The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-06-07 00:00:00

A CRIME IN AN OMNIBUS

A STORY OF PARISIAN LIFE.

13Y FORTUNE DU BOISGOBEI

Transtated from the French.

CHAPTER XXIII.

To this interrogation the lady replied, "Not
only do I not object, but I counsel you by
all means to do so. If you will give me his name
and address I will go to him, explain my wishes
with respect to you, and beg him to join me in
advising you to accept my offer. If he has a real
regard for you he will appreciate it, for he will see
that it comes from my heart."
"Madam," said Pia, it is the painter who took
me yesterday to St. Ouen."
" What ! M. Binos !" exclaimed the lady (who
knew well to whom Pia referred) ; "he is not a -real
artist. M. Cornet, with whom your sister lived, told
me he passed his time at cafe's instead of working.
My dear child, if this be the man from whom yea
are seeking advice--"
"No, madam; I was not thinking of him. I
know his character, and I never want to see him
again. I was referring to M. Freneuse.'
"The painter who lives on the Place Pigalle ?"
asked Madame Blanchelaine.
"Yes, madam."
"It was at his studio you heard of your sister
death, was it not? And you have sat to him only
since your arrival in Paris?"
"Who told- you that?" asked Pia, much
astonished.
"Madame Cornu, who had it from Binos."-
"He ought also to have said that I owe everything
to M. Freneuse," replied Pia. "That I have lived
only by his kindness; that without him--"
" Monsieur Freneuse is also indebted to you some-
what," answered her new friend. "Where would
he have found such another model? But—has he
really promised to come here before your departure e"
"Yes, and he made me promise not to leave with-
out seeing him."
• "And do you expect him? "
"Certainly. Why should I doubt his word ? "
"I do not say he will not come, replied Madame
Blanchelaine, "but I shall be surprised if he find
the time to do so. Are you not aware he is about
to marry ? "
"M. Freneuse-about to marry ! " cried Pia. "No,
no, it is not possible."
"I assure you, my child, that he is engaged to be
married," said Madame Blanchelaine. "The banns are
published, and the ceremony will take place the day
after the opening of the Salon."
"How do you know it ? " asked the girl, pale as
death.
"M. Dines told Madame Cornet, and she' repeated
it-to me. M. Freneuse is to. marry Marguerite
Paulet, daughter of a rich proprietor. It is an
excellent match for a man who has only what he
works for. His bride brings him a considerable
fortune, besides which she is very handsome; but
What is the matter with you, my dear child ? "
"Nothing, madam,' replied Pia suppressing
with difficulty the cobs which threatened to stifle
her.
"You like M. Freneuse so much, I thought this
news would have pleased you," continued her visitor;
"but I see I am wrong."
"I do not believe it," cried the child. "If he
was going to be married, he would not have promised
me to come."
' "'Why not? It is, on the contrary, very natural
that he desires to finish the pictures be has in hand.
People say this picture will attain a great success,
and M. Freneuse is most anxious not to miss the op-
portunity of exhibiting it. How can he complete it
llyou refuse to sit?"
"Then it is because he finds me useful—'
"That ought not to astonish you, my dear. Great,
artists are selfish, like other men. M. Binos ex-
plained all that to the good Sophy Cornu. He added
many other details. You know the young man,
and are aware what a chatterbox he is. He pub-
lishes all his own affairs, and those of his friends
besides."
"What did he say ? " asked the Italian.
"Things it would be unwise for me to repeat,'
replied Madame Blanchelaine.
"Do not fear, madam. lam prepared to hcar
anything; and if you have any friendship for me,
you will enlighten me as to the intentions of M.
Freneuse."
"Really, my dear Pia, you embarrass me greatly.
It pains me to destroy your illusion.; but, on the
Other hand, if you should abandon the future I offer,
abandon it for a man who desires only to impose
uport you—"
"Explain madam, I implore."
The lady hesitated a moment.
"I fear not only to grieve you, but to wound
your feelings."
"The wound is already inflicted," said Pia, in a
low voice.
• " Well, then, M. Freneuse perceived, or thought
he perceived—l hardly know how to express it—
well, he imagined you were inspired by a senti-
ment."
"Finish, madam. He believed that I loved
him!"
"You have said it."
"It is true—l do love him."
" Alas ! I feared so. I thank God for having sent
xtte here. There may be yet time to stave you from
YOurself. To cure you of a hopeless passion. I
hesitated to tell you the cruel truth; but I hesitate
now no longer. Know then the reason why this
man concealed from his intention to marry, was that
he feared to lose your services after what took
Place before you at the studio. Mdlle. Paulet made
another scene in the presence of Monsieur Dines.
She is jealous of you and has forbidden her future
husband to see you. He has promised her you shall
never darken his doers again—in fact, that he will
dismiss you."
"No. no, I cannot believe it. It would be un-
worthy of him. Besides, I saw him the day after-
wards?"
"Because it is to his interest not to fall out with
YOU. M. Freneuse is playing a double game. As
a man he has to manage his fiancee who is rich—as
a Painter he must manage his model whom he cannot
replace. I guess his plan. Come, now, Pia, be
frank with me. Confess that he has proposed to
you to sit in some other studio ?"
"He did not say another studio—only in some
place where we shall be alone and undisturbed."
"And you consented ?"
"No, I told him I would wait to hear from
him." k •
"And that you would not leave without seeing
him again. That is just what he desired. He will
Come."
"Here ?" enquired the young girl, shuddering.
"Doubtless. Ho thinks that in this room you are
Under his control until his picture is finished, and
quite at his mercy."
" I will not wait for him," Pia exclaimed, reso-
lutely.
She rose quickly, but trembled so much that
Madame Blanchelaine passed her arm round her
waist.
"You are right, my child," said she, in her softest
tone. "M. Freneuse must not find you here—we
must circumvent his mean designs. Let him marry
Paulet because she is rich, but do not allow
to profit by your helplessness. To sit for the benefit
of a man who has shamefully mocked you would in-
deed be a weakness' and if one can believe what M.
• Blues (who knows him well) suspects, he is capable
Of any wickedness. He has teen discreet in his
studio, for his fiancee might have come in at any
Moment, but here—"
"I will go," interrupted the girl. "Go this
evening."
"This evening may be too late. He promised
Yesterday to visit you, and will certainly come to
day, If you desire to avoid him, you have not a
Moment to lose before leaving this house. Myhouse
IS open to you, Pia. I will Cake you there but will
• not seek to influence your final plans. You shall
lomain with me only as long as you please—always'
.if you desire it— a few days-merely if it be 'yoeri
Will; tiine enough to dispose of your furniture in
this room, and take away,w.hat your sister left at
Madame Cornu's house."
Pia". Of what use would that be to me?" exclaimed
ca" It is absolutely necessary, my dear child ?" You
Thinkabandon, what belonged to your: sist,r.
.-1-2!ink what a profanation it would be if her things
eher linen—were sold bypublic auction; and then
eLa re are her papers which you may require by-and-
Vous; But I understand your dread of entering the
to h e 'where Elie lived, so I direct Madame Cornu
„ aeve everythiv sent to me."
Was Let it be so! ' said Pia, whose only thought
had decei flying
ved from Freneuse, since she believed he
am eiv.eod her.i "Take me with you, Madame, I
ready tgo f you will but vromise that I may
leave Paris to-morrow evening.'
•• I proymou prefer ise,
still, if raudralthough it will pain me to part,
f it, I will not deter you from
travelling alone i
You
object to wait until my
husband's preparations
be free to do as you Pleas are
completed. You shall
Come, my child, come!
Pia. But time presses.
Pia was in so excited a state, she could reason no longer.
"I am ready,
madame,"
said she, moving quickly
towards the door which Madame Blanchelaine had
just opened. She let the acy pass first, and then
Without teeing the trouble to withdraw the key,
descended the staircase. They
met no one. The
birds from Italy
had taken flight. Father Lorenzo
was smok-
Pine, in the door of the beers.,op.
tlie
saluted Pia, but, be' no talker, asked no cruel-
iona as to where she l was going. Well-dressed
People inspired him with respect, and the lady ac-
companying his lodger, wore a handsome silk. The
cab she came in was waiting at the door. She mo-
tioned Pia to get in first, then s.herself he entered,
gave an address to the driver, and,lowered the
blinds as the horse started towardst
This precaution was wise, for anotrerayc.ab was
coming from an opposite direction tho top laden
With various instruments, and two g, entlemen were

