" exclaimed she, with a start, "why, I thought that wewere alone!"

"This gentleman has all my confidence, " replied M. De Breulh seriously;and as he spoke he laid his hand upon Andre's shoulder. "Permit me tointroduce M. Andre to you, my dear Clotilde; he may not be known to-day, but in a short time his reputation will be European. "

Andre bowed, but for once in her life the Viscountess felt embarrassed, for she was surprised at the extremely shabby attire of thisconfidential friend, and then there seemed something wanting to thename. 

"Then, " resumed De Breulh, "Mademoiselle de Mussidan is really ill, andour information is correct. "

"She is. "

"Did you see her?"

"I did, Gontran; and had you seen her, your heart would have been filledwith pity, and you would have repented your conduct toward her. Thepoor girl did not even know me. She lay in her bed, whiter than the verysheets, cold and inanimate as a figure of marble. Her large black eyeswere staring wildly, and the only sign of life she exhibited was whenthe great tears coursed down her cheeks. "

Andre had determined to restrain every token of emotion in the presenceof the Viscountess, but her recital was too much for him. 

"Ah!" said he, "she will die; I know it. "

There was such intense anguish in his tone that even the practised womanof the world was softened. 

"I assure you, sir, " said she, "that you go too far; there is no presentdanger; the doctors say it is catalepsy, which often attacks persons ofa nervous temperament upon the receipt of a sudden mental shock. "

"But what shock has she received?" asked Andre. 

"No one told me, " answered she after a short pause, "that Sabine'sillness was caused by the breaking off of her engagement; but, ofcourse, I supposed that it was. "

"That was not the reason, Clotilde; but you have told us nothing; pray, go on, " interposed De Breulh. 

The extreme calmness of her cousin, and a glance which she observedpassing between him and Andre, enlightened the Viscountess somewhat. 

"I asked as much as I dared, " she replied, "but I could only get thevaguest answers. Sabine looked as if she were dead, and her father andmother hovered around her couch like two spectres. Had they slain herwith their own hands, they could not have looked more guilty; theirfaces frightened me. "

"Tell me precisely what answers were given to your questions, " broke inhe impatiently. 

"Sabine had seemed so agitated all day, that her mother asked her if shewas suffering any pain. "

"We know that already. "

"Indeed!" replied the Viscountess, with a look of surprise. "It seems, cousin, that you saw Sabine that afternoon, but what became of herafterward no one appears to know; but there is positive proof that shedid not leave the house, and received no letters. At all events, it wasmore than an hour after her maid saw her enter her own room. Sabine saida few unintelligible words to the girl, who, seeing the pallor upon hermistress's face, ran up to her. Just as she did so, Sabine uttered awild shriek, and fell to the ground. She was raised up and laid upon thebed, but since then she has neither moved nor spoken. "

"That is not all, " said De Breulh, who had watched his cousin keenly. 

The Viscountess started, and avoided meeting her cousin's eye. 

"I do not understand, " she faltered. "Why do you look at me like that?"

De Breulh, who had been pacing up and down the room, suddenly halted infront of the Viscountess. 

"My dear Clotilde, " said he, "I am sure when I tell you that the tongueof scandal has often been busy with your name, I am telling you nothingnew. "

"Pooh!" answered the Viscountess. "What do I care for that?"

"But I always defended you. You are indiscreet--your presence heretonight shows this; but you are, after all, a true woman, --brave andtrue as steel. "

"What do you mean by this exordium, Gontran?"

"This, Clotilde, --I want to know if I dare venture to intrust to you asecret which involves the honor of two persons, and, perhaps, the livesof more. "

"Thank you, Gontran, " answered she calmly. "You have formed a correctjudgment of me. "

But here Andre felt that he must interpose, and, taking a step forward, said, "Have you the right to speak?"

"My dear Andre, " said De Breulh, "this is a matter in which my honor isas much concerned as yours. Will you not trust me?" Then turning to theViscountess, he added, "Tell us all you heard. "

"It is only something I heard from Modeste. You had hardly left thehouse, when the Baron de Clinchain made his appearance. "

"An eccentric old fellow, a friend of the Count de Mussidan's. I knowhim. "

"Just so; well, they had a stormy interview, and at the end of it, theBaron was taken ill, and it was with difficulty that he regained hiscarriage. "

"That seems curious. "

"Wait a bit. After that Octave and his wife had a terrible scenetogether, and Modeste thinks that her mistress must have heardsomething, for the Count's voice rang through the house like thunder. "

Every word that the Viscountess uttered strengthened De Breulh'ssuspicions. "There is something mysterious in all this, Clotilde, "said he, "as you will say when you know the whole truth, " and, withoutomitting a single detail, he related the whole of Sabine and Andre'slove story. 

Madame de Bois Arden listened attentively, sometimes thrilled withhorror, and at others pleased with this tale of innocent love. 

"Forgive me, " said she, when her cousin had concluded; "my reproachesand accusations were equally unfounded. "

"Yes, yes; never mind that; but I am afraid that there is some hiddenmystery which will place a fresh stumbling-block in our friend Andre'spath. "

"Do not say that, " cried Andre, in terror. "What is it?"

"That I cannot tell; for Mademoiselle de Mussidan's sake, I havewithdrawn all my pretensions to her hand, --not to leave the field opento any other intruder, but in order that she may be your wife. "

"How are we to learn what has really happened?" asked the Viscountess. 

"In some way or other we shall find out, if you will be our ally. "

Most women are pleased to busy themselves about a marriage, and theViscountess was cheered to find herself mixed up in so romantic a drama. 

"I am entirely at your beck and call, " answered she. "Have you anyplan?"

"Not yet, but I will soon. As far as Mademoiselle de Mussidan isconcerned, we must act quite openly. Andre will write to her, askingfor an explanation, and you shall see her to-morrow, and if she is wellenough, give her his note. "

The proposal was a startling one, and the Viscountess did not entertainit favorably. 

"No, " said she, "I think that would not do at all. "

"Why not? However, let us leave it to Andre. "

Andre, thus addressed, stepped forward, and said, --

"I do not think that it would be delicate to let Mademoiselle deMussidan know that her secret is known to any one else than ourselves. "

The Viscountess nodded assent. 

"If, " continued Andre, "the Viscountess will be good enough to askModeste to meet me at the corner of the Avenue de Matignon; I shall bethere. "

"A capital idea, sir, " said the lady, "and I will give your message toModeste. " She broke off her speech suddenly, and uttered a pretty littleshriek, as she noticed that the hands of the clock on the mantelpiecepointed to twenty to twelve. "Great heavens!" cried she, "and I am goingto a ball at the Austrian Embassy, and now not even dressed. " And, witha coquettish gesture, she drew her shawl around her, and ran out ofthe room, exclaiming as she descended the stairs, "I will call hereto-morrow, Gontran, on my way to the Bois, " and disappeared likelightning. 

Andre and his host sat over the fire, and conversed for a long time. Itseemed strange that two men who had met that morning for the first timeshould now be on such intimate terms of friendship; but such was thecase, for a mutual feeling of admiration and respect had sprung up intheir hearts. 

M. De Breulh wished to send Andre home in his carriage, but this theyoung man declined, and merely borrowed an overcoat to protect him fromthe inclemency of the weather. 

"To-morrow, " said he, as he made his way home, "Modeste shall tell allshe knows, provided always that that charming society dame does notforget all about our existence before then. "

Madame de Bois Arden, however, could sometimes be really in earnest. Upon her return from the ball she would not even go to bed, lest sheshould oversleep herself, and the next day Andre found Modeste waitingat the appointed spot, and learnt, to his great grief, that Sabine hadnot yet regained consciousness. 

The family doctor betrayed no uneasiness, but expressed a wish for aconsultation with another medical man. Meanwhile, the girl promisedto meet Andre morning and evening in the same place, and give him suchscraps of information as she had been able to pick up. For two wholedays Mademoiselle de Mussidan's condition remained unchanged, and Andrespent his whole time between his own studio, the Avenue de Matignon, andM. De Breulh's, where he frequently met Madame de Bois Arden. 

But on the third day Modest informed him, with tears in her eyes, thatthough the cataleptic fit had passed away, Sabine was struggling witha severe attack of fever. Modeste and Andre were so interested in theirconversation, that they did not perceive Florestan, who had gone out topost a letter to Mascarin. 

"Listen, Modeste, " whispered Andre, "you tell me that she is indanger, --very great danger. "

"The doctor said that the crisis would take place to-day; be here atfive this evening. "

Andre staggered like a madman to De Breulh's house; and so excited washe that his friend insisted upon his taking some repose, and would not, when five o'clock arrived, permit Andre to go to the appointment alone. As they turned the corner, they saw Modeste hurrying toward them. 

"She is saved, she is saved!" said she, "for she has fallen into atranquil sleep, and the doctor says that she will recover. "

Andre and De Breulh were transported by this news; but they did not knowthat they were watched by two men, Mascarin and Florestan, who did notlet one of their movements escape them. Warned by a brief note fromFlorestan, Mascarin had driven swiftly to Father Canon's public-house, where he thought he was certain to find the domestic, but the man wasnot there, and Mascarin, unable to endure further suspense, sent for himto the Hotel de Mussidan. When the servant informed Mascarin that thecrisis was safely passed, he drew a deep breath of relief; for he nolonger feared that the frail structure that he had built up with suchpatient care for twenty long years would be shattered at a blow bythe chill hand of death. He bent his brow, however, when he heard ofModeste's daily interviews with the young man whom Florestan termed"Mademoiselle's lover. "

"Ah, " muttered he, "if I could only be present at one of thoseinterviews!"

"And, as you say, " returned Florestan, drawing out, as he spoke, aneat-looking watch, "it is just the hour of their meeting; and as theplace is always the same, you--"

"Come, then, " broke in his patron. They went out accordingly, andreached the Champs Elysees by a circuitous route. The place wasadmirably suited to their purpose, for close by were several of thoselittle wooden huts, occupied in summer by the vendors of cakes andplaythings. 

"Let us get behind one of these, " said Florestan. Night was drawingin, but objects could still be distinguished, and in about five minutesFlorestan whispered, "Look, there comes Modeste, and there is the lover, but he has a pal with him to-night. Why, what can she be telling him? Heseems quite overcome. "

Mascarin divined the truth at once, and found that it would be adifficult task to interfere with the love of a man who displayed so muchintensity of feeling. 

"Then, " remarked Mascarin, savagely, "that great booby, staggering abouton his friend's arm, is your young lady's lover?"

"Just so, sir. "

"Then we must find out who he is. "

Florestan put on a crafty air, and replied in gentle accents. 

"The day before yesterday, as I was smoking my pipe outside, I saw thisyoung bantam swaggering down the street--not but what he seemed rathercrestfallen; but I knew the reason for that, and should look just asmuch in the dumps if my young woman was laid up. I thought, as I hadnothing to do, I might as well see who he was and where he lived; so, sticking my hands in my pockets, after him I sloped. He walked such along way, that I got precious sick of my job, but at last I ran himto earth in a house. I went straight up to the lodge, and showed theportress my tobacco pouch, and said, 'I picked up this; I think that thegentleman who has just gone in dropped it. Do you know him?' 'Of courseI do, ' said she. 'He is a painter; lives on the fourth floor; and hisname is M. Andre. '"

"Was the house in the Rue de la Tour d'Auvergne?" broke in Mascarin. 

"You are right, sir, " returned the man, taken a little aback. "It seems, sir, that you are better informed than I am. "

Mascarin did not notice the man's surprise, but he was struck with thestrange persistency with which this young man seemed to cross his plans, for he found that the acquaintance of Rose and the lover of Mademoisellede Mussidan were one and the same person, and he had a presentiment thathe would in some way prove a hindrance to his plans. 

The astute Mascarin concentrated all his attention upon Andre. 

The latter said something to Modeste, which caused that young woman toraise her hands to heaven, as though in alarm. 

"But who is the other?" asked he, --"the fellow that looks like anEnglishman?"

"Do you not know?" returned the lackey. "Why, that is M. DeBreulh-Faverlay. "

"What, the man who was to marry Sabine?"

"Certainly. "

Mascarin was not easily disconcerted, but this time a blasphemous oathburst from his lips. 

"Do you mean, " said he, "that De Breulh and this painter are friends?"

"That is more than I can tell. You seem to want to know a lot, " answeredFlorestan, sulkily. 

Modeste had now left the young men, who walked arm in arm in thedirection of the Avenue de l'Imperatrice. 

"M. De Breulh takes his dismissal easily enough, " observed Mascarin. 

"He was not dismissed; it was he that wrote and broke off theengagement. "

This time Mascarin contrived to conceal the terrible blow that thisinformation caused to him, and even made some jesting remark as he tookleave of Florestan; but he was in truth completely staggered, for afterthoroughly believing that the game was won, he saw that, though perhapsnot lost, his victory was postponed for an indefinite period. 

"What!" said he, as he clenched his hand firmly, "shall the headstrongpassion of this foolish boy mar my plans? Let him take care of himself;for if he walks in my path, he will find it a road that leads to his owndestruction. "

CHAPTER XXI. 

AN ACADEMY OF MUSIC. 

Dr. Hortebise had for some time back given up arguing with Mascarin asto the advice the latter gave him. He had been ordered not to let Paulout of his sight, and he obeyed this command literally. He had taken himto dine at M. Martin Rigal's, though the host himself was absent; fromthere he took Paul to his club, and finally wound up by forcing theyoung man to accept a bed at his house. They both slept late, and weresitting down to a luxurious breakfast, when the servant announced M. Tantaine, and that worthy man made his appearance with the same smileupon his face which Paul remembered so well in the Hotel de Perou. The sight of him threw the young man into a state of fury. "At last wemeet, " cried he. "I have an account to settle with you. "

"You have an account to settle with me?" asked Daddy Tantaine with apuzzled smile. 

"Yes; was it not through you that I was accused of theft by that oldhag, Madame Loupins?"

Tantaine shrugged his shoulders. 

"Dear me, " said he; "I thought that M. Mascarin had explainedeverything, and that you were anxious to marry Mademoiselle Flavia, andthat, above all, you were a young man of intelligence and tact. "

Hortebise roared with laughter, and Paul, seeing his folly, blusheddeeply and remained silent. 

"I regret having disturbed you, doctor, " resumed Tantaine, "but I hadstrict orders to see you. "

"Is there anything new then?"

"Yes; Mademoiselle de Mussidan is out of danger, and M. De Croisenoiscan commence proceedings at once. "

The doctor drank off a glass of wine. "To the speedy marriage of ourdear friend the Marquis and Mademoiselle Sabine, " said he gayly. 

"So be it, " said Tantaine; "I am also directed to beg M. Paul not toleave this house, but to send for his luggage and remain here. "

Hortebise looked so much annoyed that Tantaine hastened to add: "Only asa temporary measure, for I am on the lookout for rooms for him now. "

Paul looked delighted at the idea of having a home of his own. 

"Good!" exclaimed the doctor merrily. "And now, my dear Tantaine, as youhave executed all your commissions, you can stay and breakfast with us. "

"Thanks for the honor; but I am very busy with affairs of the Duke deChampdoce and must see Perpignan at once. " As he spoke he rose, makinga little sign which Paul did not catch, and Hortebise accompanied him tothe door of the vestibule. "Don't leave that lad alone, " said Tantaine;"I will see about him to-morrow; meanwhile prepare him a little. "

"I comprehend, " answered Hortebise; "my kind regards to that dearfellow, Perpignan. "

This Perpignan was well known--some people said too well known--inParis. His real name was Isidore Crocheteau, and he had started lifeas a cook in a Palais Royal restaurant. Unfortunately a breach of theEighth Commandment had caused him to suffer incarceration for a periodof three years, and on his release he bloomed out into a private inquiryagent. His chief customers were jealous husbands, but as surely as oneof these placed an affair in his hands, he would go to the erring wifeand obtain a handsome price from her for his silence. 

Mascarin and Perpignan had met in an affair of this kind; and as theymutually feared each other, they had tacitly agreed not to crosseach other's path in that great wilderness of crime--Paris. But whilePerpignan knew nothing of Mascarin's schemes and operations, theformer was very well acquainted with the ex-cook's doings. He knew, for instance, that the income from the Inquiry Office would not coverPerpignan's expenses, who dressed extravagantly, kept a carriage, affected artistic tastes, played cards, betted on races, and liked gooddinners at the most expensive restaurants. "Where can he get his moneyfrom?" asked Mascarin of himself; and, after a long search, he succeededin solving the riddle. 

Daddy Tantaine, after leaving the doctor's, soon arrived at theresidence of M. Perpignan, and rang the bell. 

A fat woman answered the door. "M. Perpignan is out, " said she. 

"When will he be back?"

"Some time this evening. "

"Can you tell me where I can find him, as it is of the utmost importanceto both of us that I should see him at once?"

"He did not say where he was going to. "

"Perhaps he is at the factory, " said Tantaine blandly. 

The fat woman was utterly taken aback by this suggestion. "What do youknow about that?" faltered she. 

"You see I _do_ know, and that is sufficient for you. Come, is hethere?"

