The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-23 00:00:00

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CHAPTER IX.

FRESEUP B regarded the event from its bearing on
his relatioi a with M. Paulet and his daughter, and
it seemed to him there was no cause for grieving.
The money they had just missed would probably have
doubled their fortune, and tke more wealthy M.
Paulet became, the more advaMages would he seek
in a suitor for his daughter's hand.
But there was not time to indulge in reflections.
The father was in haste to depart, and the box-keeper,
at his request, had fetched the young lady's hat and
cloak. Freneuse, not knowing what to say, was
leaning against the partition, and the three formed
a conspicuous group. _ _ .

It was between he acts, and many turned their
glasses upon the beautiful Marguerite.
"Stay on, my friend," said. M. Paulet to the artist.
who was preparing to accompany them to the
carriage. "You are not plunged into mourning.
Why should you not see the end of the performance?
In leaving you we are breaking through the etiquette
of society, and I assure you we should greatly prefer
remaining here-"
And asFreneuse was about to protest, the capitalist
continued: "Pray remain, or you will disoblige me.
We shall soon see each other again. When I have
been relieved of the work caused by my brother's
decease we will surprise you by a visit to your studio,
so,I warn you."

-Prepense- only bowed. He pressed M. Paulet's
hand. Marguerite shook his in the English stylk
and added to this act of graciousness by giving at
the same time an encouraging smile.
Freneuse left alone managed to console himself
for the departure of the young lady. His suit was
progressing favourably. The father had shown
himself well inclined, and in three minutes' tete-a-tete
the daughter had exhibited her feelings as far as
was permitted by the reserve incumbent upon young
ladies.

"It is growing serious," meditated the artist,
"and I begin to believe it only depends on myself
to possess an adorable woman and a father-in-law
with seventy thousand pounds of rentes. The 'ques-
tion is whether these advantages are 'worth the
sacrifice of my liberty. The only use I make of
freedom is to work from morning till night; but
still, I work according to my own taste. If I marry
MdllePaulet I shall be condemned to paint only fair
women. She told me as much. Poor Pia! I shall
have to exclude her from the studio, and she is
quite likely to die of grief! Bah I shall be able
to send her back to Subiaco with nice little sum
of money,. enough to get her a good husband and
settle her in her own country."
With these reflections he put on his hat to leave,
for he did not care to see more of the Chevalier du
Brouillard. He looked vaguely around the house;
few persons had left their places between the scene
just concluded and that about commencing. In the
orchestra stalls every one was seated except one
woman. She was moving towards the door as the
curtain began to rise, and managed to join a gentle-
man standing in the passage, making signs to her to
hasten. _ _

llo," muttered Freneuse, "the agent and his
lady are leaving in the middle of the performance.
Why are they in such a hurry to go? Is it because
they detected me in M. Paulet's box? Possibly, for
I was seated behind until the father and daughter
rose, so they fear to leave at the same time as my.
Self. Oh! Well, I will upset their calculations—l
pall get to the box office at the same time they do,
and will take a good look at them. "Oh, Binos,
into what follies does your wild example lead me !"
Thus invoking the vagabond detective, Freneusc
rushed into the corridor, made for the staircase
without wasting time to put on his overcoat. He
cleared four steps at a stride, and outpaced the two
suspicious individuals whom he intended to scruti-
nise. He was anxious to see without being seen,
and, hastening out of the theatre, took his stand at
the right of the door of exit. One minute later, the
man and woman appeared under the peristyle.
They took each other's arms, and stopped an instant
on,the step.
The man looked in one direction, the woman in
• the other. "Goa," thought Freneuse, "they are
on the alert, and dare not set foot on the pavement
without assuring themselves I am not watching.
Doubtless they are afraid of meeting me. . . .
Ah ! the' woman has dropped her veil—that is a
mistake, for now she calls to my mind the passenger
of the omnibus. I, hardly fancy she has seen me
yet. . . . Of
"Why, there's the orange woman making up to
them!

—ln -fad the old lady tact placed herself in front
of them, and solicited them with brilliant offers.
"Three sous each, fine Valentias— only three sous !"
cried she, barring the passage with her basket.
"Buy some oranges, my prince. Refresh your
lady s_they charge you much more in the refresh-
ment room." Her offers met with no success. The
man pushed her on one side and passed hurriedly.
He dragged his companion after him, and they
descended, arm-in-arm, towards the monumental
gate that gives the theatre its name.
Freneuse also quitted his hiding place, and in
three strides reached the orange woman, who greeted
him with the words, "Oh ! the proverb is right,
when one talks of the wolf—you know tho rest.
Didn't I tell you I should know him if I met him ?"
"The man outside the omnibus I.'" exclaimed
Freneuse. "it is be, is it not ?" _

"Oh, yes! I'll IDe it's him, and the smart hussey
is like the woman who got in at the Wino Market.
I suppose they made acquaintance when they both
got down. You know he gave her his seat—that's
what comes of being polite to the ladies; never mind,
he is a mean fellow. It wouldn't.have ruined \him
to have given his princess a taste of my oranges ! "
The old woman went on talking after Freneuse
was some distance from her. On the strength of
this affirmation, confirming his own suspicions, he,
without a moment's delay, hastened in pursuit of the
pair, -ho had got the start of him. He wished to
know where they lived, and-determined to watch
tliefa to their abode, that he might be able on the
rttorrovr to point out their exact domicile to oßinos,
who -would undertake to follow up the clue. It
apptared to him that 'they-anticipated:lga,, design.
The -woman looked frequently back, and the man
ifoemed manoeuvring to put him off the scent, by
mixing with the people w-ho were coming out of t4e,
Thcatre.de la Renaissaine for a little fresh air 'be-
tween the acts. But Freneuse had sharp eyes, and
never lost sight of them. He had good legs, .too,
and had soon overtaken them. But not wising to
follow too closely, he slackened his pace so its to keep
them at a slight distance. They doubtless felt him
at their heels, for they no longer turned round, but
accelelated their own pace. -- • •
Freneuse saw them rapidly slip round the group
of omnibuses stationed near the Porte St. Martin,
pi--s between the gate of the faubourg, gain the
Boul9vard St. Denis, which liestjaist:beyomil, ,and at
last .eafr,e out on the wide pavement, beside otwhich
there is a long cabstand.
"It is very evident they mean to take a cab,"
said the artist to himself. " Parbleu! I never
thought of that. Well, I'll take one too. I will not
give up the chase till they are at the door of their
own house." Freneuse was not mistaken; the man
and his companion approached a cab, and entered
into a eonfere with the driver, who had descended

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from his box. The head of the cab rank reached to
the Port St. Denis, and the vehicle they chose was
the fifth from the tecbinning. Freneuse took the
last one, in order not to attract their attention; put
one hand upon the door, pretending to search in his
pocket with the other for his cigar case, so that the
couple in front might have time to mount
into their vehicle before him.
(To be contixued.)