Tie vehicles passed each other. and if Madame

MS/101160ilne, firightly raising the Mina, recognisea
the eecupantg, they saw neither the lady nor the
girl she was taking away.
A momant later the two gentlemen jumped out at
Lorenze‘u door, where such arrivals were most
unusual._ _
_

"Good day, old bandit," cried the first as he
alighted, smoking a clay pipe and holding in one
hand a box of colours. "You don't recognise me,
eh ? Well, recognise, at least, the very illustrious
Signor Freneuse, benefactor of one of your lodgers."
"Ali! is it Monsieur Freneuse?" said Lorenzo in
good French.
Thu retired brigand possessed a smattering of
most languages, having had occasion to learn them
in negociating the ransom of travellers of various
nationalities whom he had carried away into the
mountains according to the custom of his craft.
"Yes, Fra Diavolo, it is I," said the artist, galls.
"Do me the favour to help the driver get the easel
off his cab."

Lorenzo complied without a word, whilst Freneuea
paid the fare.
"This is more than you expected, venerable
brigand," said Bino3 who was always ready with
ecrue "Your barracks have never before been
visited by two eminent artists, and the honour is to
be repeated every day for three weeks. I advise
you to have an illumination this evening. Mean-
time, if you have a bottle of old Cafri youmay fetch
it up to me. I wish to drink with you and the
lodgers. Why are they not all at the windows?
Flown away, eh? Is the whole troop gone to sit to
their artists Im

"There is only Mother Carlotta at home—her
child has the fever," mumbled Lorenzo, as he placed
the easel against the wall, together with a canvas
carefully enveloped.
The cgb having discharged its occupants with
their tools and materials, drove off towards the
quay.
"You are getting on well in the' world," re-
commenced Binbs. Confess, now, that this busi-
ness is better than that other you used to carry on
between Rome and Naples. Now, don't disturb
Mother Carlotta—she is too ugly. When I paint a
picture with a witch in it I will engage her. We
will drink the bottle between us—Signor Freneuse
will pay, but he doesn't drink. Is there a boy here
who can help to carry these things upstairs? How
many floors? Sir, I suppose, at least, without
reckoning the entresol?
"Are you come to work here ? " inqu'red the
Italian.