"I think so. "

"Thank you, I will call on him then. An awfully long journey, " mutteredTantaine, as he turned away; "but, perhaps, if I catch the worthy manin the midst of all his little business affairs, he will be more free inhis language, and not so guarded in his actual admissions. "

The old man went to his task with a will. He passed down the RueToumenon, skirted the Luxemburg, and made his way into the Rue GuyLussac; from thence he walked down the Rue Mouffetard, and thence directinto one of those crooked lanes which run between the Gobelins Factoryand the Hopital de l'Oursine. This is a portion of the city utterlyunknown to the greater number of Parisians. The streets are narrow andhardly afford room for vehicles. A valley forms the centre of the place, down which runs a muddy, sluggish stream, the banks of which are denselycrowded with tanyards and iron works. On the one side of this valley isthe busy Rue Mouffetard, and on the other one of the outer boulevards, while a long line of sickly-looking poplars mark the course of thesemi-stagnant stream. Tantaine seemed to know the quarter well, andwent on until he reached the Champs des Alouettes. Then, with a sigh ofsatisfaction, he halted before a large, three-storied house, standing ona piece of ground surrounded by a mouldering wooden fence. The aspect ofthe house had something sinister and gloomy about it, and for a momentTantaine paused as if he could not make up his mind to enter it; butat last he did so. The interior was as dingy and dilapidated as theoutside. There were two rooms on the ground floor, one of which wasstrewn with straw, with a few filthy-looking quilts and blankets spreadover it. The next room was fitted up as a kitchen; in the centre was along table composed of boards placed on trestles, and a dirty-lookingwoman with her head enveloped in a coarse red handkerchief, and graspinga big wooden spoon, was stirring the contents of a large pot in whichsome terrible-looking ingredients were cooking. On a small bed in acorner lay a little boy. Every now and then a shiver convulsed hisframe, his face was deadly pale, and his hands almost transparent, while his great black eyes glittered with the wild delirium of fever. Sometimes he would give a deep groan, and then the old beldame wouldturn angrily and threaten to strike him with her wooden spoon. 

"But I am so ill, " pleaded the boy. 

"If you had brought home what you were told, you would not have beenbeaten, and then you would have had no fever, " returned the womanharshly. 

"Ah, me! I am sick and cold, and want to go away, " wailed the child; "Iwant to see mammy. "

Even Tantaine felt uneasy at this scene, and gave a gentle cough toannounce his presence. The old woman turned round on him with an angrysnarl. "Who do you want here?" growled she. 

"Your master. "

"He has not yet arrived, and may not come at all, for it is not his day;but you can see Poluche. "

"And who may he be?"

"He is the professor, " answered the hag contemptuously. 

"And where is he?"

"In the music-room. "

Tantaine went to the stairs, which were so dingy and dilapidated as tomake an ascent a work of danger and difficulty. As he ascended higher, he became aware of a strange sound, something between the grindingof scissors and the snarling of cats. Then a moment's silence, a loudexecration, and a cry of pain. Tantaine passed on, and coming to arickety door, he opened it, and in another moment found himself in whatthe old hag downstairs had called the music-room. The partitions ofall the rooms on the floor had been roughly torn down to form thisapartment; hardly a pane of glass remained intact in the windows; thedingy, whitewashed walls were covered with scrawls and drawings incharcoal. A suffocating, nauseous odor rose up, absolutely overpoweringthe smell from the neighboring tanyards. There was no furniture except abroken chair, upon which lay a dog whip with plaited leather lash. Roundthe room, against the wall, stood some twenty children, dirty, and intattered clothes. Some had violins in their hands, and others stoodbehind harps as tall as themselves. Upon the violins Tantaine noticedthere were chalk marks at various distances. In the middle of the roomwas a man, tall and erect as a dart, with flat, ugly features and lank, greasy hair hanging down on his shoulders. He, too, had a violin, andwas evidently giving the children a lesson. Tantaine at once guessedthat this was Professor Poluche. 

"Listen, " said he; "here, you Ascanie, play the chorus from the _Chateaude Marguerite_. " As he spoke he drew his bow across his instrument, while the little Savoyard did his best to imitate him, and in asqueaking voice, in nasal tone, he sang:

"Ah! great heavens, how fine and grand Is the palace!"

"You young rascal!" cried Poluche. "Have I not bid you fifty times thatat the word 'palace' you are to place your bow on the fourth chalkmarkand draw it across? Begin again. "

Once again the boy commenced, but Poluche stopped him. 

"I believe, you young villain, that you are doing it on purpose. Now, gothrough the whole chorus again; and if you do not do it right, look outfor squalls. "

Poor Ascanie was so muddled that he forgot all his instructions. Withoutany appearance of anger, the professor took up the whip and administeredhalf a dozen severe cuts across the bare legs of the child, whose shoutssoon filled the room. 

"When you are done howling, " remarked Poluche, "you can try again;and if you do not succeed, no supper for you to-night, my lad. Now, Giuseppe, it is your turn. "

Giuseppe, though younger than Ascanie, was a greater proficient on theinstrument, and went through his task without a single mistake. 

"Good!" said Poluche; "if you get on like that, you will soon be fit togo out. You would like that, I suppose?"

"Yes, " replied the delighted boy, "and I should like to bring in a fewcoppers too. "

But the Professor did not waste too much time in idle converse. 

"It is your turn now, Fabio, " said he. 

Fabio, a little mite of seven, with eyes black and sparkling as those ofa dormouse, had just seen Tantaine in the doorway and pointed him out tothe professor. 

Poluche turned quickly round and found himself face to face withTantaine, who had come quickly forward, his hat in his hand. 

Had the professor seen an apparition, he could not have started moreviolently, for he did not like strangers. 

"What do you want?" asked he. 

"Reassure yourself, sir, " said Tantaine, after having for a few secondsenjoyed his evident terror; "I am the intimate friend of the gentlemanwho employs you, and have come here to discuss an important matter ofbusiness with him. "

Poluche breathed more freely. 

"Take a chair, sir, " said he, offering the only one in the room. "Mymaster will soon be here. "

But Daddy Tantaine refused the offer, saying that he did not wish tointrude, but would wait until the lesson was over. 

"I have nearly finished, " remarked Poluche; "it is almost time to letthese scamps have their soup. "

Then turning to his pupils, who had not dared to stir a limb, he said, --

"There, that is enough for to-day; you can go. "

The children did not hesitate for a moment, but tumbled over each otherin their eagerness to get away, hoping, perhaps, that he might omit toexecute certain threats that he had held out during the lesson. The hopewas a vain one, for the equitable Poluche went to the head of the stairsand called out in a loud voice, --

"Mother Butor, you will give no soup to Monte and put Ravillet on halfallowance. "

Tantaine was much interested, for the scene was an entirely new one. 

The professor raised his eyes to heaven. 

"Would, " said he, "that I might teach them the divine science as I wouldwish; but the master would not allow me; indeed, he would dismiss me ifI attempted to do so. "

"I do not understand you. "

"Let me explain to you. You know that there are certain old women who, for a consideration, will train a linnet or a bullfinch to whistle anyair?"

Tantaine, with all humility, confessed his ignorance of these matters. 

"Well, " said the professor, "the only difference between those old womenand myself is, that they teach birds and I boys; and I know which I hadrather do. "

Tantaine pointed to the whip. 

"And how about this?" asked he. 

Poluche shrugged his shoulders. 

"Put yourself in my place for a little while, " remarked he. "You see mymaster brings me all sorts of boys, and I have to cram music into themin the briefest period possible. Of course the child revolts, and Ithrash him; but do not think he cares for this; the young imps thrive onblows. The only way that I can touch them is through their stomachs. Istop a quarter, a half, and sometimes the whole of their dinner. Thatfetches them, and you have no idea how a little starvation brings themon in music. "

Daddy Tantaine felt a cold shiver creep over him as he listened to thisfrank exposition of the professor's mode of action. 

"You can now understand, " remarked the professor, "how some airs becomepopular in Paris. I have forty pupils all trying the same thing. I amdrilling them now in the _Marguerite_, and in a little time you willhave nothing else in the streets. "

Poluche was proceeding to give Tantaine some further information, when astep was heard upon the stairs, and the professor remarked, --

"Here is the master; he never comes up here, because he is afraid of thestairs. You had better go down to him. "

CHAPTER XXII. 

DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 

The ex-cook appeared before Tantaine in all his appalling vulgarity asthe latter descended the stairs. The proprietor of the musical academywas a stout, red-faced man, with an insolent mouth and a cynical eye. He was gorgeously dressed, and wore a profusion of jewelry. He wasmuch startled at seeing Tantaine, whom he knew to be the redoubtableMascarin's right-hand man. "A thousand thunders!" muttered he. "If thesepeople have sent him here for me, I must take care what I am about, " andwith a friendly smile he extended his hand to Tantaine. 

"Glad to see you, " said he. "Now, what can I do for you, for I hope youhave come to ask me to do something?"

"The veriest trifle, " returned Tantaine. 

"I am sorry that it is not something of importance, for I have thegreatest respect for M. Mascarin. "

This conversation had taken place in the window, and was interruptedevery moment by the shouts and laughter of the children; but beneaththese sounds of merriment came an occasional bitter wail of lamentation. 

"What is that?" inquired Perpignan, in a voice of thunder. "Who presumesto be unhappy in this establishment?"

"It is two of the lads that I have put on half rations, " returnedPoluche. "I'll make them learn somehow or----"

A dark frown on the master's face arrested his further speech. "What doI hear?" roared Perpignan. "Do you dare, under my roof, to deprive thosepoor children of an ounce of food? It is scandalous, I may say, infamouson your part, M. Poluche. "

"But, sir, " faltered the professor, "have you not told me hundreds oftimes--"

"That you were an idiot, and would never be anything better. Go and tellMother Butor to give these poor children their dinner. "

Repressing further manifestations of rage, Perpignan took Tantaine bythe arm and led him into a little side-room, which he dignified by thename of his office. There was nothing in it but three chairs, a commondeal table, and a few shelves containing ledgers. "You have come onbusiness, I presume, " remarked Perpignan. 

Tantaine nodded, and the two men seated themselves at the table, gazingkeenly into each other's eyes, as though to read the thoughts that movedin the busy brain. 

"How did you find out my little establishment down here?" askedPerpignan. 

"By a mere chance, " remarked Tantaine carelessly. "I go about agood deal, and hear many things. For instance, you have taken everyprecaution here, and though you are really the proprietor, yet thehusband of your cook and housekeeper, Butor, is supposed to be the ownerof the house--at least it stands in his name. Now, if anything untowardhappened, you would vanish, and only Butor would remain a prey for thepolice. "

Tantaine paused for a moment, and then slowly added, "Such tacticsusually succeed unless a man has some secret enemy, who wouldtake advantage of his knowledge, to do him an injury by obtainingirrefragable proofs of his complicity. "

The ex-cook easily perceived the threat that was hidden under thesewords. "They know something, " muttered he, "and I must find out what itis. "

"If a man has a clear conscience, " said he aloud, "he is all right. Ihave nothing to conceal, and therefore nothing to fear. You have nowseen my establishment; what do you think of it?"

"It seems to me a very well-conducted one. "

"It may have occurred to you that a factory at Roubaix might have been abetter investment, but I had not the capital to begin with. "

Tantaine nodded. "It is not half a bad trade, " said he. 

"I agree with you. In the Rue St. Marguerite you will find more thanone similar establishment; but I never cared for the situation of theFaubourg St. Antoine. My little angels find this spot more salubrious. "

"Yes, yes, " answered Tantaine amicably, "and if they howl too much whenthey are corrected, there are not too many neighbors to hear them. "

Perpignan thought it best to take no notice of this observation. "Thepapers are always pitching into us, " continued he. "They had much betterstick to politics. The fact is, that the profits of our business aretremendously exaggerated. "

"Well, you manage to make a living out of it?"

"I don't lose, I confess, but I have six little cherubs in hospital, besides the one in the kitchen, and these, of course, are a dead loss tome. "

"That is a sad thing for you, " answered Tantaine gravely. 

Perpignan began to be amazed at his visitor's coolness. 

"Damn it all, " said he, "if you and Mascarin think the business sucha profitable one, why don't you go in for it. You may perhaps think iteasy to procure the kids; just try it. You have to go to Italy for mostof them, then you have to smuggle them across the frontier like bales ofcontraband goods. "

Perpignan paused to take a breath, and Tantaine asked, --

"What sum do you make each of the lads bring in daily?"

"That depends, " answered Perpignan hesitatingly. 

"Well, you can give an average?"

"Say three francs then. "

"Three francs!" repeated Tantaine with a genial smile, "and you haveforty little cherubs, so that makes one hundred and twenty francs perday. "

"Absurd!" retorted Perpignan; "do you think each of the lads bring insuch a sum as that?"

"Ah! you know the way to make them do so. "

"I don't understand you, " answered Perpignan, in whose voice a shade ofanxiety now began to appear. 

"No offence, no offence, " answered Tantaine; "but the fact is, thenewspapers are doing you a great deal of harm, by retailing some of themeans adopted by your colleague to make the boys do a good day's work. Do you recollect the sentence on that master who tied one of his ladsdown on a bed, and left him without food for two days at a stretch?"

"I don't care about such matters; no one can bring a charge of crueltyagainst me, " retorted Perpignan angrily. 

"A man with the kindest heart in the world may be the victim ofcircumstances. "

Perpignan felt that the decisive moment was at hand. 

"What do you mean?" asked he. 

"Well, suppose, to punish one of your refractory lads, you were to shuthim in the cellar. A storm comes on during the night, the gutter getschoked up, the cellar fills with water, and next morning you find thelittle cherub drowned like a rat in his hole?"

Perpignan's face was livid. 

"Well, and what then?" asked he. 

"Ah! now the awkward part of the matter comes. You would not care tosend for the police, that might excite suspicion; the easiest thing isto dig a hole and shove the body into it. "

Perpignan got up and placed his back against the door. 

"You know too much, M. Tantaine, --a great deal too much, " said he. 

Perpignan's manner was most threatening; but Tantaine still smiledpleasantly, like a child who had just committed some simply mischievousact, the results of which it cannot foresee. 

"The sentence isn't heavy, " he continued; "five years' penal servitude, if evidence of previous good conduct could be put in; but if formerantecedents were disclosed, such as a journey to Nancy----"

This was the last straw, and Perpignan broke out, --

"What do you mean?" said he; "and what do you want me to do?"

"Only a trifling service, as I told you before. My dear sir, do not putyourself in a rage, " he added, as Perpignan seemed disposed to speakagain. "Was it not you who first began to talk of your, 'em--well, letus say business?"

"Then you wanted to make yourself agreeable by talking all this rot tome. Well, shall I tell you in my turn what I think?"

"By all means, if it will not be giving you too much trouble. "

"Then I tell you that you have come here on an errand which no manshould venture to do alone. You are not of the age and build forbusiness like this. It is a misfortune--a fatal one perhaps--to putyourself in my power, in such a house as this. "

"But, my dear sir, what is likely to happen to me?"

The features of the ex-cook were convulsed with fury; he was in that madstate of rage in which a man has no control over himself. Mechanicallyhis hand slipped into his pocket; but before he could draw it out again, Tantaine who had not lost one of his movements, sprang upon him andgrasped him so tightly by the throat that he was powerless to adopt anyoffensive measures, in spite of his great strength and robust build. The struggle was not a long one; the old man hurled his adversary to theground, and placed his foot on his chest, and held him down, his wholeface and figure seemingly transfigured with the glories of strength andsuccess. 

"And so you wished to stab me, --to murder a poor and inoffensive oldman. Do you think that I was fool enough to enter your cut-throat doorwithout taking proper precautions?" And as he spoke he drew a revolverfrom his bosom. "Throw away your knife, " added he sternly. 

In obedience to this mandate, Perpignan, who was now entirelydemoralized, threw the sharp-pointed weapon which he had contrived toopen in his pocket into a corner of the room. 

"Good, " said Tantaine. "You are growing more reasonable now. Of course Icame alone, but do you think that plenty of people did not know where Iwas going to? Had I not returned to-night, do you think that my master, M. Mascarin, would have been satisfied? and how long do you think itwould have been before he and the police would have been here. If you donot do all that I wish for the rest of your life, you will be the mostungrateful fellow in the world. "

Perpignan was deeply mortified; he had been worsted in single combat, and now he was being found out, and these things had never happened tohim before. 

"Well, I suppose that I must give in, " answered he sulkily. 

"Quite so; it is a pity that you did not think of that before. "

"You vexed me and made me angry. "

"Just so; well, now, get up, take that chair, and let us talkreasonably. "

Perpignan obeyed without a word. 

"Now, " said Tantaine, "I came here with a really magnificent proposal. But I adopted the course I pursued because I wished to prove to youthat _you_ belonged more absolutely to Mascarin than did your wretchedforeign slaves to you. You are absolutely at his mercy, and he can crushyou to powder whenever he likes. "

"Your Mascarin is Satan himself, " muttered the discomfited man. "Who canresist him?"

"Come, as you think thus, we can talk sensibly at last. "

"Well, " answered Perpignan ruefully, as he adjusted his disorderednecktie, "say what you like, I have no answer to make. "

"Let us begin at the commencement, " said Tantaine. "For some days pastyour people have been following a certain Caroline Schimmel. A fellow ofsixteen called Ambrose, a lad with a harp, was told off for this duty. He is not to be trusted. Only a night or two ago one of my men made himdrunk; and fearing lest his absence might create surprise, drove himhere in a cab, and left him at the corner. "

The ex-cook uttered an oath. 

"Then you too are watching Caroline, " said he. "I knew well that therewas some one else in the field, but that was no matter of mine. "

"Well, tell me why you are watching her?"

"How can you ask me? You know that my motto is silence and discretion, and that this is a secret intrusted to my honor. "

Tantaine shrugged his shoulders. 

"Why do you talk like that, when you know very well that you arefollowing Ambrose on your own account, hoping by that means to penetratea secret, only a small portion of which has been intrusted to you?"remarked he. 

