The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-01 00:00:00

[ALL ItIGHTS IVES 11.VED.1
A CRIME IN AN OMNIBUS.

A STORY OF PARISIAN LIFE.
BY FORTUNE DU BOISGOBEY

Translated from the French.

CHAPTER IX.—(Continued)
"Is it I they are watching? "cogitated Freneuse.
"Not very likely, for they can hardly see me placed
where I am. It must be M. Paulet or his daughter.
Probably the latter, for she is beautiful enough to
attract attention, and yet it is strange—a lady
coming to see a play, and looking at a pretty woman
instead of at the performance."
, "Where to ?" asked the cabman from his scat.
"You see that gentleman and lady talking there
With your comrade? As soon as they are inside
and have started, you follow them."
"I understand. You'll take me by the hour
-then ? "
"Yes. Double fare if you keep them well in
view."
"No fear! lam a Camille, and am not going to
be outdone by a ricketty generale. Get up, sir.
Trust me for not losing sight of the identical
you want to follow. I know all about this sort of
thing," answered the white-hatted cabby."
Freneuse, delighted at having lighted on a man
of so much intelligence, observed out of the corner
of his eye the pair who were still talking, and was
somewhat astonished that their colloquy lasted so
long.
"The old (range woman is right," he thought.
.4' That man is a shabby fellow. He is bargaining
about his fare. Ah ! he has decided to pay in
advance; he has given the driver the money; he
opens the door; he makes the woman get in; and
he follows. Now is the time for me to do the same.
They think they have given me the slip, and have
no idea I intend chasing them."
" There they go, sir," said the cabman. "My
comrade has mounted his box, and is whipping his
horse."
"Forward then," said Frenense ; "but do not
'keep too close. Ido not want them to know I am
following."
'Make yourselfa easy; they shall not see your
little game."
Freneuse jumped into the cab, and, putting his
head oot of the window, had the satisfactioa of
'Seeing the other vehicle emerge from the rank, and
begin to make its way slowly along the boulevard.
The knowing cabby had made no vain boast, and
his horse was a good one. He had no occasion to
,Urge him on to preserve a discreet distance. Ho
EePt ten paces, or about four cab lengths', behind.
"Where are they going," thought Freneuse. " Pro-
bably into my quarter. 'Lest night the nan got
down at the Rue de la Tour de Auvergne, and the
yeoman at Rue Laval."
Great was his 'surprise when the cab turned to the
'left and passed down the Boulevard Sebastopol.
"I Was wrong," thought he; "they are going
'quite the other way, and turning their backs upon
'Montmartre. After all, there is no reason for think-
ing they live there. They took the omnibus to the
Place Pigale to execute their project, and afterwards
Might have re-crossed the bridges to return home.
It matters little to me whether they live on the right
or the left hand of the river. I have all the evening
-before me. How different it would be if I were
lu, arried I'' This reflection recalled Millie. Paulet to
nis mind, of whom he had not thought since leaving
the theatre. He recollected also that the father of
that adorable young lady knew the man with the
trimmed moustache, and knew him well, since he
employed him on important business.
"Well" thought he, "it is foolish to give myself
all this trouble. M. Paulet will let me have the
address whenever I ask for it. He could not recol-
lect it at the theatre; but it is entered in his diary,
'and he has promised it me. I have a good mind to
giVe up this pursuit, for I can learn nothing, after
all, but what M. Paulet will he able to tell me"
Re had raised his hand to the knob to stop the
'coachman, when other thoughts entered his head.
'Yes," he cogitated; "M. Paulet may tell me
What he believes to be true, but possibly this man
has given him a wrong name and address. A fellow
of that sort is quite likely to have two homes, and I
Pshould like to find out if the woman lives with him.
.esides, when shall I see M. Paulet? The death of
Is brother will give him so much occupation that he
will be unable to receive me for several days. I can-
not call'upon him, and under the circumstances it
'Would not be decent to write about so apparently
illB.igiliflcant a matter. Therefore, I shall really
.gain time, if having commenced this chase I finish
at; but wherever are this pretty couple leading. me?
--to the other side of the river, probably. We are
nearing the Place du Chatelet'; their cab is going
towards the Pont-au-Change—straight on; if it
fentinues it will come to the Barriere St. Jacques,
but it will be an hour getting there at this snail's
Pace,"
Truly the vehicle into which the two had entered
~llid not travel fast; the horses which drew it seemed.
I? imagine they were following a funeral proces-
