The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-19 00:00:00

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tam /nom RESERITD.I
A CRIME IN AN OMNIBUS.

A STORY OF PARISIAN LIFE.

BY FORTUNE DU BOISGOBEY

Translated from the French

CHAPTER XVI.
How now !'"exclaimed Freneuse on the entrance
of Binos. "What's the meaning of this foolery 1"
"My dear boy," replied the other, slipping into
the room, " I suspected you would owe me a grudge.
If I had come with a tap, tap, as usual, you would
have recognised my peculiar mode of knocking, and
been quite capable of refusing me admittance. So,
as nature has gifted me with a special talent for
imitating the cries of the brute creation, I counter-
feited the touching accents of Mirza. Was not the
resemblance perfect?"
"You ought to be ashamed of remembering your
unhappy victim."
"'Couldn't help it, couldn't help it !" said Dines,
waving his arms like a third-rate actor of melo-
sdrauia. "And the ruse succeeded, for here we are
again. Now lam here I mean to stay too, my
excellent friend. How do, little one? You look as
Pretty as a pigeon this morning."
Pia made no answer to this compliment. She
Iv.et.it sadly back to her position by the tall stool,
giving Freneuse, thus silently, to understand that
slie. would speak no more of her sister before this
visitor, whom she in no wise liked. But Freneuso,
'really vexed by this deceitful mode of entrance of
Einos, did not hesitate to express his feeling.
" I ought to turn you out," said he. "I have
been free of you four days. No doubt you have
been anchored all the time to the benches of some
cabaret, and have only taken refuge here because
Your credit is exhausted. Well, it shall pass for
this once. I will tolerate you to-day, but only
en condition that you do not open your Mouth. I
have something to talk of with Pia before recom.
mencing work, and I forbid you to interrupt our
'conversation."
Pia cast him an imploring look, of which he read
the meaning.
"Fear nothing, my dear child," said he; "I
will.not betray your secret to this ne'er-do-well; but
I must put one or two more questions to you. Let
me see. To-day is Monday; five days then have
-elapsed since the disappearance, which makes you
anxious. What do you think can have happened
to—a—this person? An accident ?"
" Alas! lam afraid so. Paris is so dangerous.
Above all at night. I picture to myself all sorts of
dreadful things. She may have been run over—or
stabbed. I have be,n very near going to the
Morgue, but I could not venture. I was 130 fearful
of seeing her there."
." Eh? What? the Morgue! That's in my line,"
Cried pines, who was filling his pipe in a corner.
" Silence there!" exclaimed Freneuse.
" I did not speak to you. I was talking to myself.
'You don't forbid monologue, I sup Pose ?"
"I forbid everything! Have done with your
folly, and leave us in peace." And he continued.in
ta low voice, turning to Pia, "Listen, Pia. I promise
O .do all in my power to End her. In this country
it is not the same as among the mountains. People
do not disappear without leaving traces. It will be
quite sufficient to notify the facts to the inspector of
Police, and he will institute a search which is sure
tO result in discovery. Every stranger that arrives
i.s.obliged to put up at an inn, and every innkeeper
is obliged to enter the names of their lodgers in a
register, which the police can inspect as often as
they like/

"-She—is. named Bianca," answered the girl.
"That is her baptismal name; what is the
other?"

"The same as mine."
you both bear your mother's name; you
have told it me but I forget it. I must know it to
set the enquiries on foot; recall it to me."
"Astrodi," replied Pia.
She spoke low, but Einos had a quick ear.
"Astrodi !" cried he. "You want news of some
°no called Astrodi. I can give you them."
" Why do you interfere ?" ejaculated Freneuse.
"I tell you to let-me alone."
" Very good; I hold my tongue," grumbled Binos,
I3ut you are wrong all the same not to let mo
talk; I could tell you something worth hearing."
" About what ?"
"About the person whom Pia has just men-
tioned.”
"You have been listening P Upon my honour I
!gas wrong to let you get in !"
." I was not listening. I did not hear a single
word a what you said to the child, but she raised. her voice at the end of your colloquy, and as I neg-
lected to stop name i knew,,my ears tliey could not help catching a
"Pray, how did you know it F"
_l‘ What does that matter to you? I've my secrets
as well as you, and you will find I can keep them
too. Resume your conversation, my dear fellow;
You shall not be tro
as a door nail" übled further. I will be as dumb
"Stop your nonsense !" said Freneuse. "I want
to hear what you know of hei—this Astrodi."
" Her. Oh, oh! It is a woman then ?" "Do not assume ignorance. Whdt do you know
of her ?"