"Are you certain of this statement?" asked the man, with a cunning look. 

"So sure that I can tell you that the matter was placed in your hands bya certain M. Catenac. "

The expression in Perpignan's face changed from astonishment to fear. 

"Why, this Mascarin knows everything, " muttered he. 

"No, " replied Tantaine, "my master does not know everything, and theproof of this is, that I have come to ask you what occurred betweenCatenac's client and yourself, and this is the service that we expectfrom you. "

"Well, if I must, I must. About three weeks ago, one morning, I had justfinished with half a dozen clients at my office in the Rue de Fame, whenmy servant brought me Catenac's card. After some talk, he asked me if Icould find out a person that he had utterly lost sight of. Of course Isaid, yes, I could. Upon this he asked me to make an appointment for tenthe next morning, when some one would call on me regarding the affair. At the appointed time a shabbily dressed man was shown in. I looked athim up and down, and saw that, in spite of his greasy hat and threadbarecoat, his linen was of the finest kind, and that his shoes were the workof one of our best bootmakers. 'Aha, ' said I to myself, 'you thought totake me in, did you!' I handed him a chair, and he at once proceededto let me into his reasons for coming. 'Sir, ' said he, 'my life has notbeen a very happy one, and once I was compelled to take to the FoundlingAsylum a child that I loved very dearly, the son of a woman whom Iadored. She is dead now, and I am old and solitary. I have a smallproperty, and would give half of it to recover the child. Tell me, is there any chance of my doing so?' You must imagine, my dear sir, "continued he, after a slight pause, "that I was much interested in thisstory, for I said to myself, that the man's fortune must be a very smallone if half of it would not amply repay me for making a journey to theFoundling Hospital. So I agreed to undertake the business, but the oldfellow was too sharp for me. 'Stop a bit, and let me finish, ' said he, 'and you will see that your task will not be so easy as you seem tothink it. ' I, of course, bragged of my enormous sources of information, and the probability of ultimate success. "

"Keep to your story, " said Tantaine impatiently, "I know all aboutthat. "

"I will leave you, then, to imagine all I said to the old man, wholistened to me with great satisfaction. 'I only hope that you are asskilful as M. Catenac says you are, and have as much influence and poweras you assert, for no man has a finer chance than you now have. I havetried all means up to this, but I have failed. ' I went first to thehospital where the child had been placed, and they showed me theregister containing the date of his admission, but no one knew what hadbecome of him, for at twelve years of age he had left the place, and noone had heard of him since; and in spite of every effort, I have beenunable to discover whether he is alive or dead. "

"A pretty riddle to guess, " remarked Tantaine. 

"An enigma that it is impossible to solve, " returned Perpignan. "How isone to get hold of a boy who vanished ten years ago, and who must now bea grown-up man?"

"We could do it. "

Tantaine's tone was so decided, that the other man looked sharply athim with a vague suspicion rising in his breast that the affair had alsobeen placed in Mascarin's hands; and if so, whether he had worked itwith more success than himself. 

"You might, for all I know; but I felt that the clue was absolutelywanting, " answered Perpignan sulkily. "I put on a bold face, however, and asked for the boy's description. The man told me that he couldprovide me with an accurate one, for that many people, notably the ladysuperior, remembered the lad. He could also give other details whichmight be useful. "

"And these you obtained, of course?"

"Not yet. "

"Are you joking?"

"Not a bit. I do not know whether the old man was sharp enough to readin the expression of my features that I had not the smallest hope ofsuccess; be that as it may, he could give me no further information thatday, declaring that he came in only to consult me, and that everythingmust be done in a most confidential way. I hastened to assure him thatmy office was a perfect tomb of secrets. He told me that he took thatfor granted. Then telling me that he wished me to draw up a _precis_ ofmy intended course, he took out a note for five hundred francs, whichhe handed to me for my time. I refused to take it, though it cost mea struggle to do so, for I thought that I should make more out of himlater on. But he insisted on my taking it, saying that he would see meagain soon, and that Catenac would communicate with me. He left me lessinterested in the search than in who this old man could possibly be. "

Tantaine felt that Perpignan was telling the truth. 

"Did you not try and find out that?" asked he. 

Perpignan hesitated; but feeling convinced that there was no loopholefor escape, he answered, "Hardly had my visitor left than, slipping ona cap and a workman's blouse, I followed him in his track, and saw himenter one of the finest houses in the Rue de Varennes. "

"He lived there then?"

"He did, and he was a very well-known man--the Duke de Champdoce. "

"Yes, I know all that, " answered Tantaine, placidly, "but I can't, forthe life of me, imagine the connection between the Duke and CarolineSchimmel. "

Perpignan raised his eyebrows. 

"Why did you put a man to watch her?" asked Tantaine. 

"My reasons for doing so were most simple. I made every inquiryregarding the Duke; learned that he was very wealthy, and lived a verysteady life. He is married, and loves his wife dearly. They had one son, whom they lost a year ago, and have never recovered from the shock. Iimagine that this Duke, having lost his legitimate heir, wished me tofind his other son. Do you not think that I am right?"

"There is something in it; but, after all, you have not explained yourreasons for watching Caroline. "

Perpignan was no match for Mascarin's right-hand man, but he was keenenough to discern that Tantaine was putting a string of questions to himwhich had been prepared in advance. This he, however, was powerless toresent. 

"As you may believe, " said he, "I made every inquiry into the past aswell as the present of the Duke, and also tried to discover who was themother of the child, but in this I entirely failed. "

"What! not with all your means?" cried Tantaine, with a sneer. 

"Laugh at me as much as you like; but out of the thirty servants in theChampdoce establishment, not one has been there more than ten years. Nor could I anywhere lay my hands upon one who had been in the Duke'sservice in his youth. Once, however, as I was in the wineshop in the Ruede Varennes, I quite by chance heard allusion made to a woman who hadbeen in the service of the Duke twenty-five years ago, and who wasnow in receipt of a small allowance from him. This woman was CarolineSchimmel. I easily found out her address, and set a watch on her. "

"And of what use will she be to you?"

"Very little, I fear. And yet the allowance looks as if she had at onetime done something out of the way for her employers. Can it be that shehas any knowledge of the birth of this natural child?"

"I don't think much of your idea, " returned Tantaine carelessly. 

"Since then, " continued Perpignan, "the Duke has never put in anappearance in my office. "

"But how about Catenac?"

"I have seen him three times. "

"Has he told you nothing more? Do you not even know in which hospitalthe child was placed?"

"No; and on my last visit I plainly told him that I was getting sick ofall this mystery; and he said that he himself was tired, and was sorrythat he had ever meddled in the affair. "

Tantaine was not surprised at hearing this, and accounted for Catenac'schange of front by the threats of Mascarin. 

"Well, what do you draw from this?" asked he. 

"That Catenac has no more information than I have. The Duke most likelyproposes to drop the affair; but, were I in his place, I should beafraid to find the boy, however much I might at one time have desiredto do so. He may be in prison--the most likely thing for a lad who, attwelve years of age, ran away from a place where he was well treated. Ihave, however, planned a mode of operation, for, with patience, money, and skill, much might be done. "

"I agree with you. "

"Then let me tell you. I have drawn an imaginary circle round Paris. Isaid to myself, 'I will visit every house and inn in the villages roundwithin this radius; I will enter every isolated dwelling, and will sayto the inhabitants, "Do any of you remember at any time sheltering andfeeding a child, dressed in such and such a manner?"' giving at thesame time a description of him. I am sure that I should find some onewho would answer in the affirmative. Then I should gain a clue which Iwould follow up to the end. "

This plan appeared so ingenious to Tantaine, that he involuntarilyexclaimed, --

"Good! excellent!"

Perpignan hardly knew whether Tantaine was praising or blaming him. Hismanner might have meant either. 

"You are very fast, " returned he dismally. "Perhaps presently you willbe good enough to allow that I am not an absolute fool. Do you reallythink that I am an idiot? At any rate, I sometimes hit upon a judiciouscombination. For example, with regard to this boy, I have a notionwhich, if properly worked might lead to something. "

"Might I ask what it is?"

"I speak confidentially. If it is impossible to lay our hands upon thereal boy, why should we not substitute another?"

At this suggestion, Tantaine started violently. 

"It would be most dangerous, most hazardous, " gasped he. 

"You are afraid, then?" said Perpignan, delighted at the effect hisproposal had made. 

"It seems it is you who were afraid, " retorted Tantaine. 

"You do not know me when you say that, " said Perpignan. 

"If you were not afraid, " asked Tantaine, in his most oily voice, "whydid you not carry out your plan?"

"Because there was one obstacle that could not be got over. "

"Well, I can't see it myself, " returned Tantaine, desirous of hearingevery detail. 

"Ah, there is one thing that I omitted in my narrative. The Dukeinformed me that he could prove the identity of the boy by certainscars. "

"Scars? And of what kind, pray?"

"Now you are asking me too much. I do not know. "

On receiving this reply, Tantaine rose hastily from his chair, and thusconcealed his agitation from his companion. 

"I have a hundred apologies to make for taking up so much of yourvaluable time. My master has got it into his head that you were afterthe same game as ourselves. He was mistaken, and now we leave the fieldclear to you. "

Before Perpignan could make any reply, the old man had passed throughthe doorway. On the threshold he paused, and said, --

"Were I in your place, I would stick to my first plan. You will neverfind the boy, but you will get several thousand francs out of the Duke, which I am sure will come in handy. "

"There are scars now, then, " muttered Tantaine, as he moved away fromthe house, "and that Master Catenac never said a word about them!"

CHAPTER XXIII. 

FATHER AND SON. 

Two hours after Andre had left the Avenue de Matignon, one of Mascarin'smost trusty emissaries was at his heels, who could watch his actionswith the tenacity of a bloodhound. Andre, however, now that he had heardof Sabine's convalescence, had entirely recovered the elasticity of hisspirits, and would never have noticed that he was being followed. Hisheart, too, was much rejoiced at the friendship of M. De Breulh and thepromise of assistance from the Viscountess de Bois Arden; and with theassistance of these two, he felt that he could end his difficulties. 

"I must get to work again, " muttered he, as he left M. De Breulh'shospitable house. "I have already lost too much time. To-morrow, if youlook up at the scaffolding of a splendid house in the Champs Elysees, you will see me at work. "

Andre was busy all night with his plans for the rich contractor, M. Gandelu, who wanted as much ornamental work on the outside of his houseas he had florid decorations within. He rose with the lark, and havinggazed for a moment on Sabine's portrait, started for the abode of M. Gandelu, the proud father of young Gaston. This celebrated contractorlived in a splendid house in the Rue Chasse d'Antin, until his morepalatial residence should be completed. 

When Andre presented himself at the door, an old servant, who knew himwell, strongly urged him not to go up. 

"Never, " said he, "in all the time that I have been with master, have Iseen him in such a towering rage. Only just listen!"

It was easy to hear the noise alluded to, mingled with the breaking ofglass and the smashing of furniture. 

"The master has been at this game for over an hour, " remarked theservant, "ever since his lawyer, M. Catenac, has left him. "

Andre, however, decided not to postpone his visit. "I must see him inspite of everything; show me up, " said he. 

With evident reluctance the domestic obeyed, and threw open the door ofa room superbly furnished and decorated, in the centre of which stood M. Gandelu waving the leg of a chair frantically in his hand. He was a manof sixty years of age, but did not look fifty, built like a Hercules, with huge hands and muscular limbs which seemed to fret under therestraint of his fashionable garments. He had made his enormous fortune, of which he was considerably proud, by honest labor, and no one couldsay that he had not acted fairly throughout his whole career. He wascoarse and violent in his manner, but he had a generous heart and neverrefused aid to the deserving and needy. He swore like a trooper, and hisgrammar was faulty; but for all that, his heart was in the right place, and he was a better man than many who boast of high birth and expensiveeducation. 

"What idiot is coming here to annoy me?" roared he, as soon as the doorwas opened. 

"I have come by appointment, " answered Andre, and the contractor's browcleared as he saw who his visitor was. 

"Ah, it is you, is it? Take a seat; that is, if there is a sound chairleft in the room. I like you, for you have an honest face and don'tshirk hard work. You needn't color up, though; modesty is no fault. Yes, there is something in you, and when you want a hundred thousandfrancs to go into business with, here it is ready for you; and had I adaughter, you should marry her, and I would build your house for you. "

"I thank you much, " said Andre; "but I have learned to depend entirelyon myself. "

"True, " returned Gandelu, "you never knew your parents; you never knewwhat a kind father would do for his child. Do you know my son?" askedhe, suddenly turning upon Andre. 

This question at once gave Andre the solution of the scene before him. M. Gandelu was irritated at some folly that his son had committed. Fora moment Andre hesitated; he did not care to say anything that mightrevive the old man's feeling of anger, and therefore merely replied thathe had only met his son Gaston two or three times. 

"Gaston, " cried the old man, with a bitter oath; "do not call him that. Do you think it likely that old Nicholas Gandelu would ever have beenass enough to call his son Gaston? He was called Peter, after hisgrandfather, but it wasn't a good enough one for the young fool; hewanted a swell name, and Peter had too much the savor of hard work init for my fine gentleman. But that isn't all; I could let that pass, "continued the old man. "Pray have you seen his cards? Over the name ofGaston de Gandelu is a count's coronet. He a count indeed! the son of aman who has carried a hod for years!"

"Young people will be young people, " Andre ventured to observe; but theold man's wrath would not be assuaged by a platitude like this. 

"You can find no excuse for him, only the fellow is absolutely ashamedof his father. He consorts with titled fools and is in the seventhheaven if a waiter addresses him as 'Count, ' not seeing that it is nothe that is treated with respect, but the gold pieces of his old father, the working man. "

Andre's position was now a most painful one, and he would have given agood deal not to be the recipient of a confidence which was the resultof anger. 

"He is only twenty, and yet see what a wreck he is, " resumed Gandelu. "His eyes are dim, and he is getting bald; he stoops, and spends hisnights in drink and bad company. I have, however, only myself to blame, for I have been far too lenient; and if he had asked me for my head, Ibelieve that I should have given it to him. He had only to ask and have. After my wife's death, I had only the boy. Do you know what he has inthis house? Why, rooms fit for a prince, two servants and four horses. Iallow him monthly, fifteen hundred francs, and he goes about callingme a niggard, and has already squandered every bit of his poor mother'sfortune. " He stopped, and turned pale, for at that moment the dooropened, and young Gaston, or rather Peter, slouched into the room. 

"It is the common fate of fathers to be disappointed in their offspring, and to see the sons who ought to have been their honor and glory thescourge to punish their worldly aspirations, " exclaimed the old man. 

"Good! that is really a very telling speech, " murmured Gastonapprovingly, "considering that you have not made a special study ofelocution. "

Fortunately his father did not catch these words, and continued in avoice broken by emotion, "That, M. Andre, is my son, who for twentyyears has been my sole care. Well, believe it or not, as you like, hehas been speculating on my death, as you might speculate on a race-horseat Vincennes. "

"No, no, " put in Gaston, but his father stopped him with a disdainfulgesture. 

"Have at least the courage to acknowledge your fault. You thought meblind because I said nothing, but your past conduct has opened my eyes. "

"But, father!"

"Do not attempt to deny it. This very morning my man of business, M. Catenac, wrote to me, and with that real courage which only truefriends possess, told me all. I must tell you, M. Andre, " resumed thecontractor, "I was ill. I had a severe attack of the gout, such as a manseldom recovers from, and my son was constant in his attendance at mysick couch. This consoled me. 'He loves me after all, ' said I. But itwas only my testamentary arrangements that he wanted to discover, andhe went straight to a money-lender called Clergot and raised a hundredthousand francs assuring the blood-sucker that I had not many hours tolive. "

"It is a lie!" cried Gaston, his face crimsoning with shame. 

The old man raised the leg of the chair in his hand, and made sothreatening a movement that Andre flung himself between father and son. "Great heavens!" cried he, "think what you are doing, sir, and forbear. "

The old man paused, passed his hand round his brow, and flung the weaponinto a remote corner of the room. "I thank you, " said he, graspingAndre's hand; "you have saved me from a great crime. In another moment Ishould have murdered him. "

Gaston was no coward, and he still retained the position he had been inbefore. 

"This is quite romantic, " muttered he. "The governor seems to be goingin for infanticide. "

Andre did not allow him to finish the sentence, for, grasping the youngman's wrist, he whispered fiercely, "Not another word; silence!"

"But I want to know what it all means?" answered the irrepressibleyouth. 

"I had in my hands, " said the old man, addressing Andre, and ignoringthe presence of his son, "the important paper he had copied. Yes; notmore than an hour ago I read it. These were the terms: if I died withineight days from the date of signature, my son agreed to pay a bonus ofthirty thousand francs; but if I lived for one month, he would take upthe bill by paying one hundred and fifty thousand. If, however, by anyunforeseen chance, I should recover entirely, he bound himself to payClergot the hundred thousand francs. "

The old man tore the cravat from his swelling throat, and wiped thebeads of cold sweat that bedewed his brow. 

"When this man recovers his self-command, " thought Andre, "he will neverforgive me for having been the involuntary listener to this terribletale. " But in this Andre was mistaken, for unsophisticated naturerequires sympathy, and Nichols Gandelu would have said the same to thefirst comer. 

"Before, however, delivering the hundred thousand francs, the usurerwished to make himself more secure, and asked for a certificate fromsome one who had seen me. This person was his friend. He spoke to me ofa medical man, a specialist, who would understand my case at once. WouldI not see him? Never had I seen my son so tender and affectionate. Iyielded to his entreaties at last, and one evening I said to him, 'Bringin this wonderful physician, if you really think he can do anything forme, ' and he did bring him. 