a."3ll. It was surprising, too, that the agent should
lutve selected a lumbering conveyance, with a double
seat, and iron rails on the top; one of the kind only
Used by Passengers encumbered with luggage. . It
Went so slowly that Freneuse's coachman had diffi-
"ltY in preventing his lively animal from passing
it.
thought people are evidently not in a hurry,"
s'onght the artist. "They cannot know lam fol.
Owing. How astonished they will be on seeing me
get out at the same time they do! But had I better I get out? It seems hardly worth while, for I have no intention of questioning them. It is quite enough
to ascertain where they live, and when they have
gone home I shall de the same."
?As he had foreseen, the cab, after crossing the
a, lace du Chatelet, traversed the Pont an Change,
Lett instead of continuing straight on it turned to the
left by the Quai de in Cit 5, and soon reached the
Pointe Notre Dame.
~ that's it; they are going to the Morgue'
'nought Freneuse, as he recognised the municipal
building where the unknown dead are exposed for
identification. "It would be rather strong, but no
the establishment is shut at this hour. They do
Ilot stop: they are crossing the bridge de l'Arche-
3-ech c. They must certainly then live on the left
bank, probably in the same neighbourhood as Pia,
for the cab is taking the Quai de la Tournelle.'
It soon reached the crossway terminating the
boulevard St. Germain at the approach to the
l)ridge of Henry IV.
The coachman forced his horses into a trot, turn, d
a little to the right, and pulled up at the door of a
la.„°11SO standine. at the corner of the boulevard and
"le Rue des FbossCs St. Bernard.
Freneuse quietly lowered his front window and
touched his coachman's sleeve. The man turned,
and said in a low voice "If you will let me pull up
'where I like you shall' see all without being seen."
At the same time he maaauvred so as to place his
cab alongside the pavement immediately behind the
-first vehicle. This was quickly done, and Freneuse
pressed his face to the glass to observe the two pas-
-Bengers alight. A 1.
~3 Yis surprise was great when no one got out. The
:triter of the double-seated cab hitched his reins into
.1.....40 dash iron, and slowly descended from his seat.
'le unfastened his horses' bridles, strapped on their
12.05 e-bags and lighted his pipe like one who knew
tnere would be ample time to smoke it.
. " What can all this mean ?" cogitated Freneuse.
I-i They have reached their destination ; why do they
.lot alight ? Do they suspect lam watching them?
-1-„f 80, they should have gone on further if only to
1
"11110 Y me." After five minutes of uncertainty and
:Taiting, the artist heard his coachman mutter,
.a.Yani ! I'll be bound they have just played us a
•ule trick! There's no one in the box at
all!" Here
Z.v,as a flash of light for Freneuse! He flung open.
418 cab door, jumped on to the pavement, and ap-
Proaclaed the other carriage. The glasses were both
!IP, hut, looking through, it was easy to see that the
'interior was absolutely empty.
Tr
."What has become of your customers?" he asked
the driver, trying to assume an air of indifference,
'Have you lost them on the way ?"
r :‘
oa?AY Custom ? Oh, lam waiting for them, but
1,34 rdly think they will come. It doesn't matter to
e 'whether they do or not, for I am already paid
4n-0 Wait here until half-past ten. The quarter has
st struck, and by the time my beasts have finished
nv
erei r bags, I shall return to the depl. My day's
k's over. I had a hundred MS pourboire—"
.:_ 'But what about the lady and gentleman who got
ari. at Porte St. Martin ?"
b " Oh, you saw that, did you? Then you have
een following all this way? Ah, well! they have
64e0r: ed You a pretty go. Why, they got in at one
ff.' uf nay carriage, and got out at the other. The
_eiatlenaan gave me ten francs to let him and the
'_a,c,ty pass through, and for me to come here empty
afterward Just to make you race them to the
W Ine Market whilst they were coquetting on tho
great boulevards! I see it all now, and it's not
Worth while for me to wait any longer at this door;
they meant to draw you on here, and it's hardly
likely they will come for you to catch them."
' Freneuse saw the sense of this reasoning He
,said not a word, but turned away, ashamed of
having
.teeen so taken in, and vowna. g nover to try playing
-"le detective again.
, "Well," he muttered, as he regained his cab,
g everyone to his trade. lam no more fit to be a
Ila Policeman than Binos is to be a painter. But lam
w quite certain this man and woman are the same
.„Bavr in the omnibus. If they had not recognised
113ethey would not have taken all this trouble to
ad3o Me. And if they are so much afraid of me it
4;aulbe owing to a guilty conscience. Happily M.
et can furnish their address, and then we aill
ea. Place Pigale, coachman) and look sharp 1"

