The herald., 1894-12-28
rsa.surins smile, sas b.ds me snssz aaa

reassuring smile, siae ibsiio me enter ant
be seated.
did 30 and found q recherche supper
prepared, bat no other guests visible.
While she was engaged in giving he,
instructions to the waiter ! had an op-
portunity of scrutinizing my mysterious
hostess. Apparently about 80 years Of
age and of commanding appearance, she
conveyed the idea that she was not a
lady to be trified with A profusion Of
Jet black hair was coiled heavily about
her head. Her nose was slightly retrous-
Sc, which, if anything, added to the
air of abandon she assumed.
The only feature about her, however,
that struck me as remarkable vera her
eyes. There was the same weird, vacant
gaze about them that noticed sc the
theater Whenever she spoke to me,
they became unusually brilliant.
Dismissing the waiter, she crossed to
the cabinet and took out a small salver,
the contents of which were hidden by a
cover. This she placed on the table.
s'Now for supper, she said. ''f have
here tapping the salver with her fan,
'a positive triumph-in fact, 'crea-
ton that would put Soyer 10 the
blush. And she laughed merrily.
MAY I''--
"Not yet. {" she said. "You actors re-
serve the transformation scene for the
final act Ihonor your traditions and do
likewise !"
Supper proceeded gayly. The ,aenu
was excellent and my hostess chatted
away bravely.
s'Parles vous Francois, m'sier?"
With my good FRIEND Spriggirs, I
confessed I preferred English.
Bebe looked surprised.
"But, dites moi, you have been in
Paris?''
admitted the fact
''Of course" she said, land you vis-
tied Asnieres?"
confessed had spent few days at
that delightful suburb.
"Exactly, she retorted Significantly,
though why at the time was at q loss
to divine
Don't you think, she asked, with a
smile, sit Is rather q bold thing for my
reputation to thus entertain an actor of
whom know comparatively nothing?"
Certainly, and l have yet to learn
the reason of my visit
Bebe laughed, and then, suddenly
changing her tone, she said:
"You shall know all. f"
nodded.
''Do you smoke?'
eyes
Cigarettes were produced, and then,
suddenly stopping. she exclaimed:
"Stay! We have forgotten the en-
tree"
Indeed we have!" And placed my
cigarette on the table.
Bebe touched the salver and glanced
round apprehensively. Then she said:
''Let me tell you a story first. Will
you listen?"
Indeed shall be delighted"
She drew her chair round till she was
directly vis-a-vis; then, brushing back
her hair and disclosing her firmly
shaped contour, she fixed her eyes on
me and said:
Before commence my narrative I
must beg of you to reply to one OF two
questions. "
with pleasure.
'First, when were you in Paris?'
''Let me see. About 1868.
Eighteen hundred and sixty eight?
Are you sure?"
Positive"
Bebe seemed lost in thought for mo-
ment and then continued:
''Did you play at the Odeon?"
"No."
"Or the Folie Dramatiques?"
"No; my visit to Paris was for pleas
ure. I never acted in a French theater
in my life. -
'But you speak French?'
'Indifferently. I am simply an Eng
lish actor.
''Do you know NJ. Evreux, at AS
nieres?''
81 do not"
"But you have been there?"
so has every Englishman who visits
Paris
You are deceiving me-
"Why should I?''
"Peste Don't prevaricatep'
"Madame!"
'Forgive my impetuosity. You are a
clever people, but l come Of nation
that produced Fouche, and I am COLI
The complication was becoming en-
barrassing.
Another cigarette?"
"Thanks.
"Now," said Bebe, "for my story.
First, to assure myself there are no lis
teners."
Suiting the action to the word, she
crossed to the door, opened it and peered
out, reclosed and locked it.
/ certainly began to feel trifle nerv-
Gus, bat was out for the evening. and
it is not every page Of ones life that is
tinged with romance. Thus consoling
myself, | awaited the next tactics of my
hostess.
She was soon seated in her place. TIE
entree on which she prided herself still
on the table, carefully COW
cred.
There was a mischievous brilliancy
about her eyes TINT BODIED no good, but I
laughed at the idea of danger. 1t was SO
very preposterous.
Let me tell you story, monsieur,
and 7 c1nct, oft -