"Yes, M. Andre, he found a medical man base and vile enough to becomethe tool of my son, and a money-lender; and if I choose, I can exposehim to the loathing of the world, and the contempt of his brethren. 

"The fellow came, and his visit lasted nearly an hour. I can see himnow, asking questions and feeling my pulse. He went away at last, and myson followed him. They both met Clergot, who was waiting in the street. 'You can pay him the cash; the old man won't last twenty-four hourslonger, ' said the doctor; and then my son came back happy and radiant, and assured me that I should soon be well again. And strange as it mayseem, a change for the better took place that very night. Clergot hadasked for forty-eight hours in which to raise the sum required. He heardof my convalescence, and my son lost the money. 

"Was it courage you lacked?" asked the old man, turning for the firsttime to his son. "Did you not know that ten drops instead of one of themedicine I was taking would have freed you from me for ever?"

Gaston did not seem at all overwhelmed. Indeed, he was wondering how thematter had reached his father's ears, and how Catenac had discovered therough draft of the agreement. 

The contractor had imagined that his son would implore forgiveness; butseeing that he remained obdurate, his violence burst forth again. "Anddo you know what use my son would make of my fortune? He would squanderit on a creature he picked up out of the streets, --a woman he calledMadame de Chantemille, --a fit companion for a noble count!"

The shaft had penetrated the impassability which Gaston had up to thisdisplayed. "You should not insult Zora, " said he. 

"I shall not, " returned his father with a grim laugh, "take the troubleto do that; you are not of age, and I shall clap your friend Madame deChantemille into prison. "

"You would not do that!"

"Would I not? You are a minor; but your Zora, whose real name is Rose, is much older; the law is wholly on my side. "

"But father--"

"There is no use in crying; my lawyer has the matter in hand, and bynightfall your Zora will be securely caged. "

This blow was so cruel and unexpected, that the young man could onlyrepeat, --

"Zora in prison!"

"Yes, in the House of Correction, and from thence to Saint Lazare. Catenac told me the very things to be done. "

"Shameful!" exclaimed Gaston, "Zora in prison! Why, I and my friendswill lay siege to the place. I will go to the Court, stand by her side, and depose that this all comes from your devilish malignity. I will saythat I love and esteem her, and that as soon as I am of age I will marryher; the papers will write about us. Go on, go on; I rather like theidea. "

However great a man's self-control may be, it has its limits. M. Gandeluhad restrained himself even while he told his son of his villainousconduct; but these revolting threats were more than he could endure, and Andre seeing this, stepped forward, opened the door, and thrust thefoolish youth into the corridor. 

"What have you done" cried the contractor; "do you not see that he willgo and warn that vile creature, and that she will escape from justice?"

And as Andre, fearing he knew not what, tried to restrain him, the oldman, exerting all his muscular strength, thrust him on one side withperfect ease, and rushed from the room, calling loudly to his servants. 

Andre was horrified at the scene at which, in spite of himself, he hadbeen compelled to assist as a witness. He was not a fool, and had livedtoo much in the world of art not to have witnessed many strange scenesand met with many dissolute characters; but, as a rule, the follies ofthe world had amused rather than disgusted him. But this display of wantof feeling on the part of a son toward a father absolutely chilled hisblood. In a few minutes M. Gandelu appeared with a calmer expressionupon his face. 

"I will tell you how matters now stand, " said he, in a voice thatquivered in spite of his efforts. "My son is locked up in his room, and a trustworthy servant whom he cannot corrupt has mounted guard overhim. "

"Do you not fear, sir, that in his excitement and anger he may----?"

The contractor shrugged his shoulders. 

"You do not know him, " answered he, "if you imagine that he resemblesme in any way. What do you think that he is doing now? Lying on his bed, face downward, yelling for his Zora. Zora, indeed! As if that was a namefit for a Christian. How is it that these creatures are enabled to drugour boys and lead them anywhere? Had his mother not been a saint onearth, I should scarcely believe that he was my son. "

The contractor sank into a chair and buried his face in his hands. 

"You are in pain, sir?" said Andre. 

"Yes; my heart is deeply wounded. Up to this time I have only felt as afather; now I feel as a man. To-morrow I send for my family and consultwith them; and I shall advertise that for the future I will not beresponsible for any debts that my son may contract. He shall not have apenny, and will soon learn how society treats a man with empty pockets. As to the girl, she will disappear in double quick time. I havethoroughly weighed the consequences of sending this girl to gaol, andthey are very terrible. My son will do as he has threatened, I am sureof that; and I can picture him tied to that infamous creature for life, looking into her face, and telling her that he adores her, and gloryingin his dishonor, which will be repeated by every Parisian newspaper. "

"But is there no other way of proceeding?" asked Andre. 

"No, none whatever. If all modern fathers had my courage, we should nothave so many profligate sons. It is impossible that this conferring withthe doctor and the money-lender could have originated in my son's weakbrain. He is a mere child, and some one must have put him up to it. "

The poor father was already seeking for some excuse for the son'sconduct. 

"I must not dwell on this longer, " continued Gandelu, "or I shall get asmad as I was before. I will look at your plans another day. Now, let usget out of the house. Come and look at the new building in the ChampsElysees. "

The mansion in question was situated at the corner of the Rue deChantilly, near the Avenue des Champs Elysees, and the frontage of itwas still marked by scaffolding, so that but little of it could beseen. A dozen workmen, engaged by Andre, were lounging about. They hadexpected to see him early, and were surprised at his non-appearance, as he was usually punctuality itself. Andre greeted them in a friendlymanner, but M. Gandelu, though he was always on friendly terms with hisworkmen, passed by them as if he did not even notice their existence. Hewalked through the different rooms and examined them carelessly, withoutseeming to take any interest in them, for his thoughts were with hisson, --his only son. 

After a short time he returned to Andre. 

"I cannot stay longer, " said he; "I am not feeling well; I will be hereto-morrow;" and he went away with his head bent down on his chest. 

The workmen noticed his strange and unusual manner. 

"He does not look very bright, " remarked one to his comrade. "Sincehis illness he has not been the same man. I think he must have had someterrible shock. "

CHAPTER XXIV. 

AN ARTFUL TRICK. 

Andre had removed his coat and donned his blouse, the sleeves of whichwere rolled up to his shoulders. "I must get to business, " murmured he, "to make up for lost time. " He set to work with great vigor, but hadhardly got into the swing, when a lad came actively up the ladder andtold him that a gentleman wished to see him, "and a real swell, too, "added the boy. Andre was a good deal put out at being disturbed, butwhen he reached the street and saw that it was M. De Breulh-Faverlaywho was waiting for him, his ill-humor disappeared like chaff before thewind. 

"Ah, this is really kind of you, " cried he; for he could never forgetthe debt of gratitude he owed to the gentleman. "A thousand thanks forremembering me. Excuse my not shaking hands, but see;" and he exhibitedhis palms all white with plaster. As he did so the smile died away onhis lips, for he caught sight of his friend's face. 

"What is the matter?" exclaimed he, anxiously. "Is Sabine worse? Has shehad a relapse?"

De Breulh shook his head, but the expression of his face clearly said, --

"Would to heavens it were only that!"

But the news that Sabine was not worse relieved Andre at once, and hepatiently waited for his friend to explain. 

"I have seen her twice for you, " answered De Breulh; "but it isabsolutely necessary that you should come to a prompt decision on animportant affair. "

"I am quite at your service, " returned Andre a good deal surprised andtroubled. 

"Then come with me at once, I did not drive here, but we shall not bemore than a quarter of an hour in reaching my house. "

"I will follow you almost immediately. I only ask five minutes' grace togo up to the scaffold again. "

"Have you any orders to give?"

"No, I have none. "

"Why should you go, then?"

"To make myself a little more presentable. "

"Is it an annoyance or inconvenience for you to go out in that dress?"

"Not a bit, I am thoroughly used to it; but it was for your sake. "

"If that is all, come along. "

"But people will stare at seeing you in company with a common workman. "

"Let them stare. " And drawing Andre's arm through his, M. De Breulh setoff. 

Andre was right; many persons did turn round to look at the fashionablydressed gentleman walking arm in arm with a mason in his working attire, but De Breulh took but little heed, and to all Andre's questions simplysaid, "Wait till we reach my house. "

At length they arrived, without having exchanged twenty words, andentering the library closed the door. M. De Breulh did not inflictthe torture of suspense upon his young friend a moment longer than wasnecessary. 

"This morning, about twelve o'clock, as I was crossing the Avenue deMatignon, I saw Modeste, who had been waiting for you more than anhour. "

"I could not help it. "

"I know that. As soon as she saw me, she ran up to me at once. She wasterribly disappointed at not having seen you; but knowing our intimacy, she intrusted me with a letter for you from Mademoiselle de Mussidan. "

Andre shuddered; he felt that the note contained evil tidings, withwhich De Breulh was already acquainted. "Give it to me, " said he, andwith trembling hands he tore open the letter and perused its contents. 

"DEAREST ANDRE, --

"I love you, and shall ever continue to do so, but I have duties--mostholy ones--which I must fulfil; duties which my name and position demandof me, even should the act cost me my life. We shall never meet again inthis world, and this letter is the last one you will ever receive fromme. Before long you will see the announcement of my marriage. Pity me, for great as your wretchedness will be, it will be as nothing comparedto mine. Heaven have mercy upon us both! Andre, try and tear me outof your heart. I have not even the right to die, and oh, my darling, this--this is the last word you will ever receive from your poor unhappy

"SABINE. "

If M. De Breulh had insisted upon taking Andre home with him before hehanded him the letter, it was because Modeste had given him some inklingof its contents. He feared that the effect would be tremendous uponnerves so highly strung and sensitive as those of Andre. But he neednot have been alarmed on this point. As the young painter mastered thecontents of the letter his features became ghastly pale, and a shudderconvulsed every nerve and muscle of his frame. With a mechanical gesturehe extended the paper to M. De Breulh, uttering the one word, "Read. "

His friend obeyed him, more alarmed by Andre's laconism than he couldhave been by some sudden explosion of passion. 

"Do not lose heart, " exclaimed he. 

But Andre interrupted him. "Lose heart!" said he; "you do not know me. When Sabine was ill, perhaps dying, far away from me, I did feel castdown; but now that she tells me that she loves me, my feelings are of anentirely different nature. "

M. De Breulh was about to speak, but Andre went on. 

"What is this marriage contract which my poor Sabine announces to me, asif it was her death-warrant? Her parents must all along have intendedto break with you, but you were beforehand with them. Can they havereceived a more advantageous offer of marriage already? It is scarcelylikely. When she confided the secret of her life to you, she certainlyknew nothing of this. What terrible event has happened since then? Mybrave Sabine would never have submitted unless some coercion had beenused that she could not struggle against; she would rather have quittedher father's house for ever. "

As Andre uttered these words De Breulh's mind was busy with similarreflections, for Modeste had given him some hint of the approachingmarriage, and had begged him to be most careful how he communicated thefacts to Andre. 

"You must have noticed, " continued the young painter, "the strangecoincidence between Sabine's illness and this note. You left her happyand full of hope, and an hour afterward she falls senseless, as thoughstruck by lightning; as soon as she recovers a little she sends me thisterrible letter. Do you remember that Madame de Bois Arden told us thatduring Sabine's illness her father and mother never left her bedside?Was not this for fear lest some guilty secret of theirs might escape herlips in a crisis of delirium?"

"Yes, I remember that, and I have long had reason to imagine that thereis some terrible family secret in the Mussidans' family, such as we toooften find among the descendants of noble houses. "

"What can it be?"

"That I have no means of ascertaining, but that there is one I am sure. "

Andre turned away and paced rapidly up and down the room. "Yes, " saidhe, suddenly, "there is a mystery; but you and I will leave no stoneunturned until we penetrate it. " He drew a chair close to the sideof his friend, who was reclining on a couch. "Listen, " said he, "andcorrect me if you fancy that I am not right in what I am saying. Do youbelieve that the most terrible necessity alone has compelled Sabine towrite this letter?"

"Most certainly. "

"Both the Count and Countess were willing to accept you as theirson-in-law?"

"Exactly so. "

"Could M. De Mussidan have found a more brilliant match for hisdaughter, one who could unite so many advantages of experience andeducation to so enormous a fortune?"

De Breulh could hardly repress a smile. 

"I am not wishing to pay you a compliment, " said Andre impatiently. "Reply to my question. "

"Very well then, I admit that according to the opinion of the world, Iwas a most eligible suitor, and that M. De Mussidan would find it hardto replace me. "

"Then tell me how it comes about that neither the Count nor the Countesshas made any effort to prevent this rupture?"

"Their pride, perhaps, has been wounded. "

"Not so, for Modeste tells us that on the very day you sent the letterthe Count was going to call on you to break off the engagement. "

"Yes, that is so, if we are to believe Modeste. "

As if to give more emphasis to his words, Andre started to his feet. "This, " cried he, "this man, who has so suddenly appeared upon thescene, will marry Sabine, not only against her own will, but againstthat of her parents, and for what reason? Who is this man, and what isthe mysterious power that he possesses? His power is too great to springfrom an honorable source. Sabine is sacrificing herself to this man forsome reason or other, and he, like a dastardly cur, is ready to takeadvantage of the nobleness of her heart. "

"I admit the correctness of your supposition, " said he; "and now, how doyou propose to act?"

"I shall do nothing as yet, " answered the young man, with a fierce gleamin his eyes. "Sabine asks me to tear her from my heart. I will affectto do so for the time. Modeste believes in me, and will help me. I havepatience. The villain who has wrecked my life does not know me, andI will only reveal myself upon the day that I hold him helpless in myhand. "

"Take care, Andre, " urged De Breulh; "a false step would ruin your hopesfor ever. "

"I will make none; as soon as I have this man's name, I will insult him;there will be a duel, and I shall kill him--or he me. "

"A duel will be the height of madness, and would ruin all your hopes ofmarriage with Sabine. "

"The only thing that holds me back is that I do not wish that thereshould be a corpse between Sabine and myself. Blood on a bridal dress, they say, brings misery; and if this man is what I suspect him to be, Ishould be doing him too much honor if I crossed swords with him. No, Imust have a deeper vengeance than this, for I can never forget that henearly caused Sabine's death. "

He paused for a few seconds, and once again broke the silence whichreigned in the room. 

"To abuse the power that he must possess shows what a miserable wretchhe must be; and men do not attain such a height of infamy by a singlebound. The course of his life must be full of similar crimes, growingdeeper and deadlier as he moves on. I will make it my business to unmaskhim and to hold him up to the scorn and contempt of his fellow-men. "

"Yes; that is the plan to pursue. "

"And we will do so, sir. Ah! heaven help me! I say 'we, ' for I haverelied on you. The generous offer that you made to me I refused, and Iwas in the right in doing so; but I should now be a mere madman if Idid not entreat you to grant me your aid and advice. We have both knownhardship and are capable of going without food or sleep, if necessityrequires it of us. We have both graduated in the school of poverty andsorrow. We can keep our plans to ourselves and act. "

Andre paused, as if waiting for a reply, but his friend remained silent. 

"My plan is most simple, " resumed the young painter. "As soon as we knowthe fellow's name we shall be able to act. He will never suspect us, and we can follow him like his very shadow. There are professionaldetectives who, for a comparatively small sum, will lay bare a man'sentire life. Are we not as clever as this fine fellow? We can work welltogether in our different circles; you, in the world of fashion, canpick up intelligence that I could not hope to gain; while I, from mylowly position, will study the hidden side of his life, for I cantalk to the servants lounging at the front doors or the grooms at thepublic-houses without suspicion. "

M. De Breulh was delighted at finding that he could have some occupationwhich would fill up the dreary monotony of his life. 

"I am yours!" cried he; "and will work with you heart and soul!"

Before the artist could reply a loud blow was struck upon the librarydoor, and a woman's voice exclaimed, --

"Let me in, Gontran, at once. "

"It is Madame de Bois Arden, " remarked De Breulh, drawing the bolt back;and the Viscountess rushed hastily into the room and threw herself intoa low chair. 

Her beautiful face was bedewed with tears, and she was in a terriblestate of excitement. 

"What is the matter, Clotilde?" asked De Breulh kindly, as he took herhand. 

"Something terrible, " answered she with a sob; "but you may be able tohelp me. Can you lend me twenty thousand francs?"

De Breulh smiled; a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart. 

"If that is all you require, do not shed any more tears. "

"But I want them at once. "

"Can you give me half an hour?"

"Yes; but lose no time. "

De Breulh drew a check and despatched his valet for the money. 

"A thousand thanks!" said the Viscountess; "but money is not all that Irequire, I want your advice. "

Andre was about to leave the cousins together, but the lady stopped him. 

"Pray remain, M. Andre, " said she; "you are not at all in the way;besides, I shall have to speak of some one in whom you take a very deepinterest--of Mademoiselle de Mussidan, in short. 

"I never knew such a strange occurrence, " continued the Viscountess, recovering her spirits rapidly, "as that to which, my dear Gontran, you owe my visit. Well, I was just going up to dress, for I had beendetained by visitor after visitor, when at two o'clock another camebefore I could give my order, 'Not at home. ' This was the Marquis deCroisenois, the brother of the man who twenty years ago disappeared inso mysterious a manner. I hardly knew him at all, though of course wehave met in society, and he bows to me in the Bois, but that is all. "

"And yet he called on you to-day?" remarked De Breulh. 