"Yes, Father Lorenzo," replied Freneuse ; " I
have my picture to finish."
"You see the picture," interrupted Binos."
"Touch it with respect—it is a masterpiece, and he
intends completing it in your house."
"When the model cannot come to the painter, the
painter must go to the model," added Freneuse.
" Ah, yes! Pia ! she is very sad," said Lorenzo
4‘ She is mourning for her dead sister."
"Did you know her sister F" asked Binos.
"I used to see her every evening, but she never
answered when I spoke to her. She might have
earned a lot of money if she had been willing to sit;
but no, she was as wild as a bird."
"And when she left, used she not to take the
omnibus to the Boulevard St. Germain r inquired
Binos.

"Possibly, but I knew nothing about her—not
even where she lived. She forbad Pia to tell me."

"Not so—Pia was as much in the dark as you."
"How is Pia ?" asked Freneuse.

"She is not ill, signor, but very low spirited.
She cries from morning till night, and scarcely eats
anything."

Her-appetite will return, I hope, and her spirits
also. I will undertake to cure her. Six hours a day
of sitting, my good fellow!'
" Where, sir, in her room?"
"Yes, Father Lorenzo; it is not large, but big
enough to set up my easel, and the light must 11
better than in my studio. But I beg, my good
friend, that there should be no talk about this
among your lodgers—they will not see me, as they
are out all the day.
"Capito, Siynor ; that's understood, Monsieur
Freneuse "

"All right, then. Now take the easel on your
back; Binos will carry the canvas, I the box of
colours; Pia will be surprised to see us laden like
porters !"
"Yes, when she returns..
" What, is she out ?"
"She went out about five minutes ago, and I am
surprised you did not see her. The cab she went
in must have passed yours."
"How now! she rides in cabs!" exclaimed Binos.
"After that I can understand she does not care for
omnibuses.'

"It is very strange," said Freneuse ; she
promised-"
"She left with a lady," put in. Lorenzo.
"She was not alone r' asked the artist.

"No. The lady who took her away came in a
cab. She remained upstairs about three-quarters of
an hour' and came down with Pia. She had kept
the 'cab waiting, and they got in just as yours
turned the corner of the street."

"Then we must have crossed each other."
"And I can tell you how it is we did not see
them," cried Binos. "The blinds of their cab were
down." _ _

"True: I noticed it," muttered Freneuso,
pondering.
"What sort of lady was she P" enquired Binos,
addressing Lorenzo. "Firstly, was she a lady, or
a female artist, who, having heard that Pia was
unemployed, wanted to engage her ?"
"She wore a silk dress- and a velvet mantle, and
It is not the first visit she has paid here," replied
the old Italian.
"Did she know Na ?"

"No, I think not."' One evening, when her sister
was upstairs, she came and enquired whom the girl
she had seen come in was visiting. I answered that
that was no business of hers, and she went away
dissatisfied. But to-day she knew well enough
whom she wanted, for she mentioned Pia Astrodi's
name, and said she was expected upstairs."
"She was evidently lying. Pia expected no one
but me," cried Freneuse.
" Ah, you cannot be sure of that," said Binos.
"The little thing has not talked much of her affairs;
she never'spoke about Bianca. It is probable she
did not wish it known where she was going, since
she took the precaution to lower the cab-blinds."
"Are you certain [it was she who lowered them ?
This sudden departure looks as though she had been
taken away, and I suspect the lady."
"Did Pia say anything to you as she went out 1'
enquired Freneuse of the lodging-house keeper.
"Not a word. She scarcely noticed me," replied
Lorenzo.
"Then she 'will return," continued Binos. "She
has furnished her apartment, and people do not run
away and leave their furniture."
"You are right," said Freneuse. "Let us go up
to herjroom. We will wait for her return," and he
turned towards the ladder-like staircase which led to
the girl's garret on the sixth story.
Eines followed without troubling himself as to
the mutterings of Lorenzo. "The old fellow does
not much like being turned into a porter," thought
he. He did not understand that the Italian was
warning them that Pia always took the key of her
room with aer when she went out, and that they
would find the door fastened. In this, however,
Lorenzo was deceived, for the key remained in the
lock.

_
Dines, entering after his friend, noticed this
singular fact.
"It is strange," said he. "I should have thought
her more careful. She leaves her room open to the
first corner. If she had gone out for a little turn in
the neighbourhood, I could understand it; but she
has gone out in a carriage, which shows she will be
away some time; however, there is not much to
steal here!"