"Nothing at all."
"You are not speaking the truth. Just now you
declared you could tell me something about her."
"Very likely. But I now keep it to myself."
Pia listened with deep attention to this dialogue,
Which she did not presume to interrupt; she
watched Paul steadfastly, endeavouring to read in his
eyes what he thought of Bino's assertions.
"Now, look here !" said the artist. "Up to the
present I have borne with you, but I solemnly de-
clare that if you do not explain yourself this minute
I shall show you the door, and I will refuse to see
You again !"
"You are serious F"
"Quite serious, on my word of honour."
F " Then I will enter upon my confession, and you
Will see that I am acting entirely in your interests.
You would everlastingly regret having quarrelled
With me, and I don't wish your whole existence to be
embittered by remorse."
"Will you drop your absurdities ?"
"I have. Is it information about a certain person
named Astrocii that you are wanting ? Well I
begin by telling you you knew her."
I knew her ? Don't be a fool."
"I am not. You only saw her once, but you
spent an hour with her—close to her, I should
say.,,

-"
'Where ?"
"Cannot you guess?"
"Not in the least."
"Come I say. You have a very short memory. t
Throw your mind back. How did you spend
he
evening last Tuesday i"
" Tuesday," said Freneuse, who did not remember
in the slightest degree what he had been doing that
day in the preceding week.
" I will jog your recollection then. You came
home after you had seen me inside a café, where
You actually condescended to enter."
"After leaN ing the omnibus ?" asked Freneuse
quickly.
"Just so. And in that conveyance you met the
very signora about whom you are so anxiously in-
quiring."
" What ! Do could be--'you mean to say that girl was—was
--
"Called Bianca Astrodi. Yes • I found that out
yesterday, and I am bound to say 'the discovery does
Ite great credit, for it is entirely due to my perse-
verance and sagacity."
"How can you be certain that was her name ?"
Liv,. "I have become acquainted with her abode. She
eied not far from here, in the Rue des Abbesses at
-ontmartre. I have had a long talk with her land-
lady, who gave me much exact information, and
Vho has gone to identify the corpse. She is a good-
hearted, respectable dame, and is called Sophy
Currai, . She paid the expenses of the funeral,
Which took place this morning, and followed the
coffin with me."
" Hist !"
It was too late. Pia had heard all. She sprang
111) and trie Ito take a step towards Dines, who was
quite ignorant as to the effect his words were calcu-
lated to produce.
"My sister dead ! " she gasped, and fell heavily on
the floor.
" Madman ! -what have you done ? " cried
Freneuse.
"How was I to ;mow this child was an Astrodi ? "
'muttered the young fe'low, between his teeth; "I
:never heard her called anything but Pia."
13iiioe might lack tact and common sense, but he
,was not wanting in heart. AlthoUgh trying to
justify himself, he hastened to help his friend raise
Pia.
She had quite lo A- -consciousness, and Freneuse
.was obliged to take her in his arms and carry her to
a sofa at the further end 'of the studio.
"Her sister ! "
sister! I ought to hheavtexbelarimesseedd excitedly,it
after
her story. She has not
seen since Tuesday—
the night of my adventure:
"By Jove! and I ought to have suspected it, too_,"
.cried Binos, "for the dead girl is w-°ll e
d rfull like
lia. How was it the resemblance ne Y
ver struck me
--the age the Italian type, everything? But then
I Wag not aware that Pia bad a sixter. She is a
very-secretive child."
"Be quiet, simpleton, and band me that bottle of
48131„. oiling salts over there on the console table, near
Lee bust,'
"1 sae it. Meanwhile, undo her -areas—she is
suffocating."
Fre
_, neuse followed this advice, and the polished
aluoulders of the girl slipped out of her red bodice.
Now hold her up," said Dines, "while I hold the
t,_tit! to her nose. Bhe will soon come round. I
'i,'?_ .t know what there can be in these English salts,
,
truaitah,7y will almost raise the dead. They sting the
Pia
unelYstretched upon the sofa, was leaning her
head upon Paul's breast; her hair was ;al
Iliaste
tied , and hung down in long tresses; her
eYee were closed, and it seemed as though no hr c ath
:14_1111. from her half-closed lips. "You have killed
IL," said Frenouse to the Bohemian Wm:. wp. 3,... I.
"5 befere the urostrate giri

"10, no. Before another minute she will revive,
und I must try to console her. Who would
have &malt she was so weak and nervous? But
that is the fault of all Italians. I knew one though
who lost her husband in the morning, and who sat
as a Bacchante to Henner in the afternoon. But
then it was only her husband."
"That's enough! I will forgive you all your
folly, only I charge you not to tell Pia how her
sister died. It would kill her."