"Don't interrupt me, " said the Viscountess. "Yes, he called, and thatis enough. He is good-looking, faultlessly dressed, and talks well. Hebrought a letter from an old friend of my grandmother's, the Marchionessd'Arlanges. She is a dear old thing, she uses awful language, and someof her stories are quite too--you know what I mean. In the letter theold lady said that the Marquis was one of her friends, and begged me forher sake to do him the service he required. Of course I asked him to beseated, and assured him that I would do anything that lay in my power. Then he began talking about M. De Clinchain, and told me a funny storyabout that eccentric man and a little actress, when I heard a greatnoise in the anteroom. I was about to ring and inquire the cause, whenthe door flew open and in came Van Klopen, the ladies' tailor, with avery inflamed countenance. I thought that he had come in a hurry becausehe had hit on something extremely fetching and wished me to be the firstto see it. But do you know what the impudent fellow wanted?"

A smile shone in De Breulh's eyes, as he answered, --

"Money, perhaps!"

"You are right, " returned the Viscountess, gravely; "he brought my billinto my very drawing-room, and handed it in before a stranger. I neverthought that a man who supplies the most aristocratic portion of societycould have been guilty of such a piece of impertinence. I ordered himto leave the room, taking it for granted that he would do so with anapology, but I was wrong. He flew into a rage and threatened me, andswore that if I did not settle the bill on the spot, he would go to myhusband. The bill was nearly twenty thousand francs; imagine my horror!I was so thunderstruck at the amount that I absolutely entreated him togive me time. But my humility added to his annoyance, and taking a seatin an armchair, he declared that he would not move from it until hereceived his money, or had seen my husband. "

"What was Croisenois doing all this time?" asked M. De Breulh. 

"He did nothing at first, but at this last piece of audacity he tookout his pocketbook, and throwing it in Van Klopen's face, said: 'Payyourself, you insolent scoundrel, and get out of this. '"

"And the tailor went off?"

"No. 'I must give you a receipt, ' said he, and taking writing materialsfrom his pocket, he wrote at the foot of the bill, 'Received from theMarquis de Croisenois, on account of money owing by the Viscountess deBois Arden, the sum of twenty thousand francs. '"

"Well, " said De Breulh, looking very grave, "and after Van Klopen'sdeparture, I suppose Croisenois remained to ask the favor regardingwhich he had called?"

"You are mistaken, " answered his cousin. "I had great difficulty inmaking him speak; but at last he confessed that he was deeply in lovewith Mademoiselle de Mussidan, and entreated me to present him to herparents and exert all my influence in his behalf. "

Both the young men started. 

"That is the man!" cried they. 

"What do you mean?" asked the Viscountess, looking from one to theother. 

"That your Marquis de Croisenois is a despicable scoundrel, who hadimposed upon the Marchioness d'Arlanges. Just you listen to our reasonsfor coming to this conclusion. " And with the most perfect clearness DeBreulh had the whole state of the case before the Viscountess. 

The lady listened attentively, and then said, --

"Your premises are wrong; just let me say a word on the matter. You saythat there is some man who by means of the influence that he exercisesover the Count and Countess, can coerce them into granting him Sabine'shand. But, my dear Gontran, an utter stranger to the family could notexercise this power. Now M. De Croisenois has never entered the doors ofthe house, and came to me to ask for an introduction. "

The justness of this remark silenced De Breulh, but Andre took anotherview of the matter. 

"This seems all right at a first glance, but still, after theextraordinary scene that the Viscountess has described, I should like toask a few questions. Was not Van Klopen's behavior very unexpected?"

"It was brutal and infamous. "

"Are you not one of his best customers?"

"I am, and I have spent an enormous sum with him. "

"But Van Klopen is nasty sometimes; did he not sue Mademoiselle deRiversac?" asked De Breulh. 

"But he did not, I expect, force his way into her drawing-room andbehave outrageously before a perfect stranger. Do you know M. DeCroisenois?" returned Andre. 

"Very slightly; he is of good family, and his brother George was muchesteemed by all who knew him. "

"Has he plenty of money?"

"I do not think so, but in time he will inherit a large fortune; verylikely he is over head and ears in debt. "

"And yet he had twenty thousand francs in his pocketbook; is not thatrather a large sum to carry when you are simply making a morning call?and it is curious, too, that it should have been the exact sum wanted. Then there is another point; the pocketbook was hurled into Van Klopen'sface. Did he submit without a word to such treatment?"

"He certainly said nothing, " replied Madame de Bois Arden. 

"One question more, if you please. Did Van Klopen open the book andcount the notes before he gave the receipt?"

The Viscountess thought for a moment. 

"I was a good deal excited, " said she at length, "but I am almost surethat I saw no notes in Van Klopen's hands. "

Andre's face grew radiant. 

"Good, very good; he was told to pay himself, and yet he never lookedto see if the money was there, but gave a receipt at once. Of course, asVan Klopen kept the pocketbook, the Marquis could have had nothing in itbesides the exact sum that was required. "

"It does seem odd, " muttered De Breulh. 

"But, " said Andre, "your bill was not exactly twenty thousand francs, was it?"

"No, " answered the Viscountess. "I ought to have had change to theamount of a hundred or a hundred and twenty francs, but I suppose he wastoo much excited to give it me. "

"But for all that he could remember that he had writing materials withhim, and give you a receipt?"

The Viscountess was utterly bewildered. 

"And, " continued Andre, "how is it that Van Klopen knew De Croisenois'name? And now, lastly, where is the receipt?"

Madame de Bois Arden turned very pale and trembled violently. 

"Ah, " said she, "I felt sure that something was going to happen, and itwas on this very point that I wanted your advice. Well, I have not gotthe receipt. M. De Croisenois crumpled it up in his hand and threw iton the table. After a while, however, he took it up and put it in hispocket. "

"It is all perfectly clear, " said Andre in jubilant tones; "M. DeCroisenois had need of your aid, he saw that he could not easily obtainit, and so sought to bind you by the means of a loan made to you at atime of great need. "

"You are right, " said De Breulh. 

The Viscountess' giddy mode of action had brought her into many scrapes, but never into so terrible a one as this. 

"Great heavens!" cried she, "what do you think that M. De Croisenoiswill do with this receipt?"

"He will do nothing, " answered M. De Breulh, "if you do everything toadvance his suit; but pause for an instant, and he will show the hand ofsteel which has up to now been covered by the velvet glove. "

"I am not alarmed at a new slander?" returned the Viscountess. 

"And why not?" answered De Breulh. "You know very well that in thesedays of lavish expenditure and unbridled luxury there are many womenin society who are so basely vile that they ruin their lovers withas little compunction as their frailer sisters. To-morrow even DeCroisenois may say at the club, 'On my word that little Bois Arden costsme a tremendous lot, ' and hands about this receipt for twenty thousandfrancs. What do you imagine that people will think then?"

"The world knows me too well to think so ill of me. "

"No, no, Clotilde, there is no charity in society; they will simplysay that you are his mistress, and finding that the allowance from yourhusband is not enough for your needs, you are ruining your lover. Therewill be a significant laugh among the members, and in time, a very shorttime, the scandal in a highly sensational form will come to the ears ofyour husband. "

The Viscountess wrung her hands. 

"It is too horrible, " wailed she. "And do you know that Bois Arden wouldput the worst construction on the whole affair, for he declares that awoman will sacrifice anything in order to outshine her sex in dress. Ah, I will never run up another bill anywhere; tell me, Gontran, what I hadbetter do. Can you not get the receipt from De Croisenois?"

M. De Breulh paused for a moment and then replied, "Of course I could doso, but such a step would be very damaging to your reputation. I have noproof; and if I went to him, he would deny everything of course, and itwould make him your enemy for life. "

"Besides, " added Andre, "you would put him on his guard, and he wouldescape us. "

The unhappy woman glanced from one to the other in utter despair. 

"Then I am lost, " she exclaimed. "Am I to remain for the rest of my daysin this villain's power?"

"Not so, " returned Andre, "for I hope soon to put it out of M. DeCroisenois' power to injure any one. What did he say when he asked youto introduce him to the Mussidans?"

"Nothing pointed. "

"Then, madame, do not disturb yourself to-night. So long as he hopes youwill be useful, so long he will stay his hand. Do as he wishes; neverallude to the receipt; introduce him and speak well of him, while I, aided by M. De Breulh, will do my utmost to unmask this scoundrel; andas long as he believes himself to be in perfect security, our task willbe an easy one. "

Just then the servant returned from the bank, and as soon as the man hadleft the room De Breulh took the notes and placed them in his cousin'shand. 

"Here is the money for De Croisenois, " said he. "Take my advice, andgive it to him this evening with a polite letter of thanks. "

"A thousand thanks, Gontran; I will act as you advise. "

"Remember you must not allude in your letter to his introduction to theMussidans. What do you think, Andre?"

"I think a receipt for the money would be a great thing, " answered he. 

"But such a demand would arouse his suspicions. "

"I think not, madame, and I see a way of doing it; have you a maid uponwhom you could rely?"

"Yes, I have one. "

"Good, then give the girl a letter and the notes done up in a separateparcel, and tell her exactly what she is to do. When she sees theMarquis, let her pretend to be alarmed at the great responsibility thatshe is incurring in carrying this large sum, and insist upon a receiptfor her own protection. "

"There is sound sense in that, " said De Breulh. 

"Yes, yes, " said the Viscountess, "Josephine will do--as sharp a girl asyou could find in a day's journey--and will manage the thing admirably. Trust to me, " she continued, as a smile of hope spread over her face;"I will keep De Croisenois in a good humor; he will confide in me, andI will tell you everything. But, oh dear! what shall I do without VanKlopen? Why, there is not another man in Paris fit to stand in hisshoes. "

With these words the Viscountess rose to leave. 

"I am completely worn out, " remarked she; "and I have a dinner-partyto-night. Good-bye then, until we meet again;" and with her spiritsevidently as joyous as ever, she tripped into her carriage. 

"Now, " said Andre, as soon as they were once more alone, "we are onthe track of De Croisenois. He evidently holds Madame de Mussidan as heholds Madame de Bois Arden. His is a really honorable mode of action; hesurprises a secret, and then turns extortioner. "

CHAPTER XXV. 

A NEW SKIN. 

Dr. Hortebise's private arrangements were sadly upset by his beingcompelled to accede to the desire of Tantaine and Mascarin, and ingranting hospitality to Paul Violaine; and in spite of the brilliantvisions of the future, he often devoutly wished that Mascarin and hisyoung friend were at the other side of the world; but for all thathe never thought of attempting to evade the order he had received. Hetherefore set himself steadily to his task, endeavoring to form Paul'smind, blunt his conscience, and prepare him for the inevitable part thathe would soon have to play. 

Paul found in him a most affable companion, pleasant, witty, and giftedwith great conversational powers. Five days were thus spent breakfastingat well-known restaurants, driving in the Bois, and dining at clubs ofwhich the doctor was a member, while the evenings were passed at thebanker's. The doctor played cards with his host, while Paul andFlavia conversed together in low whispers, or else hung over the pianotogether. But every kind of agreeable existence comes to an end, and oneday Daddy Tantaine entered the room, his face radiant with delight. 

"I have secured you the sweetest little nest in the world, " cried hemerrily. "It is not so fine as this, but more in accordance with yourposition. "

"Where is it?" asked Paul. 

Tantaine waited. "You won't wear out much shoe leather, " said he, "in walking to a certain banker's, for your lodgings are close to hishouse. "

That Tantaine had a splendid talent for arrangement Paul realizedas soon as he entered his new place of abode, which was in the RueMontmartre, and consisted of some neat, quiet rooms, just such as anartist who had conquered his first difficulties would inhabit. Theapartments were on the third floor, and comprised a tiny entrance hall, sitting-room, bed and dressing room. A piano stood near the window inthe sitting-room. The furniture and curtains were tasteful and in goodorder, but nothing was new. One thing surprised Paul very much; he hadbeen told that the apartments had been taken and furnished three daysago, and yet it seemed as if they had been inhabited for years, and thatthe owner had merely stepped out a few minutes before. The unmadebed, and the half-burnt candles in the sleeping-room added to thisimpression, while on the rug lay a pair of worn slippers. The fire hadnot gone out entirely, and a half-smoked cigar lay on the mantelpiece. 

On the table in the sitting-room was a sheet of music paper, with a fewbars jotted down upon it. Paul felt so convinced that he was in anotherperson's rooms, that he could not help exclaiming, "But surely some onehas been living in these chambers. "

"We are in your own home, my dear boy, " said Tantaine. 

"But you took over everything, I suppose, and the original proprietorsimply walked out?"

Tantaine smiled, as though an unequivocal compliment had been paid him. 

"Why, do you not know your own home?" asked he; "you have been livinghere for the last twelve months. "

"I can't understand you, " answered Paul, opening his eyes inastonishment; "you must be jesting. "

"I am entirely in earnest; for more than a year you have beenestablished here. If you want a proof of the correctness of myassertion, call up the porter. " He ran to the head of the staircase andcalled out, "Come up, Mother Brigaut. "

In a few moments a stout old woman came panting into the room. 

"And how are you, Mother Brigaut?" said Tantaine gayly. "I have a wordor two to say to you. You know that gentleman, do you not?"

"What a question? as if I did not know one of the gentlemen lodginghere?"

"What is his name?"

"M. Paul. "

"What, plain M. Paul, and nothing else?"

"Well, sir, it is not his fault if he did not know his father ormother. "

"What does he do?"

"He is a musician; he gives lessons on the piano, and composes music. "

"Does he do a good business?"

"I can't say, sir, but I should guess about two or three hundred francsa month; and he makes that do, for he is economical and quiet, and asmodest as a young girl. "

Tantaine's face shone all over with satisfaction. 

"You must have known M. Paul for some time, as you seem so thoroughlyacquainted with his habits?" said he. 

"Well, I ought to, for he has been here nearly fifteen months, and allthat time I have looked after his room. "

"Do you know where he lived before he came here?"

"Of course I do, for I went to inquire about him in the Rue Jacob. Thepeople there were quite cut up at his leaving, but you see this was morehandy for the music publisher in the Rue Richelieu, for whom he works. "

"Good, Mother Brigaut; that will do; you can leave us now. "

As Paul listened to this brief conversation, he wondered if he was awakeor asleep. Tantaine stood at the door and watched the woman down stairs;then he closed it carefully, and coming up to Paul, said, --

"Well, what do you think of all this?"

At first Paul was so astounded that he could hardly find words in whichto express himself; but he remembered the words that Dr. Hortebise hadso often dinned into his ears during the last five days, --

"Let nothing astonish you. "

"I suppose, " said he at last, "that you had taught this old woman herlesson beforehand. "

"Merciful powers!" exclaimed Tantaine in tones of extreme disgust. "Ifthese are all the ideas you have gained from what you have heard, ourtask will not be by any means an easy one. "

Paul was wounded by Tantaine's contemptuous manner. 

"I understand well enough, sir, " answered he sulkily, "that this ismerely a prologue to a romantic drama. "

"You are right, my lad, " cried he, in a more satisfied voice; "and it isone that is quite indispensable. The plot of the drama will be revealedto you later on, and also the reward you will receive if you play yourpart well. "

"But why cannot you tell me everything now?"

Tantaine shook his head. 

"Have patience, you rash boy!" said he. "Rome was not built in a day. Beguided by me, and follow blindly the orders of those interested in you. This is your first lesson; think it over seriously. "

"My first lesson! What do you mean?"

"Call it a rehearsal if you like. All that the good woman told you, "continued Tantaine, "you must look upon as true; nay, it is true, andwhen you believe this thoroughly, you are quite prepared for the fray, but until then you must remain quiescent. Remember this, you cannotimpress others unless you firmly believe yourself. The greatestimpostors of all ages have ever been their own dupes. "

At the word impostor, Paul seemed about to speak, but a wave ofTantaine's hand silenced him. 

"You must cast aside your old skin, and enter that of another. PaulViolaine, the natural son of a woman who kept a small drapery shop atPoitiers, Paul Violaine, the youthful lover of Rose, no longer exists. He died of cold and hunger in a garret in the Hotel de Perou, as M. DeLoupins will testify when necessary. "

The tone in which Tantaine spoke showed his intense earnestness, andwith emphatic gestures he drove each successive idea into Paul's brain. 

"You will rid yourself of your former recollections as you do of an oldcoat, which you throw aside, and forget the very existence of. And notonly that, but you must lose your memory, and that so entirely, that ifany one in the street calls out Violaine, you will never even dream ofturning round. "

Paul's brain seemed to tremble beneath the crime that his companion wasteaching him. 

"Who am I then?" asked he. 

A sardonic smile crossed Tantaine's face. 

"You are just what the portress told you, Paul, and nothing more. Yourfirst recollections are of a Foundling Hospital, and you never knew yourparents. You have lived here fifteen months, and before that you residedin the Rue Jacob. The portress knows no more; but if you will come withme to the Rue Jacob, the people there can tell you more about your lifewhen you were a lodger in the house. Perhaps, if you are careful, we maytake you back to your more childish days, and even find you a father. "

"But, " said Paul, "I might be questioned regarding my past life: whatthen? M. Rigal or Mademoiselle Flavia might interrogate me at anymoment?"

"I see; but do not disquiet yourself. You will be furnished with allnecessary papers, so that you can account for all your life during thetwenty-five years you spent in this world. "

"Then I presume that the person into whose shoes I have crept was acomposer and a musician like myself?"

