Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03


three weeks previously. | forthwith en-
tered the shop, and pointing to the bill,
SAID knew person who had found such
deg as was there advertised for. The
woman at the counter said she was glad
TO hear it, as the lady, formerly a custom
ct Oh theirs, was much grieved at the ami
Nv hat is the lady's name?'' 1 asked.
can't rightly pronounce the name, -
was the reply. at is French, 1 be-
lieye; but here it is, with the address, in
the day-book, written by herself"
eagerly read, MADAME LeYasseur,
oak Cottage, about one mile on the road
from Edmonton to SOuthgate." The hand
writing greatly resembled that on the
scraps had taken from NJ. lie BretOn's
qesk; and the writer was French tool
Here were indications of a trail which
might lead to unhoped-for success, and
l determined to follow it up vigorously.
After one or two other questions, left
the shop, promising to send the dog to the
lady the next day.
My business at Stoke-Newington was
soon accomplished. l then FASTENED
westward to the establishment of we'll
known dog fancier, and procured the
loan, at a reasonable price, of an ugly
Italian hound; the requisite loss of the
UP OF It's tail was very speedily accom-
plished.
L arrived at the lady's residence about
II O'Clock on the following day, so thor
oughly disguised as a vagabond Cockney
dog-stealer that my own wife, when ] en-
tered the breakfast-parlOr lust previous
10 starting, screamed with alarm and
surprise. The mistress of Oak Cottage
was at home, but indisposed, and the
servant said she would take the dog to
her, though, il l would take it out of the
basket, she herself could tell me if it was
Fidele or not. replied that would only
show the dog to the lady, and would not
trust it out Of my hands.
This message was carried upstairs, and
after waiting some time jurisdiction the
woman, with natural precation, consider
ing my appearance, for the safety of the
portable articles lying about, had closed
the street door in my face-I was readmit-
ed, desired to wipe my shoes carefully, and
walk up.
Madame Levasseur, a showy-loOking
woman, though not Over-refined in speech
or manners, was seated on sofa, in We
hement expectation of embracing her
dear Eldele; but my vagabond appearance
so startled her that she screamed loudly
tor her husband, NJ. Levasseur. This gen
tleman, a fine, tall, whiskered. NOUS
tached person, fastened into the apart
ment half shaved, and with his razor in
his hand.
,"Q~e8t &c Qu'uy done?" he demand
'N0iS Uoyes cette horreur Ia,0 replied
the lady, meaning me, not the dog, which
was slowly emancipating from the
basket-kennel. The gentleman laughed;
and treasured by the presence of her
husband, Madame Leyasseur's anXieties
concentrated themselves upon the expect
ed Fidele.
"HdiS mon Djeup' she exclaimed again
as l displayed the aged beauty l had
brought for her inspection, ''Why, this is
not Fidelev
mot, marmp' L answered, with quite
innocent surprise. ''Vy, ere is her VERY
TAIL" and l held up the mutilated ex-
tremity for her closer inspection. The
lady was not, however, to be convinced
even by that evidence; and as the gentle
man soon became impatient Of my per-
sistence, and limited very inteliigiblv
that he had mind to hasten my passage
down stairs with the toe Of his boot, |,
having made the best possible use of nv
eyes during the short interview, scram-
bled up the dog and basket and departed.
mo female relative or acquaintance
hasn't he? was my eXultant thought as |
gained the road. "And vet if that is not
NJ. lie Breton's picture between those of
the husband and wife, am BOBBY, and
blind one" l no longer in the least
doubted that l had struck brilliant trail;
and / could have shouted with eXultatiOn.
so eager was | to eXtricate the plundered
firm from their terrible difficulties: the
more especially as young M. BellebOn,
with the frankness Of his age and nation.
had limited to me-and the suddenly trem-
ulOus light Of his fine expressive ewes
testified to the acuteness of apprehen-
siOns-that his marriage with long
loved and amiabfe girl depended upon
his Succes9 in saving the credit OF his
house.
That same evening, about 9 O'Clock, NJ.
Levasseur, extensively but withal snOb-
bishly attired, left Oak Cottage, walked
to Edmonton, hailed a cab, and drove off
rapidly toward town, followed by an Eng
lish swell as stYlishly and snObblshly
dressed, wigged, whiskered and NOUS
tached as himself; this English swell be-
ing no other than myself, as pretti-
ly metamorphOsed and made up for the
part L intended playing as heart could
wish.
NJ. Levasseur descended at the end of
the Quadrant, Regent street, and took his
way to Vine street, leading out of that
celebrated thOrOughfare. 1 followed, and,
observing him enter public house, I'M
hesitatingly did the same. 1t was q house
of call and general rendezvous for foreign
servants out of place. Wallets, couriers,
cooks, of many varieties of shade, nation
and responsibility, were assembled there,
smoking, drinking and playing at an in
sufferably noisy game, unknown, l be-
lieve, to Englishmen, and which must, /
think, have been invented in sheer de-
spair OF cards, dice or other implements
of gambling. The sole instruments of
play were the gamesters' fingers, of which
the two persons playing suddenly and
simultaneously uplifted as many, or as
few, as they pleased, each player alter
nately calling number; and if he named
precisely how many fingers were held up
by himself and opponent, he marked a
point. The hubbub of cries-''cinq,"
''neuf," dix" etc.-was deafening. The
players-almost everybody in the large
rOOm-were too much occupied to notice
our entrance; and NJ. Levasseur and my
self seated ourselves, and called for some
thing to drink, without, / was glad to see,
exciting the slightest observation.
NJ. Levasseur, soon perceived, was an
intimate acquaintance of many there;
and somewhat to my surprise, for he spoke
French very well, found that he was a
Swiss. His name was, therefore con-
cluded, assumed. Nothing positive re-
warded my watchfulness that evening;
but / felt quite sure that LeVasseur had
come there with the expectation of meet
ing some one, as heidi not play, and went
away about 80 O'Clock with an OBJ
viously disconnected air. The following
night it was the same; but the next, who
should peer into the room and look
cautiously round, but NJ. Alexandra lie Bre-
ton.
The instant the eyes of the friends met,
Levasseur rose and went out. Ihesitated
to follow, lest such a movement might eX-
cite suspicion; and it was well | did not,
as they both presently returned and seat
ed themselves close by my side. The
anxious, haggard cOuntenance of lie Bre-
ton-who had, j should have before
stated, been privately pointed out to me
by one OF the force early on the morning
l visited Oak Cottage-struck me fOrcibly,
especially in contrast with that Of Levas-
seur, which were only an expression of
malignant and ferociOus triumph, slight
~ dashed by temporary disappOint-
ment. lie Breton stayed but a short
time, and the only whispered words |
caught were: ale has, fear, some sus-
piciOn."
The anxiety and impatience of NJ. Belle
bon while this was going on became eX-
IRENE, and he sent me note after note-the
only mode Of communication l would per-
mit-eXpressiVe of his CONSERVATION at
the near approach of the time when the
engagements of his house would arrive at
maturity without anything having in the
meantime been accomplished. / pitied
him greatly, and, after some thought and
hesitation, resolved upon a new and
holder game.
BY affecting to drink great deal, oc-