"Do not he alarmed. I will Iz.vent some-
thing, and that she may forgive me I will take
her to where we laid her sister this morning.
Sophy Cormu did the thing very well. A nice
little service in the church at Montmartre and per-
mission for five years in the cemetery of Saint
Owen. I ruined myself over a wreath of immor-
tones and a big bouquet of Neapolitan violets."
All this time the smelling salts had not had mu-h
effect. Pia shuddered convulsively, but her senses
did not return, and Freneuse longed to silence the
incorrigible young ruffian, who would not hold his
tongue.
At the most critical moment of this disturbing
situation there came a ring at the door.
" Givo me the bottle and see who it is," raid
Freneuse, angrily. "If I don't answer they will
go on ringing, but when you see who's there shut
the door in their face and say I am engaged."
"If you had any duns I should think it might
be one," muttered Binos, going to the door. The
bell had been rung peremptorily, as it were w;th
authority.
It was loud enough to rouse Pia, and she so
timid that it terrified her. In her agitation she
threw her arms round Paul's neck and clung to
him. His lips lightly touched her forehead.
No doubt the group was one an artist would have
rejoiced to paint. It was, in fact, a picture.
Binos, failing to see this tableau, opened the door
a little way and poked his head into the passage.
He was ready with a phrase to put to flight the
intruder he expected to see upon the mat. He pos-
sessed a select assortment of easy familiarities and
pleasing salutations exactly suited to the occasion,
ant advanced to his task with relish.

But the words were arrested on the tip of his
tongue, when he perceived a young woman of extra-
ordinary beauty, accompanied by a genCeman alto
good-looking and apparently in opulent circum-
stances.

Binos professed to worship Rubens, the King of
colourists, and there was a Rubens' subject, standing
before him in open daylight.
The impression was so vivid, that in his enthu-
siasm he threw open the door instead of shutting
it.

"Freneuse may say what he likes," thought he,
"I cannot leave this chef d' tore on the stair-
case."

At the same time he took off his widsawake and
bowed to the ground, drawing back three steps to
make way for this august person, who passed in
with deliberate grace without bestowing so much as
a glance upon him.
The gentleman followed, but with some slight
hesitation, and Binos, raising his hand to his head,
assumed a military attitude as of a soldier saluting
his superior.

Fren'euse -uttered a cry of amazement, at whi_h
Pia opened her eyes.
He recognised Monsieur Paulet and his daughter.
The sofa upon which Pia was reclining, her arm
cast round the artist's neck, and her head ',gluing on
his breast, happened to be placed exactly opposite
the door and under a large window which lighted all
the studio, and was fully exposed to the view of
anyone entering.
Monsieur Paulet stopped short on seeing the
charming group, and stammered a few incompre-
hensible words.

His daughter, ftlthough less disconcertel, a'so
hesitated to advance; her brows contracted into a
frown, and the blood mantled in her cheek.

Pines having quietly shut the door, contemplatei
with a sort of ecstacy this scene which rejoiced his
painter's soul.
But for Paul Freneuse the situation was painfully
ridiculous.

He could not, poor fellow, drop the unfortunate
girl, who was clinging to him, and rise to make his
bow to Mademoiselle Marguerite.
But Pia relieved him of his difficulty. She had
fully regained consciowness, and, wrenching herself
from his arms, began to adjust her bodice and fasten
up her hair as she rose to her feet. She stood pale
and trembling before the beautiful visitor, who
looked upon her with an air of disdain.
"I see we are disturbing you," Monsieur Paulet
managed to articulate.
"Ilad I been aware— My dear sir, I assure
you, a—we should not have come."
"I should have much regretted losing your visit,"
reply Freneuse with an effort, "I must beg you to
excuse— This young girl who is sitting to me
had just fainted while I was painting-- "
"And you went to the rescue. Very proper.
But we shall disconcert you by remaining now; allow
us to take leave."