Again Tantaine's patience gave way, and it was with an oath that heexclaimed, --

"Are you acting the part of a fool, or are you one in reality? No onehas ever been here except you. Did you not hear what the old woman said?She told you that you are a musician, a self-made one, and while waitinguntil your talents are appreciated, you give lessons in music. "

"And to whom do I _give_ them?"

Tantaine took three visiting cards from a china ornament on themantelshelf. 

"Here are three pupils of yours, " said he, "who can pay you one hundredfrancs per month for two lessons a week, and two of them will assure youthat you have taught them for some time. The third, Madame Grandorge, awidow, will vow that she owes all her success, which is very great, toyour lessons. You will go and give these pupils their lessons at thehours noted on their cards, and you will be received as if you had oftenbeen to the house before; and remember to be perfectly at your ease. "

"I will do my best to follow your instructions. "

"One last piece of information. In addition to your lessons, you are inthe habit of copying for certain wealthy amateurs the fragments of oldand almost obsolete operas, and on the piano lies the work that youare engaged on for the Marquis de Croisenois, a charming compositionby Valserra. You see, " continued Tantaine, taking Paul by the arm, andshowing him round the room, "that nothing has been forgotten, and thatyou have lived here for years past. You have always been a steady youngman, and have saved up a little money. In this drawer you will findeight certificates of scrip from the Bank of France. "

Paul would have put many more questions, but the visitor was already onthe threshold, and only paused to add these words, --

"I will call here to-morrow with Dr. Hortebise. " Then, with a strangesmile playing on his lips, he added, as Mascarin had before, "You willbe a duke yet. "

The old portress was waiting for Tantaine, and as soon as she saw himcoming down the stairs immersed in deep thought, out she ran toward himwith as much alacrity as her corpulency would admit. 

"Did I do it all right?" asked she. 

"Hush!" answered he, pushing her quickly into her lodge, the door ofwhich stood open. "Hush! are you mad or drunk, to talk like this, whenyou do not know who is listening?"

"I hope you were pleased with my success, " continued the woman, aghastat his sudden anger. 

"You did well--very well; you piled up the evidence perfectly. I shallhave an excellent report to make of you to M. Mascarin. "

"I am so glad; and now my husband and I are quite safe?"

The old man shook his head with an air of doubt. 

"Well, I can hardly say that yet; the master's arm is long and strong;but you have numerous enemies. All the servants in the house hate you, and would be glad to see you come to grief. "

"Is that really so, sir? How can that be, for both I and my husband havebeen very kind to all of them?"

"Yes, perhaps you have been lately, but how about the times before? Youand your husband both acted very foolishly. Article 386 cannot be gotnow, and two women can swear that they saw you and your husband, with abunch of keys in your hand, on the second floor. "

The fat woman's face turned a sickly yellow, she clasped her hands, andwhined in tones of piteous entreaty, --

"Don't speak so loud, sir, I beg of you. "

"You made a terrible mistake in not coming to my master earlier, forthere had been then so much talk that the matter had reached the ears ofthe police. "

"But for all that, if M. Mascarin pleased----"

"He does please, my good woman, and is quite willing to serve you. I amsure that he will manage to break the inquiry; or if it must go on, hehas several witnesses who will depose in your favor; but, you know, hegives nothing for nothing, and must have implicit obedience. "

"Good, kind man that he is, my husband and I would go through fire andwater for him, while my daughter, Euphenice, would do anything in theworld for him. "

Tantaine recoiled uneasily, for the old woman's gratitude was sodemonstrative that he feared she was about to embrace him. 

"All you have to do is to stick firmly to what you have said aboutPaul, " continued he, when he found himself at a safe distance; "and ifever you breathe a word of what you have been doing, he will hand youover to the law, and then take care of Article 386. "

It was evident that this portion of the Code, that had reference to therobbery of masters by servants, struck terror into the woman's soul. 

"If I stood on the scaffold, " said she, "I would tell the story about M. Paul exactly as I have been taught. "

Her tone was so sincere, that Tantaine addressed her in a kindliervoice. 

"Stick to that, " said he, "and I can say to you, 'Hope. ' Upon the day onwhich the young man's business is settled you will get a paper from me, which will prove your complete innocence, and enable you to say, 'I havebeen grossly maligned. '"

"May the dear young man's business be settled sharp, " said she. 

"It will not be long before it is so; but, remember, in the meantime youmust keep an eye upon him. "

"I will do so. "

"And, remember, report to me whoever comes to see him, no matter who itmay be. "

"Not a soul can go upstairs without my seeing or hearing him. "

"Well, if any one, save the master, Dr. Hortebise, or myself comes, donot lose a moment, but come and report. "

"You shall know in five minutes. "

"I wonder if that is all I have to say?" mused Tantaine. "Ah! Iremember: note exactly the hour at which this young man comes and goes. Do not have any conversation with him; answer all questions he addressesyou with a simple 'Yes, ' or 'No, ' and, as I said before, watch his everymovement. "

And Tantaine turned to go away, paying no attention to the woman's eagerprotestations. 

"Keep a strict watch, " were his last words, "and, above all, see thatthe lad gets into no scrape. "

In Tantaine's presence Paul had endeavored to assume an air of bravado, but as soon as he was left alone he was seized with such mortal terror, that he sank in a half fainting condition into an easy-chair. He feltthat he was not going to put on a disguise for a brief period, but forlife, and that now, though he rose in life, wealth, title, even awife would all have been obtained by a shameful and skilfully planneddeception, and this deception he must keep up until the day of hisdeath. He shuddered as he recalled Tantaine's words, "Paul Violaine isdead. " He recalled the incidents in the life of the escaped galley-slaveCoignard, who, under the name of Pontis de St. Helene, absolutelyassumed the rank of a general officer, and took command of a domain. Coignard was recognized and betrayed by an old fellow-prisoner, andthis was exactly the risk that Paul knew he must run, for any of his oldcompanions might recognize and denounce him. Had he on such an occasionsufficient presence of mind to turn laughingly to his accuser, and say, "Really, my good fellow, you are in error, for I never set eyes on youbefore?"

He felt that he could not do it, and had he any means of existence, hewould have solved the difficulty by taking to flight. But he knew thatmen like Mascarin, Hortebise, and Tantaine were not easily eluded, and his heart sank within him as he remembered the various crumbs ofinformation that each of these men had dropped before him. To agree totheir sordid proposals, and to remain in the position in which he was, was certainly to incur a risk, but it was one that was a long way off, and might never eventually come to pass; while to change his mind wouldbe as sure to bring down swift and condign punishment upon his head; andthe weak young man naturally chose the more remote contingency, and withthis determination the last qualms of his conscience expired. 

The first night he slept badly in his new abode, for it seemed to him asif the spectre of the man whose place he was to usurp was hoveringover his couch. But with the dawn of day, and especially when the hourarrived for him to go out and give his lessons, he felt his couragereturn to him, though rashness perhaps would be the more correct word. And with a mien of perfect confidence he repaired to the house ofMademoiselle Grandorge, the oldest of his pupils. Impelled by the samefeeling of curiosity as to how Paul would comport himself, both Dr. Hortebise and Father Tantaine had been hanging about the Rue Montmartre, and taking advantage of a heavy dray that was passing, caught a goodglimpse of the young man. 

"Aha, " chuckled Tantaine, delighted at seeing Paul look so brisk andjoyous, "our young cock is in full feather; last night he was decidedlyrather nervous. "

"Yes, " answered the doctor, "he is on the right road, and I think thatwe shall have no further trouble with him. "

They then thought it would be as well to see Mother Brigaut, and werereceived by the old woman with slavish deference. 

"No one has been near the dear young gentleman, " said she, in reply totheir questions. "Last night he came down about seven o'clock, and askedwhere the nearest eating-house was. I directed him to Du Val's, and hewas back by eight, and by eleven I saw that he had put out his light. "

"How about to-day?"

"I went up stairs at nine, and he had just finished dressing. He toldme to get his breakfast ready, which I did. He ate well, and I said tomyself, 'Good; the bird is getting used to its cage. '"

"And then?"

"Then he commenced singing like a very bird, the dear fellow. His voiceis as sweet as his face; any woman would fall in love with him. I'mprecious glad that my girl, Euphenice is nowhere near. "

"And after that he went out?" continued Tantaine. "Did he say how longhe would be away?"

"Only to give his lessons. I suppose he expected that you would call. "

"Very good, " remarked the old man; then, addressing Dr. Hortebise, hesaid, "Perhaps, sir, you are going to the Registry Office?"

"Yes; I want to see Mascarin. "

"He is not there; but if you want to see him on any special matter, youhad better come to our young friend's apartment, and await his arrival. "

"Very well, I will do so, " answered the doctor. 

Hortebise was much more impressed than Paul with the skill of the handwhich had imparted such a look of long occupation to the rooms. 

"On my word, the quiet simplicity of these rooms would induce any fatherto give his daughter to this young fellow. "

The old man's silence surprised him, and turning sharply round, he wasstruck by the gloomy look upon his features. 

"What is the matter?" asked Hortebise, with some anxiety. "What istroubling you?"

Tantaine had thrown himself into a chair, and for a moment made noreply; then, springing to his feet, he gave the expiring embers afurious kick, and faced the doctor with folded arms. 

"I see much trouble before us, " said he at last. 

The doctor's face grew as gloomy as that of his companion. 

"Is it Perpignan who interferes?" asked he. 

"No, Perpignan is only a fool; but he will do what I tell him. "

"Then I really do not see--"

"Do not see, " exclaimed Tantaine; "but luckily for us all, I am not soblind. Have you forgotten this marriage of De Croisenois? There lies thedanger. All had gone so smoothly, every combination had been arranged, and every difficulty foreseen, and now----"

"Well, you had made too sure, that was all; and you were unprepared forthe slightest check. "

"Not so, but I had made no attempt to guard against the impossible. "

"Of course, there are limits to all human intelligence, but pray explainyourself. "

"This is it, then, doctor. The most adroit energy could never haveput in our way such an obstacle as now threatens us. Have you inyour experience of society ever come across a wealthy heiress whois indifferent to all the allurements of luxury, and is capable ofdisinterested love?"

The doctor smiled an expressive denial. 

"But such an heiress does exist, " said Tantaine, "and her name is Sabinede Mussidan. She loves--and whom do you think?--why a mere painter, whohas crossed my path three times already. He is full, too, of energy andperseverance, and for these qualities I have never met his equal. "

"What, a man without friends, money, or position, what can--"

A rapid gesture of Tantaine's checked his companion's speech. 

"Unfortunately he is not without friends, " remarked the genial Tantaine. "He has one friend at least; can you guess who it is? No lessa personage than the man who was to have married Sabine, M. DeBreulh-Faverlay. "

At this unexpected news Hortebise remained silent and aghast. 

"How on earth those two met I cannot imagine. It must have been Sabinethat brought them together, but the facts remain the same. They areclose friends anyhow. And these two men have in their interests the verywoman that I had selected to push De Croisenois' suit. "

"Is it possible?"

"That is my present belief. At any rate, these three had a longinterview last night, and doubtless came to a decision hostile to theinterests of the Marquis. "

"What do you mean?" asked Hortebise, his lips tightly compressed withanxiety. "Do you mean that they are aware of the manner by which DeCroisenois hopes to succeed?"

"Look here?" answered Tantaine. "A general, on the eve of a battle, takes every precaution, but among his subordinates there are alwaysfools, if not traitors. I had arranged a pretty little scene betweenCroisenois and Van Klopen, by which the Viscountess would be securelytrapped. Unfortunately, though the rehearsal was excellent, therepresentation was simply idiotic. Neither of the actors took the leasttrouble to enter into the spirit of his part. I had arranged a scenefull of delicacy and _finesse_, and they simply made a low, coarseexhibition of it and themselves. Fools! they thought it was the easiestthing in the world to deceive a woman; and finally the Marquis, to whomI had recommended the most perfect discretion, opened fire, and actuallyspoke of Sabine and his desire to press his suit. The Viscountess found, with a woman's keen perceptions, that there was something arrangedbetween Van Klopen and her visitor, and hurried off to her cousin, M. DeBreulh-Faverlay for advice and assistance. "

The doctor listened to this recital, pallid and trembling. 

"Who told you all this?" gasped he. 

"No one; I discovered it; and it was easy to do so. When we have aresult, it is easy to trace it back to the cause. Yes, this is what tookplace. "

"Why don't you say at once that the whole scheme is knocked on thehead?" asked the doctor. 

"Because I do not think that it is; I know that we have sustained a verysevere check; but when you are playing _ecarte_ and your adversary hasmade five points to your one, you do not necessarily throw down thecards and give up the game? Not a bit; you hold on and strive to betteryour luck. "

The worthy Dr. Hortebise did not know whether the most to admire theperseverance or deplore the obstinacy of the old man, and exclaimed, --

"Why, this is utter madness; it is like plunging headlong into a deeppit, which you can easily see in your path. "

Tantaine gave a long, low whistle. 

"My friend, " said he, "what in your opinion would be the best course topursue?"

"I should say, without a moment's hesitation, turn up the whole scheme, and look out for another one, which, if less lucrative, would not be sofull of danger. You had hoped to win the game, and with good reason too. Now throw aside all feelings of wounded vanity, and accept your defeat. After all, it does not matter to us who Mademoiselle de Mussidanmarries. The great enterprise fortunately does not lie in this alliance. We have still the idea of the Company to which all old people mustsubscribe remaining to us, and we can work it up at once. "

He stopped short, abashed by the look on Tantaine's face. 

"It strikes me, " resumed the doctor, a little mortified, "that myproposal is not utterly ridiculous, and certainly deserves someconsideration. "

"Perhaps so; but is it a practical one?"

"I see no reason why it should not be. "

"Indeed, then, you look at the thing in a very different manner tomyself. We are too far advanced, my dear doctor, to be our own masters. We must go on, and have no option to do otherwise. To beat a retreatwould simply be to invite our enemies to fall upon our disorganizedbattalions. We must give battle; and as the first to strike has alwaysthe best chance of victory, we must strive to take the initiative. "

"The idea is good, but these are mere words. "

"Was the secret that we confided to De Croisenois only words?"

This thrust went home. 

"Do you mean that you think he would betray us?" said he. 

"Why should he not if it were to his interests to do so? Reflect, Croisenois is almost at the end of his tether. We have dangled the lineof a princely fortune before his eyes. Do you think he would do nothingif we were to say, 'Excuse us, but we made a mistake; poor as you are, so you must remain, for we do not intend to help you?'"

"But is it necessary to say that at all?"

"Well, at any rate, whatever we choose to say, what limit do you thinkhe will place upon his extortions now that he holds our secret? We havetaught him his music, and he will make us do our part in the chorus, andcan blackmail us as well as we can others. "

"We played a foolish game, " answered Dr. Hortebise moodily. 

"No; we had to confide in some one. Besides, the two affairs, that ofMadame de Mussidan and the Duke de Champdoce, ran so well together. Theywere the simultaneous emanations of my brain. I worked them up together, and together they must stand or fall. "

"Then you are determined to go on?"

"Yes; more determined than ever. "

The doctor had been playing with his locket for some time, and thecontact of the cold metal seemed to have affected his nerves; for it wasin a trembling voice that he replied, --

"I vowed long ago that we should sink or swim together. " He paused, and then, with a melancholy smile upon his face, continued, --"I haveno intention of breaking my oath, you see; but I repeat, that your roadseems to be a most perilous one, and I will add that I consider youheadstrong and self-opinionated; but for all that I will follow you, even though the path you have chosen leads to the grave. I have at thismoment a something between my fingers that will save me from shame anddisgrace--a little pill to be swallowed, a gasp, a little dizziness, andall is over. "

Tantaine did not seem to care for the doctor's explanation. 

"There, that will do, " said he. "If things come to the worst, you canuse the contents of your locket as much as you like, but in the meantimeleave it alone, and do not keep jingling it in that distracting manner. For people of our stamp a danger well known is a comparatively slightperil, for threats furnish us with means of defence. Woe, I say, woe tothe man who crosses my path, for I will hold my hand from nothing!" Hestopped for a little, opened every door, and assured himself that therewere no eavesdroppers, and then, in a low whisper, he said to Hortebise, "Do you not see that there is but one obstacle to our success, andthat is Andre? Remove him, and the whole of our machinery will work assmoothly as ever. "

Hortebise winced, as if suffering from a sudden pain. 

"Do you mean----?" asked he. 

But Tantaine interrupted him with a low laugh, terrible to listen to. 

"And why not?" said he. "Is it not better to kill than to be killed?"

Hortebise trembled from head to foot. He had no objection to extortingmoney by the basest threats, but he drew the line at murder. 

"And suppose we were found out?" muttered he. 

"Nonsense! How could we be discovered? Justice always looks for amotive; how, then could they bring it home to us? They could only findout that a young lady adored by De Breulh had thrown him over in orderto marry Andre. "

"Horrible!" murmured the doctor, much shocked. 

"I daresay that it is horrible, and I have no wish to proceed toextremities. I only wish to speak of it as a remote possibility, and onethat we may be compelled to adopt. I hate violence just as much as youdo, and trust that it may not be necessary. "

Just then the door opened, and Paul entered, a letter in his hand. Heseemed in excellent spirits, and shook hands with both his visitors. 

Tantaine smiled sarcastically as he contrasted Paul's high spirits withthe state of depression in which he had left him not many hours ago. 

"Things are evidently going well with you, " remarked the doctor, forcinga smile. 

"Yes; I cannot find any reason for complaint. "

"Have you given your lesson?"

"Yes; what a delightful woman Madame Grandorge is! she has treated me sokindly. "

"That is a good reason for your being so happy, " remarked the doctor, with a tinge of irony in his voice. 