CHAPTER X.
l'lte boulevard Rochechouart is the region par excel-
ce of those low class pot-houses, known in Parisian ,
d,l9las caboulots. Respectable cafes are to be met:l
) rtS well as wine shops, where honest workmen
‘44l.uk their bottles over the counter; but„the before..
lalentioned establishments are by fax the most
41';3711rialser,ous. The caboulots are not frequented entirely
ireuaci. characters. Bohemians, lazy fellows to bo
) but still who have never been in the hands of
Pee, haunt them also. Such individuals

-

abound in studios; gossiping idlers, not particular
either as to what they drink or as to their com-
panions. They are well satisfied if the proprietor
gives them moderate credit, and permits them to sit
and sing at the top of their voices, or play dominoes
for a whole day or night without requiring them to
" refresh" too often. Our friend Binos was of this
fraternity, and had long frequented one of these
alluring haunts. He lodged in a garret in the Rue
Myrrha, and the "Grand Bok " stood between the
Rue Clignancourt and the boulevard Ornano, a
stone's throw from his door. This establishment
_ _

had not a prepossessing exterior. The glass in tho
-
front was not oftLn cleaned; dirty curtains screened
the mysteries of the parlour from the view of passers-
by, and hid an old billiard-table full of holes, and a
row of wooden benches that seemed expressly
adapted for the sleep of the drunken. The walls
were decorated with frescoes from the fantastic
pencil of Binos, who had covered them with strange
and incongruous figures. This work, executed
gratuitously, had established him in the good graces -
of the master of the house, Father Poivreau, better
known as Father Poivreau, on account of his taste
for absinthe. He imbibed regularly half a litre of it
a day, and seemed little the worse, except that he
got up tipsy every morning, and went to bed quite
drunk every night. Here Binos was thoroughly at
home. He :had a running account, and spent about
twelve hours out of every twenty-four in the place
all the year round. When it pleased him to dis-
course upon the fine arts, of- which his audience
knew absolutely nothing, he was listened to as an
oracle. Here also he had friends whom he
was always sure to meet, because they
never went out; and who, as he would not
associate with every one, considered it an honour to
treat him when he was thirsty. These acquaintances
were all p sons of respectability: a marble cutter
from the ,:emetery of Saint Ouen, for whom he made
ela, orate monumental designs; an independent man
named Piklouche, who had the air of a gentleman,
and a retired druggist, deaf as a post, and conse-
quently not brilliant in conversation, who admired
artists in general, and Binos in particular.
In truth this individual was the mischievous young
artist's butt, and the subject of most of his student
tricks; but the good-natured mortal never got cross,
and seemed to en;oy and even to seek his persecutor's
society. With Monsieur PLdouche, on the contrary,
Binos thoroughly sympathised, and behaved towards
him with respect. Aianners at once easy and decided,
awl a charming talent for conversation and anecdote,
were his great attractions; Monsieur Piedouche
possessing a wide experience of many lands and
people. He spoke on every subject with freedom
and familiarity, and was an excellent counsellor. At
the same time he was discreet above most men, never
divulging his own present occupations nor referring
to his past life.
Binos thought he had served in the army, but was
not sure; and, after uselessly endeavouring to find
out, at last concluded that he must have belonged to
the higher grades of the police, in connection with
politics or diplomacy. This idea was very delightful.
and detectives' work being a hobby with Binos, he
never missed an opportunity of leading the conver-
sation on to the interesting subject, albeit Piedouche
treated such topics with extreme reserve.
For the last three days Binos had sought his
favourite companion in vain at the " Grand Bok ; '
M. Pitklouche ceased to come, and this unexpected
withdrawal greatly vexed the artist—burning to con-
sult him about the affair of the omnibus.
"Piedouche had disappeared the day after the
adventure; no one had seen him, and Master Poiv-