"Oh, monsieur," cried Binos, "you cannot be SO
ciii-er as to think of going yob whcn
departs it will seem as though the sky was darkened."
The odd youth had placed himself without the
least embarrassment in front of the beautiiul Mar-
guerite, and was contemplating her with a face
expressive of dazzled bewilderment.
Apparently his admiration did not displease
Mademoiselle Paulet, for she was smiling while
Freneuse choked with anger.
"The child is all right again," continued ilia
impudent fellow; "a moment more rest on the
green sofa and there will be no fear of a relapse,
will there, my dear ? " he added, addressing the poor
girl, who was in tears.
" No ; I am going," she answered.
"That is right, little one. The fresh air will
complete your recovery. Go and take a turn on the
Place Figalle, and come back when you feel fit to
sit again.''
"I shall not come back," said Pia, movin
towards the door with faltering steps. Freneuse
was about to stay her, but a look from Mademoisel e
Paulet arrested him. Pia saw this imperious glance,
' and her pale cheeks flushed • her gentle face con-
tracted painfully; her heart was sorely wounded.
She did not stop, however: but Freneuse now,
regardless of consequences, passed before Made-
moiselle Paulet, and joined Pia just as her hand was
on the door.

t" Go home, dear Pia, and do not be cast down,"
said he loud enough for Monsieur Paulet and bi 4
daughter to hear. "I will come and see you before
the evening, and to-morrow we will go to the ceme-
tery together and take some flowers."
" Adieu! " replied the Italian, forcing back her
sobs.

She went, leaving Freneuse much disturbed, for
if he was sometimes lacking in energy, he was never
wanting in feeling and tenderness of heart.
Pia's trouble touched him, and had he been more
master of himself he would not have allowed her to
depart, but the presence of Mademoiselle Paulet
completely confused him.
"I am really much distressed," cried Marguerite's
father "You would like, no doubt, to accompany
this girl."

"it would be quite useless," interrupted Binos.
"I know her well. She has a will of iron, and if
her mind was made up to go home alone no one
could make her change it. Besides, she is not really
ill, she is in trouble, that's all."

"What trouble 4" asked Mademoiselle Paulet,
drily.
"Oh ! a heavy one. She has just heard of the
death of her sister."
"She heard of it here ?"
"Yes, madam, by accident—an unfortunate
accident. I had never heard of this sister, and I
was in the midst of relating to my friend Freneuse
how I had been attending the funeral of a young
person whom I did not in the least know, beyond
having seen her body at the Morgue. I only knew
her name, and was imprudent enough to mention
before this girl that the unfortunate creature was
called Astrodi."

" A strodi ! The girl was named Astrodi 1" ex-
claimed Monsieur Paulet.

"Yes, Bianca Astrodi," said Binos, surprised at
the emotion evinced by his interlocutor.
"Are you certain she is dead ?"
"Very certain. She has just been buried, and I
was present."
" Then, can the certificate of her death be had ?"

"Assuredly. Yesterday it would have been diffi-
cult, for no one had recognised her, although she
had been three days at the Morgue."
"Did she die by any accident ?"
"Yes, sir, by a very singular accident.'
"Can you tell me where she lived?"
This question, put upon the spur of the moment,
had the effect of arresting Binos's communications.
He did not like the bourgeois—he stigmatized thus
all persons who were not fortunate enough to be
artists—and was always on his guard with them.
He had recognised Monsieur Paulet as a bourgeois
of the first water, and would have judged him no
better than others had it not been for the surprising
beauty of his daughter. He was the more cautious
in recounting the tragic story of the omnibus, as
Piedouche had charged him to tell no one of_it.
"I do not know,' he replied composedly. "But
if you want to learn you can enquire at the Prefec-
ture of the Police."

Freneuse had been far from easy since Pia's
departure. He saw that Mademoiselle Paulet was
watching him furtively, and he guessed the reason.
He would willingly have explained how it was
the young Italian came to be in his arms, but he disl
not like to antcipate the question which he felt
sure would presently be put. To try to justify him-
self without being asked would look almost like pre-
sumption—in fact, tantamount to saying "I know
you are jealous of me."
But the handsome Marguerite was not at all
accustomed to hide her emotion, and without the
slightest hesitation she at once opened the subject
which Freneuso would not approach._
"That girl is very pretty," she observed, in a tone
of simulated indifference. "Does she sit to ycn
every day
yes, mademoiselle; since I have begun my
picture," answered the artist, who never preVari-
catod. _ .

That is to say, for about four months, if I
mistake rwt ?
Batll9r more, mademoiselle."