"Ah, that is not the only reason, " returned Paul. 

"Shall I be indiscreet if I ask the real cause, then?"

"I am not quite sure whether I ought to speak on this matter, " said hefatuously. 

"What! a love adventure already?" laughed the doctor. 

The vanity of Paul's nature beamed out in a smile. 

"Keep your secret, my boy, " said Tantaine, in louder accents. 

This, of course, was enough to loosen Paul's tongue. 

"Do you think, sir, " said he, "that I would keep anything from you?" Heopened the letter he held in his hand, continuing: "The portress handedthis to me as I came in; she said it was left by a bank messenger. Canyou guess where it came from? Let me tell you--it is from MademoiselleFlavia Rigal, and leaves no room to doubt of her sentiments toward me. "

"Is that a fact?"

"It is so; and whenever I choose, Mademoiselle Flavia will be only tooready to become Madame Paul. "

For an instant a bright flush crimsoned old Tantaine's wrinkled face, but it faded away almost as soon as it appeared. 

"Then you feel happy?" asked he, with a slight quiver in his voice. 

Paul threw back his coat, and, placing his fingers in the armholes ofhis waistcoat, remarked carelessly, --

"Yes, of course, I am happy, as you may suppose; but the news is notparticularly startling to me. On my third visit to M. Rigal's, the girllet me know that I need not sigh in vain. "

Tantaine covered his face with his hands as Paul passed his fingersthrough his hair, and, striking what he considered an imposing attitude, read as follows:--

"MY DEAR PAUL, --

"I was very naughty, and I repent of it. I could not sleep all night, for I was haunted by the look of sorrow I saw in your face when you tookleave of me. Paul, I did it to try you. Can you forgive me? You might, for I suffered much more than you could have done. Some one who lovesme--perhaps more than you do--has told me that when a girl shows all thedepths of her heart to a man she runs the risk of his despising her. Canthis be true? I hope not, Paul, for never--no, never--can I conceal myfeelings; and the proof of my faith in you is that I am going nowto tell you all. I am sure that if your good friend and mine, Dr. Hortebise, came to my father with a certain request from you, it wouldnot be rejected. 

"Your own

"FLAVIA. "

"Did not this letter go straight to your heart?" asked Tantaine. 

"Of course it did. Why, she will have a million for her weddingportion!"

On hearing these words, Tantaine started up with so threatening anaspect that Paul recoiled a step, but a warning look from the doctorrestrained the old man's indignation. 

"He is a perfect sham!" muttered he; "even his vices are mere pretence. "

"He is our pupil, and is what we have made him, " whispered Tantaine. 

Meanwhile Tantaine had gone up to Paul, and, placing his handcaressingly on his shoulder, said, --

"My boy, you will never know how much you owe to Mademoiselle Flavia. "

Paul could not understand the meaning of this scene. These men haddone their best to pervert his morals, and to deaden the voice ofhis conscience, and now that he had hoped to earn their praise by anaffectation of cynicism they were displeased with him. Before, however, he could ask a question, Tantaine had completely recovered hisself-command. 

"My dear boy, " said he, "I am quite satisfied with you. I came hereto-day expecting to find you still undecided, and I am pleased with thechange. "

"But, sir--" said Paul. 

"On the contrary, you are firm and strong. "

"Yes, he has got on so well, " said the doctor, "that we should now treathim as one of ourselves, and confide more in him. To-night, my youngfriend, M. Mascarin will get from Caroline Schimmel the solution of theriddle that has for so long perplexed us. Be at the office to-morrow atten o'clock, and you shall be told everything. "

Paul would have asked more questions, but Tantaine cut him short with abrief good-morning, and went off hurriedly, taking the doctor with him, and seemingly wishing to avoid a hazardous and unpleasant explanation. 

"Let us get out of this, " whispered he. "In another moment I shouldhave knocked the conceited ass down. Oh, my Flavia! my poor Flavia! yourweakness of to-day will yet cost you very dear!"

Paul remained rooted to the ground, with an expression of surprise andconfusion upon every line of his face. All his pride and vanity hadgone. "I wonder, " muttered he, "what these disagreeable persons aresaying about me? Perhaps laughing at my inexperience and ridiculing myaspirations. " The idea made him grind his teeth with rage; but he wasmistaken, for neither Tantaine nor the doctor mentioned his name afterthey had left his apartment. As they walked up the Rue Montmartre, all their ideas were turning upon how it would be easiest to checkmateAndre. 

"I have not yet got sufficient information to act on, " remarked Tantainemeditatively. "My present plan is to remain perfectly quiescent, and Ihave told Croisenois not to make a move of any kind. I have an eyeand ear watching and listening when they think themselves in perfectprivacy. Very soon I shall fathom their plans, and then--, but in themeantime have faith in me, and do not let the matter worry you. "

On the boulevard Tantaine took leave of his friend. 

"I shall very likely not see you to-night, for I have an appointment atthe Grand Turk with that precious young rascal, Toto Chupin. I _must_find Caroline, for I am sure that with her lies the Champdoce secret. She is very cunning, but has a weakness for drink, and, with Satan'shelp, I hope to find out the special liquor which will make her open herlips freely. "

CHAPTER XXVI. 

AT THE GRAND TURK. 

Tantaine took a cab, and, promising the cabman a handsome gratuity if hewould drive fast, stopped at the spot where the Rue Blanche intersectsthe Rue de Douai, and told the coachman to wait for him, and enteredthe house where the younger Gandelu had installed the fair Madame deChantemille. It was some time before his ring at the door was answered, but at last the door was opened by a stout, red-faced girl, with anuntidy cap. Upon seeing Tantaine, she uttered an exclamation of delight, for it was the cook that had been placed in Zora's employment by M. Mascarin's agency. 

"Ah, Daddy Tantaine, " said she, "you are as welcome as the sun inwinter. "

"Hush, hush, " returned the old man, gazing cautiously round him. 

"Don't be frightened, " returned the girl. "Madame has gone to a placefrom when there is no return ticket, at least, for some time. You knowthe greater the value of an article the closer we keep it under lock andkey. "

Tantaine gathered from this that Rose had been arrested, and hisastonishment appeared to be unmeasured. 

"Surely you don't mean that she has gone to quod?" said he. 

"It is as I tell you, " answered she; "but come in, and have a glass ofwine, while you hear all about it. "

She led the old man into the dining-room, round the table in whicha half dozen guests were seated, just concluding a late breakfast. Tantaine at once recognized four of the several guests as servants whomhe knew from their having applied for situations at the office, andthere were two men of a very unprepossessing exterior. 

"We are having a regular spree to-day, " observed the cook, handing abottle to Tantaine; "but yesterday there was not much of a jollificationhere, for just as I was setting about getting the dinner two fellowscame in and asked for my mistress, and as soon as they saw her theyclapped their hands on her and said that she must come to the stone jug. When madame heard this she shrieked so loud as to have been heard in thenext street. She would not go a foot with them, clung to the furnitureand banisters, so they just took her up by the head and feet, andcarried her down to a cab that was standing at the door. I seem to bringill luck wherever I go, for this is the fourth mistress I have seentaken off in this way; but come, you are taking nothing at all. "

But Tantaine had had enough, and making an excuse, retired from adebauch which he saw would continue as long as the wine held out. 

"All is going well, " muttered he, as he climbed into the cab; "and nowfor the next one. "

He drove straight to the house that the elder Gandelu was building inthe Champs Elysees, and putting his head out of the window, he accosteda light, active young fellow who was warning the foot passengers not topass under the scaffolding. 

"Anything new, La Cordille?" enquired the old man. 

"No, nothing; but tell the master I am keeping a good watch. "

From there Tantaine visited a footman in De Breulh's employment, and awoman in the service of Madame de Bois Arden. Then, paying his fare, he started on foot for Father Canon's wine shop, in the Rue St. Honore, where he met Florestan, who was as saucy and supercilious to Tantaineas he was obsequious to Mascarin. But although he paid for Florestan'sdinner, all that he could extort from him was, that Sabine was terriblydepressed. It was fully eight o'clock before Tantaine had got rid ofFlorestan, and hailing another cab, he ordered the driver to take him tothe Grand Turk, in the Rue des Poissonniers. 

The magnificent sign of the Grand Turk dances in the breeze, and invitessuch youths as Toto Chupin and his companions. The whole aspect of theexterior seemed to invite the passers-by to step in and try the goodcheer provided within, --a good _table d'hote_ at six p. M. , coffee, tea, liquors, and a grand ball to complete the work of digestion. A longcorridor leads to this earthly Eden, and the two doors at the end ofit open, the one into the dining, and the other into the ball-room. Amotley crew collected there for the evening meal, and on Sundays it isnext to impossible to procure a seat. But the dining-room is the GrandTurk's greatest attraction, for as soon as the dessert is over the headwaiter makes a sign, and dishes and tablecloths are cleared away ina moment. The dining-room becomes a _café_, and the click of dominoesgives way to the rattle of forks, while beer flows freely. This, however, is nothing, for, at a second signal, huge folding doors arethrown open, and the strains of an orchestra ring out as an invitationto the ball, to which all diners are allowed free entrance. Nothing isdanced but round dances, polkas, mazurkas, and waltzes. 

The German element was very strong at the Grand Turk, and if a gentlemanwished to make himself agreeable to his fair partners, it was necessaryfor him, at any rate, to be well up in the Alsatian dialect. The masterof the ceremonies had already called upon the votaries of Terpsichore totake their places for the waltz as Daddy Tantaine entered the hall. Thescene was a most animated one, and the air heavy with the scent of beerand tobacco, and would have asphyxiated any one not used to venture intosuch places. 

It was the first time that he had ever visited the Grand Turk, andyet any one observing would have sworn that he was one of the regularfrequenters as he marched idly through the rooms, making constant pausesat the bar. But glance around him as he might, he could see neither TotoChupin nor Caroline Schimmel. 

"Have I come here for nothing, " muttered he, "or is the hour too early?"

It was hard to waste time thus, but at last he sat down and ordered somebeer. His eyes wandered to a large picture on the wall, representing afat, eastern-looking man, with a white turban and loose, blue garments, seated in a crimson chair, with his feet resting upon a yellow carpet. One hand was caressing his protuberant paunch, while the other wasextended toward a glass of beer. Evidently this is the Grand Turk. Andfinally by an odalisque, who fills his goblet with the foaming infusionof malt and hops. This odalisque is very fair and stout, and some fairAlsatian damsel has evidently sat as the model. As Tantaine was gazingupon this wondrous work of art he heard a squeaking voice just behindhim. 

"That is certainly that young rogue Chupin, " muttered he. 

He turned sharply round, and two tables off, in a dark corner, hediscovered the young gentleman that he had been looking for. As hegazed on the lad, he was not surprised that he had not recognized himat first, for Toto had been strangely transmogrified, and in no degreeresembled the boy who had shivered in a tattered blouse in the archwaynear the Servants' Registry Office. He was now gorgeous to behold. Fromthe moment that he had got his hundred francs he had chalked out a newline of life for himself, and was busy pursuing it. He had found thathe could make all his friends merry, and he had succeeded. He had made aselection from the most astounding wares that the Parisian tailor keepson hand. He had sneered at young Gaston de Gandelu, and called himan ape; but he had aped the ape. He wore a very short, light coat, awaistcoat that was hideous from its cut and brilliancy, and trousersstrapped tightly under his feet. His collar was so tall and stiff, thathe had the greatest difficulty in turning his head. He had gone to abarber, and his lank hair had been artistically curled. The table infront of him was covered with glasses and bottles. Two shockinglooking scamps of the true barrier bully type, with loose cravats andshiny-peaked caps, were seated by him, and were evidently his guests. Tantaine's first impulse was to catch the debauched youth by the ear, but he hesitated for an instant and reflection conquered the impulse. With the utmost caution so that he might not attract Toto's attention, he crept down to him, concealing himself as best he could behind oneof the pillars that supported the gallery, and by this manoeuvre foundhimself so close to the lad that he could catch every word he said. 

Chupin was talking volubly. 

"Don't you call me a swell, nor yet say that I brag, " said he. "Ishall always make this kind of appearance, for to work in the manner Ipropose, a man must pay some attention to dress. "

At this his companions roared with laughter. 

"All right, " returned Toto. "I'm precious sharp, though you may notthink so, and shall go in for all kinds of elegant accomplishments, andcome out a regular masher. "

"Wonders will never cease, " answered one of the men. "When you go onyour trip for action in the Bois among the toffs, will you take me withyou?"

"Any one can go to the Bois who has money: and just tell me who arethose who make money. Why, those who have plenty of cheek and a goodsound business. Well, I have learned my business from some real downycards, who made it pay well. Why should I not do the same?"

With a sickening feeling of terror, Tantaine saw that the lad was halfdrunk. What could he be going to say? and how much did he know? Toto'sguests evidently saw that he had taken too much; but as he seemed readyto let them into a secret, they paid great attention, and exchanged alook of intelligence. The young rogue's new clothes and his liberalityall proved that he had found a means of gaining money; the only questionwas what the plan could be. To induce him to talk they passed the bottlerapidly and flattered him up. The younger man of the two shook his headwith a smile. 

"I don't believe you have any business at all, " said he. 

"Nor have I, if by business you mean some low handicraft. It is brainwork I mean, my boy; and that's what I do. "

"I don't doubt that a bit, " answered the elder guest coaxingly. 

"Come on! Tell us what it is, " broke in the other. "You don't expect usto take your word. "

"It is as easy as lying, " replied Toto. "Listen a bit, and you shallhave the whole bag of tricks. Suppose I saw Polyte steal a couple ofpairs of boots from a trotter-case seller's stall----"

Polyte interrupted the narrator, protesting so strongly that he wouldnot commit such an act, that Tantaine perceived at once that some suchtrifling act of larceny weighed heavily on his conscience. 

"You needn't kick up such a row, " returned Toto. "I am only just puttingit as a thing that might happen. We will say you had done the trick, andthat I had twigged you. Do you know what I should go? Well, I would huntup Polyte, and say quietly, 'Halves, old man, or I will split. '"

"And I should give you a crack in the jaw, " returned Polyte angrily. 

Forgetting his fine dress, Toto playfully put his thumb to his nose andextended his fingers. 

"You would not be such an ass, " said he. "You would say to yourself, 'IfI punch this chap, he will kick up no end of a row, and I shall be takenup, and perhaps sent to the mill. ' No; you would be beastly civil, andwould end by doing just as I wished. "

"And this is what you call your business, is it?"

"Isn't it a good one--the mugs stand the racket, and the downy cardsprofit by it?"

"But there is no novelty in this; it is only blackmail after all. "

"I never said it wasn't; but it is blackmailing perfected into asystem. "

As Toto made this reply he hammered on the table, calling for moredrink. 

"But, " remarked Polyte, with an air of disappointment, "you don't getchances every day, and the business is often a precious poor one. Youcan't always be seeing chaps prigging boots. "

"Pooh! pooh!" answered Toto, "if you want to make money in thisbusiness, you must keep your eyes about you. Our customers don't cometo you, but there is nothing to prevent you going to them. You can huntuntil you find them. "

"And where are you to hunt, if you please?"

"Ah, that's tellings. "

A long silence ensued, during which Tantaine was half tempted to comeforward. By doing so he would assuredly nip all explanations in the bud;but, on the other hand, he wanted to hear all the young rascal hadto say. He therefore only moved a little nearer, and listened moreintently. 

Forgetting his curls, Toto was abstractedly passing his fingers throughhis hair, and reflecting with all the wisdom of a muddled brain. Finally, he came to the conclusion that he might speak, and, leaningforward, he whispered, --

"You won't peach if I tell you the dodge?"

His companions assured him that he might have every confidence in them. 

"Very well; I make my money in the Champs Elysees, and sometimes get aharvest twice a day. "

"But there are no shoemakers' shops there. "

"You are a fool, " answered Toto contemptuously. "Do you think Iblackmail thieves? That wouldn't be half good enough. Honest people, orat least people who call themselves honest, are my game. These are theones who can be made to pay up. "

Tantaine shuddered; he remembered that Mascarin had made use of the sameexpression, and at once surmised that Toto must have had an occasionalear to the keyhole. 

"But, " objected Polyte, "honest people have no occasion to pay up. "

Toto struck his glass so heavily on the table that it flew to shivers. 

"Will you let me speak?" said he. 

"Go on, go on, my boy, " returned his friend. 

"Well, when I'm hard up for cash, I go into the Champs Elysees, and takea seat on one of the benches. From there I keep an eye on the cabs andsee who gets out of them. If a respectable woman does so, I am sure ofmy bird. "

"Do you think you know a respectable woman when you see her?"

"I should think that I did. Well, when a respectable woman gets out of acab where she ought not to have been, she looks about her on all sides, first to the right and then to the left, settles her veil, and, as soonas she is sure that no one is watching her, sets off as if old Nick wasbehind her. "

"Well, what do you do then?"

"Why, I take the number of the cab, and follow the lady home. ThenI wait until she has had time to get to her own rooms, and go to theporter and say, 'Will you give me the name of the lady who has just comein?'"

"And do you think the porter is fool enough to do so?"

"Not a bit; I always take the precaution of having a delicate littlepurse in my pocket; and when the man says, as he always does, 'I don'tknow, ' I pull out the purse, and say, 'I am sorry for that, for shedropped this as she came in, and I wanted to return it to her. ' Theporter at once becomes awfully civil; he gives the name and number, and up I go. The first time I content myself with finding out if she ismarried or single. If she is single, it is no go; but if the reverse, Igo on with the job. "

"Why, what do you do next?"