reau was unable to give any information respecting
the faithful habitu6 of his establishment.
It was known that Piedouche lived in the neigh.
bourhood ; some said in the Place d'Anvers, others
in the Rue de Dunkerque; but none of his caU
acquaintances visited him, and even Binos was igno-
rant of his address. He had several times inquired.
but PL douche had always avoided giving it exactly
and the mystery with which he surrounded himseli
contributed in no small degree to foster the wild
young artist's idea that he belonged to the police.
His inexplicable absence now only confirmed
Binos in this opinion. He felt convinced that
Piedouche was engaged in some secret mission that
would probably detain him a considerable time, and
deplored the circumstance sincerely, as he had
counted upon the assistance and penetration of his
friend in unravelling the knotty business in hand.
He had solemnly vowed to Paul Freneuse to dis-
cover the woman of the pin and her male accomplice,
and now began to comprehend that singlehanded he
could do but little to the purpose. He necessarily
felt his inability, and was so much humiliated
thereby that he did not care to show his face in the
Place Pigalle. Freneuse was not the man to rur
after him. If Binos v'sited the studio, he was
welcome; but the two young men were following
such different roads in life that the ties between
them had become a little relaxed. Freneuse mixed
with the world, and could perfectly take and main-
tain his standing; while Binos, careless as to costume
and regardless of appearances, would have outraged
any drawing-room.
The friends had not met now for three days. Hines
seemed to have taken up his abode at the " Grand
Bok." He only left it to go as far as the Morgue,
to ascertain whether the victim of the omnibus was
stiil there, or whether she had been recognised; and
he always came back from this dismal errand without
any fresh information. No one had laid claim to
the body, and the time fixed for its exposure expired
on the third day. On the morrow the recorder said
the burial would take place. The poor corpse would
be thrown into the large common grave, and the
se' et of the crime be interred with it_in the hospital
cemetery.
'lbis certainty threw Binos into a state of conster-
nation, and made him a prey to impatience and
regret. He scarcely knew whether, after all, he
would not disregard Paul's objection to be mixed up
with the affair, and go to the
.Commissary of Police,
inform him of what he knew, and place the pin and
the paper in his hands. But then, again, he would
so much prefer working the thing out himself, or, at
least, in conjunction with Pie douche, who was, in
his estimation, far cleverer than any detective in
Paris.

_
"While the imprudent parnter's ardour was grow-
ing cool in waiting for this personage, Paul Fre-
neuse' who could have given Binos some important
indications, kept perfectly quiet in his studio, and
was glad enough not to be troubled by him. Upon
due reflection Paul had determined to do nothing
until Monsieur Paulet had given him the address of
the agent who had E 0 subtily eluded him on the
night he saw the "Chevaliers de Brouillard." He
devoted himsslf to his work, and thought much
more about the leautiful Margaret than about the
suspicious character to whom he had that night
given chase.
The third day, about twelve o'clock, Binos
having breakfasted on a dish of sauer-krout, washed
down by copious draughts of beer, strolled discon-
solately towards his usual house of resort, trusting
to encounter Piedouche. It was the hour at which
he generally arrived to play billiards or dominoes;
but he did not appear on the boulevard.
Master Poivreau snored over his counter beta eon
an empty bottle of absinthe and an empty glass; the
retired druggist, who answered to the name of
Pigache, read the paper in a corner, apparently
with interest, for he remained stock-still, though
Binos launched a few witticisms at him, which fell
harmlessly upon his deaf ears. At last Pines, ex-
asperated at waiting so long in vain, was just pre-
paring a lively farce by setting fire to the old
fellows newspaper with a match. whelt the door
opened suddenly.
(To be conti4ued.)

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