"Next morning I go there, and hang about until I see the husband go out. Then I go upstairs, and ask for the wife. It is ticklish work then, mylads; but I say, 'Yesterday, madame, I was unlucky enough to leave mypocketbook in cab number so-and-so. Now, as I saw you hail the vehicleimmediately after I had left it, I have come to ask you if you saw mypocketbook. ' The lady flies into a rage, denies all knowledge ofthe book, and threatens to have me turned out. Then, with the utmostpoliteness, I say, 'I see, madame, that there is nothing to be donebut to communicate the matter to your husband. ' Then she gets alarmed, and--she pays. "

"And you don't see any more of her?"

"Not that day; but when the funds are low, I call and say, 'It is Iagain, madame; I am the poor young man who lost his money in such andsuch a cab on a certain day of the month. ' And so the game goes on. Adozen such clients give a fellow a very fair income. Now, perhaps, youunderstand why I am always so well dressed, and always have money in mypocket. When I was shabbily attired, they offered me a five-franc piece, but now they come down with a flimsy. "

The young wretch spoke the truth; for to many women, who in a mad momentof passion may have forgotten themselves, and been tracked to theirhomes by some prowling blackmailer, life has been an endless journey ofagony. Every knock at the door makes them start, and every footfall onthe staircase causes a tremor as they think that the villain has come tobetray their guilty secret. 

"That is all talk, " said Polyte; "such things are never done. "

"They _are_ done, " returned Toto sulkily. 

"Have you ever tried the dodge yourself, then?" sneered Polyte. 

At another time Chupin would have lied, but the fumes of the drink hehad taken, added to his natural self-conceit, had deprived him of alljudgment. 

"Well, " muttered he, "if I have not done it myself exactly, I have seenothers practise it often enough--on a much larger scale, it is true;but one can always do things in a more miniature fashion with perhaps abetter chance of success. "

"What! _you_ have seen this done?"

"Of course I have. "

"And had you a share in the swag?"

"To a certain extent. I have followed the cabs times without number, andhave watched the goings on of these fine ladies and gentlemen; only Iwas working for others, like the dog that catches the hare, and neverhas a bit of it to eat. No, all I got was dry bread, with a kick or acuff for dessert. I sha'n't put up with it any longer, and have made upmy mind to open on my own account. "

"And who has been employing you?"

A flash of sense passed through Chupin's muddled brain. He had neverwished to injure Mascarin, but merely to increase his own importance byextolling the greatness of his employer. 

"I worked for people who have no equal in Paris, " said he proudly. "Theydon't mince matters either, I can tell you; and they have more moneythan you could count in six months. There is not a thing they cannot doif they desire; and if I were to tell you----"

He stopped short, his mouth wide open, and his eyes dilated with terror, for before him stood old Daddy Tantaine. 

Tantaine's face had a most benign expression upon it, and in a mostpaternal voice he exclaimed, --

"And so here you are at last, my lad; and, bless me, how fine! why, youlook like a real swell. "

But Toto was terribly disconcerted. The mere appearance of Tantainedissipated the fumes of liquor which had hitherto clouded the boy'sbrain, and by degrees he recollected all that he had said, and, becoming conscious of his folly, had a vague idea of some swift-comingretribution. Toto was a sharp lad, and he was by no means deceived byTantaine's outward semblance of friendliness, and he almost felt as ifhis life depended on the promptness of his decision. The question was, had the old man heard anything of the preceding conversation?

"If the old rogue has been listening, " said he to himself, "I am in ahole, and no mistake. "

It was, therefore, with a simulated air of ease that he answered, --

"I was waiting for you, sir, and it was out of respect to you that I puton my very best togs. "

"That was very nice of you; I ought to thank you very much. And now, will you--"

Toto's courage was coming back to him rapidly. 

"Will you take a glass of beer, or a liquor of brandy, sir?" said he. 

But Daddy Tantaine excused himself on the plea that he had just beendrinking. 

"That is all the more reason for being thirsty, " remarked Toto. "Myfriends and I have drunk the contents of all these bottles sincedinner. "

Tantaine raised his shabby hat at this semi-introduction, and thetwo roughs bowed smoothly. They were not entirely satisfied with theappearance of the new-comer, and thought that this would be a goodmoment for taking leave of their host. The waltz had just concluded, andthe master of the ceremonies was repeating his eternal refrain of--"Takeyour places, ladies and gentlemen;" and taking advantage of the noise, Toto's friends shook hands with their host and adroitly mixed with thecrowd. 

"Good fellows! jolly fellows;" muttered Toto, striving to catch a lastglimpse of them. 

Tantaine gave a low, derisive whistle. "My lad, " said he, "you keepexecrable company, and one day you will repent it. "

"I can look after myself, sir. "

"Do as you like, my lad; it is no business of mine. But, take my wordfor it, you will come to grief some day. I have told you that oftenenough. "

"If the old rascal suspected anything, " thought Toto, "he would not talkin this way. "

Wretched Toto! he did not know that when his spirits were risingthe danger was terribly near, for Tantaine was just then saying tohimself, --

"Ah! this lad is much too clever--too clever by half. If I were goingon with the business, and could make it worth his while, how useful hewould be to me! but just now it would be most imprudent to allow him towander about and jabber when he gets drunk. "

Meanwhile Toto had called a waiter, and, flinging a ten-franc piece onthe table, said haughtily: "Take your bill out of that. " But Tantainepushed the money back toward the lad, and, drawing another ten-francpiece from his pocket, gave it to the waiter. 

This unexpected act of generosity put the lad in the best possiblehumor. "All the better for me, " exclaimed he; "and now let us hunt upCaroline Schimmel. "

"Is she here? I could not find her. "

"Because you did not know where to look for her. She is at cards in thecoffee-room. Come along, sir. "

But Tantaine laid his hand upon the boy's arm. 

"One moment, " said he. "Did you tell the woman just what I ordered youto say?"

"I did not omit a single word. "

"Tell me what you said, then. "

"For five days, " began the lad solemnly, "your Toto has been yourCaroline's shadow. We have played cards until all sorts of hours, andI took care that she should always win. I confided to her that I had ajolly old uncle, --a man not without means, a widower, and crazy to bemarried again, --who had seen her and had fallen in love with her. "

"Good! my lad, good! and what did she say?"

"Why, she grinned like half a dozen cats; only she is a bit artful, andI saw at once that she thought I was after her cards, but the mention ofmy uncle's property soon chucked her off that idea. "

"Did you give my name?"

"Yes, at the end, I did. I knew that she had seen you, and so I kept itback as long as I could; but as soon as I mentioned it she looked ratherconfused, and cried out: 'I know him quite well. ' So you see, sir, allyou have now is to settle a day for the marriage. Come on; she expectsyou. "

Toto was right. The late domestic of the Duke de Champdoce was playingcards; but as soon as she caught sight of Toto and his pretended uncle, in spite of her holding an excellent hand, she threw up her cards, andreceived him with the utmost civility. Toto looked on with delight. Never had he seen the old rascal (as he inwardly called him in hisheart) so polite, agreeable, and talkative. It was easy to see thatCaroline Schimmel was yielding to his fascinations, for she had neverhad such extravagant compliments whispered in her ear in so persuasive atone. But Tantaine did not confine his attentions to wine only: he firstordered a bowl of punch, and then followed that up by a bottle of thebest brandy. All the old man's lost youth seemed to have come backto him: he sang, he drank, and he danced. Toto watched them in uttersurprise, as the old man whirled the clumsy figure of the woman roundthe room. 

And he was rewarded for this tremendous exertion, for by ten o'clock shehad consented, and Caroline left the Grand Turk on the arm of her futurehusband, having promised to take supper with him. 

Next morning, when the scavengers came down from Montmartre to ply theirmatutinal avocations, they found the body of a woman lying on her faceon the pavement. They raised her up and carried her to an hospital. She was not dead, as had been at first supposed; and when the unhappycreature came to her senses, she said that her name was CarolineSchimmel, that she had been to supper at a restaurant with herbetrothed, and that from that instant she remembered nothing. At herrequest, the surgeon had her conveyed to her home in the Rue Mercadet. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

THE LAST LINK. 

For some days M. Mascarin had not shown himself at the office, andBeaumarchef was terribly harassed with inquiries regarding his absentmaster. Mascarin, on the day after the evening on which Tantaine hadmet Caroline Schimmel at the Grand Turk, was carefully shut up inhis private room; his face and eyes were red and inflamed, and heoccasionally sipped a glass of some cooling beverage which stood beforehim, and his compressed lips and corrugated brow showed how deeply hewas meditating. Suddenly the door opened, and Dr. Hortebise entered theroom. 

"Well!" exclaimed Mascarin, "have you seen the Mussidans, as I told youto do. "

"Certainly, " answered Hortebise briskly; "I saw the Countess, and toldher how pressing the holders of her letters were growing, and urged onher the necessity for immediate action. She told me that both she andher husband had determined to yield, and that Sabine, though evidentlybroken-hearted, would not oppose the marriage. "

"Good, " said Mascarin; "and now, if Croisenois only follows out theorders that I have given him, the marriage will take place withoutthe knowledge of either De Breulh or Andre. Then we need fear them nolonger. The prospectus of the new Company is ready, and can be issuedalmost immediately; but we meet to-day to discuss not that matter, butthe more important one of the heir to the Champdoce title. "

A timid knock at the door announced the arrival of Paul who came inhesitatingly, as if doubtful what sort of a reception he might receive;but Mascarin gave him the warmest possible welcome. 

"Permit me, " said he, "to offer you my congratulations on having wonthe affections of so estimable and wealthy a young lady as MademoiselleFlavia. I may tell you that a friend of mine has informed me of the veryflattering terms in which her father, M. Rigal, spoke of you, and I canassure you that if our mutual friend Dr. Hortebise were to go to thebanker with an offer of marriage on your part, you have no cause todread a refusal. "

Paul blushed with pleasure, and as he was stammering out a few words, the door opened for the third time, and Catenac made his appearance. Tocover the lateness of his arrival, he had clothed his face in smiles, and advanced with outstretched hands toward his confederates; butMascarin's look and manner were so menacing, that he recoiled a fewsteps and gazed on him with an expression of the utmost wonder andsurprise. 

"What is the meaning of this reception?" asked he. 

"Can you not guess?" returned Mascarin, his manner growing more and morethreatening. "I have sounded the lowest depths of your infamy. I wassure the other day that you meant to turn traitor, but you swore to thecontrary, and you--"

"On my honor--"

"It is useless. One word from Perpignan set us on the right track. Wereyou or were you not ignorant that the Duke de Champdoce had a certainway of recognizing his son, and that was by a certain ineffaceablescar?"

"It had escaped my memory----"

The words faded from his lips, for even his great self-command failedhim under Mascarin's disdainful glance. 

"Let me tell you what I think of you, " said the latter. "I knew that youwere a coward and a traitor. Even convicts keep faith with each other, and I had not thought you so utterly infamous. "

"Then why have you forced me to act contrary to my wishes?"

This reply exasperated Mascarin so much that he grasped Catenac by thethroat, and shook him violently. 

"I made use of you, you viper, " said he, "because I had placed you insuch a position that you could not harm us. And now you will serveme because I will show you that I can take everything from you--name, money, liberty, and _life_. All depends upon our success. If we fail, you fall into an abyss of the depth and horrors of which you can haveno conception. I knew with whom I had to deal, and took my measuresaccordingly. The most crushing proofs of your crime are in the hands ofa person who has precise orders how to act. When I give the signal, hemoves; and when he moves, you are utterly lost. "

There was something so threatening in the silence that followed thisspeech that Paul grew faint with apprehension. 

"And, " went on Mascarin, "it would be an evil day for you if anythingwere to happen to Hortebise, Paul, or myself; for if one of us were todie suddenly, your fate would be sealed. You cannot say that you havenot been warned. "

Catenac stood with his head bent upon his breast, rooted to the groundwith terror. He felt that he was bound, and gagged, and fettered handand foot. Mascarin swallowed some of the cooling draught that stoodbefore him, and tranquilly commenced, --

"Suppose, Catenac, that I were to tell you that I know far more of theChampdoce matter than you do; for, after all, your knowledge is onlyderived from what the Duke has told you. You think that you have hitupon the truth; you were never more mistaken in your life. I, perhapsyou are unaware, have been many years engaged in this matter. Perhapsyou would like to know how I first thought of the affair. Do youremember that solicitor who had an office near the Law Courts, and dida great deal of blackmail business? If you do, you must remember that hegot two years' hard labor. "

"Yes, I remember the man, " returned Catenac in a humble voice. 

"He used, " continued Mascarin, "to buy up waste paper, and searchthrough the piles he had collected for any matters that might beconcealed in the heterogeneous mass. And many things he must have found. In what sensational case have not letters played a prominent part? Whatman is there who has not at one time or other regretted that he has hadpen and ink ready to his hand? If men were wise, they would use thosepatent inks, which fade from the paper in a few days. I followed hisexample, and, among other strange discoveries, I made this one. "

He took from his desk a piece of paper--ragged, dirty, and creased--and, handing it to Hortebise and Paul, said, --

"Read!"

They did so, and read the following strange word:

"TNAFNEERTONIOMZEDNEREITIPZEYAETNECONNISIUSEJECARG;"

while underneath was written in another hand the word, "Never. "

"It was evident that I had in my hands a letter written in cipher, and Iconcluded that the paper contained some important secret. "

Catenac listened to this narrative with an air of contempt, for he wasone of those foolish men who never know when it is best for them toyield. 

"I daresay you are right, " answered he with a slight sneer. 

"Thank you, " returned Mascarin coolly. "At any rate, I was deeplyinterested in solving this riddle, the more as I belonged to anassociation which owes its being and position to its skill inpenetrating the secrets of others. I shut myself up in my room, andvowed that I would not leave it until I had worked out the cipher. "

Paul, Hortebise, and Catenac examined the letter curiously, but couldmake nothing of it. 

"I can't make head or tail of it, " said the doctor impatiently. 

Mascarin smiled as he took back the paper, and remarked, --

"At first I was as much puzzled as you were, and more than once wastempted to throw the document into the waste-paper basket, but a secretfeeling that it opened a way to all our fortunes restrained me. Ofcourse there was the chance that I might only decipher some foolishjest, and no secret at all, but still I went on. If the commencement ofthe word was written in a woman's hand, the last word had evidentlybeen added by a man. But why should a cryptogram have been used? Was itbecause the demand was of so dangerous and compromising a character thatit was impossible to put it in plain language? If so, why was thelast word not in cipher? Simply because the mere rejection of what wascertainly a demand would in no manner compromise the writer. You willask how it happens that demand and rejection are both on the same sheetof paper. I thought this over, and came to the conclusion that theletter had once been meant for the post, but had been sent by hand. Perhaps the writers may have occupied rooms in the same house. Thewoman, in the anguish of her soul, may have sent the letter by a servantto her husband, and he, transported by rage, may have hurriedlyscrawled this word across it, and returned it again: 'Take this to yourmistress. ' Having settled this point, I attacked the cipher, and, afterfourteen hours' hard work, hit upon its meaning. 

"Accidentally I held the piece of paper between myself and the light, with the side on which the writing was turned from me, and read it atonce. It was a cryptogram of the simplest kind, as the letters formingthe words were simply reversed. I divided the letters into words, and made out this sentence: '_Grace, je suis innocente. Ayez pitie;rendez-moi notre enfant_ (Mercy, I am innocent. Give me back our son). '"

Hortebise snatched up the paper and glanced at it. 

"You are right, " said he; "it is the art of cipher writing in itsinfancy. "

"I had succeeded in reading it, --but how to make use of it! The mass ofwaste paper in which I found it had been purchased from a servant ina country house near Vendome. A friend of mine, who was accustomed todrawing plans and maps, came to my aid, and discovered some faintsigns of a crest in one corner of the paper. With the aid of a powerfulmagnifying glass, I discovered it to be the cognizance of the ducalhouse of Champdoce. The light that guided me was faint and uncertain, and many another man would have given up the quest. But the thought waswith me in my waking hours, and was the companion of my pillow duringthe dark hours of the night. Six months later I knew that it was theDuchess who had addressed this missive to her husband, and why she haddone so. By degrees I learned all the secret to which this scrap ofpaper gave me the clue; and if I have been a long while over it, it isbecause one link was wanting which I only discovered yesterday. "

"Ah, " said the doctor, "then Caroline Schimmel has spoken. "

"Yes; drink was the magician that disclosed the secret that for twentyyears she had guarded with unswerving fidelity. "

As Mascarin uttered these words he opened a drawer, and drew from it alarge pile of manuscript, which he waved over his head with an air oftriumph. 

"This is the greatest work that I have ever done, " exclaimed he. "Listento it, Hortebise, and you shall see how it is that I hold firmly, atthe same time, both the Duke and Duchess of Champdoce, and Diana theCountess of Mussidan. Listen to me, Catenac, --you who distrusted me, andwere ready to play the traitor, and tell me if I do not grasp success inmy strong right hand. " Then, holding out the roll of papers to Paul, hecried, "And do you, my dear boy, take this and read it carefully. Letnothing escape you, for there is not one item, however trivial it mayseem to you, that has not its importance. It is the history of a greatand noble house, and one in which you are more interested than you maythink. "

Paul opened the manuscript, and, in a voice which quivered with emotion, he read the facts announced by Mascarin, which he had entitled "TheMystery of Champdoce. "

[The conclusion of this exciting narrative will be found in the volumecalled "The Mystery of Champdoce. "]