The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-06

| MS arm.
Are you ready?" asked
"Right-all-right." said Pesca.
We started for the theatre.
|
The last notes OF the introduction 10 the
opera were being played. and the seats
In the pit were all nlled. when Pesca and
| i reached the theatre.
There was plenty OF room, however in
the passage that ran round the pit-pre-
| cisely the position best calculated TO an
swer the purpose for which I was at
tending the performance. ] went first TO
the barrier separating us from the stalls.
| and looked for the count In that part Of
the theatre. He was not there. Returning
along the passage on the left hand side
from the stage. and looking about me- at
| tentively. ] discovered him In the pit. He
occupied an excellent place. some twelve
or fourteen seats from the end Of bench.
within rows OF the stalls. / placed myself
exactly on n line with him; Pesca stand
ing by my side. The professor was not
yet aware OF the purpose for which
had brought him TO the theatre and he
was rather surprised that we did not
| move nearer TO the stage.
The curtain rose. and the opera began.
! Throughout the whole OF the FIRST act
4 we remained In our position-the count,
absorbed by the orchestra and the stage
never casting so much as a chance glance
at US. Not note OF Donizetti's delicious
music was lost on him There he sat.
high above his neighbors. smiling, and
nodding his great head enjoyingly, from
time 10 time. When the people near him
applauded the close OF an air Gas an Eng
lish audience In such circumstances al
ways Will applaud). without the least
consideration for the orchestral moye-
ment which Immediately followed Il. he
looked round at them with an expression
or compassionate remonstrance and held
up one hand with a gesture OF polite en-
treaty At the more refined passages Of
the singing. at the more delicate phras ses
OF the music. which passed unapplautfed
py others. his fat hands adorned with
perfectiy-fttin black kid gloves. softly
patted each other. in token OF the cuitiya-
ted appreciation OF a musical man.
Al such times his oily murmur OF an
proVal, Bravo! Bra-a-a-a!r hummed
through the silence. like the purring OF a
sreat cat. His immediate neighbors on
either side-hearty. ruddy faced neonIe
from the country, basixing amaz-
edly In the sunshine OF fashion
aoie London-seeing and hearing him
began TO follow his lead. Many a
ourst OF applause from the pit that night
started from the soft. comfortable pat
ting OF the black gloved hands The
man voracious vanity devoured this i'm
piled tribute to his local and critical su-
premacy. with an appearance Of the high
est relish Smiles rippled continuously
over his fat face. He looked about him.
at the pauses in the music serenely sat
isned with himself and his fellow crea
lures. Yes! yes these barbarous Eng
lish people are learning something from
me. Here, there, and everywhere L
Fosco-am an influence. that is felt. a
man who sits supreme." II ever face
spoke, his face spoke then--and that was
its language.
The curtain fell on the FIRST act; and
the audience rose to look about them.
This was the time 1 had waited for
the time TO try II Pesca knew him.
lie rose with the rest. and surveyed
the occupants OF the boxes grandly with
his opera glass. At FIRST his back was
toward US; but he turned round in time
TO our side OF the theatre. and looked at
the boxes above US; using his glass for
few minutes-then removing II. but
still continuing 10 look up. This was the
moment / chose. when his full face was
In view. for directing Pesca's attention
to him.
DO YOU know that MANI" I asked.
Which man. my friend?"
The tell fat man standing there with
his face toward U.S.
Pesca raised himself on tiptoe. and
looked at the count.
NO said the professor. The big
Fat man is stranger 10 me. Is he ia
nous? Why do you point him out7"
Because j have particular reasons for
wishing you TO know something OF him
He Is countryman OF yours; his name
Is Count Fosco. Do you know that
name?"
Not I. Walter. Neither the name nor
the man is known 10 me-"
Are you quite sure YOU don't recog-
nize him? Look again; look carefully.
| will tell you why 1 am so anxious about
II when we leave the theater. Stop! let
me help you up here. where you can see
him better"
helped the little man to perch him
self on the edge Of the raised dais upon
which the pit seats were all placed. Here
his small stature was no hindrance 10
him; here he could see over the heads
of the ladies who were seated near the |
outermost part OF the bench
A slim. light-haired man, standing by |
us. whom I had not noticed before--a
man with a scar on his left cheek
looked attentively at Pesca as I held him !
up, and then looked still more attentive
ly. following the direction OF Pesca's eyes
at the Count Our conversation might /
hive reached his ears. and might. as II |
struck me, reused his curiosity
Meanwhile. Pesca. with his eyes ear
nestly on the broad. full smiling face |
TO him.
NO" he said; II have never set my
two eyes on that big fat man before In !
all my life"
AS he spoke the Count looked down. |
ward toward the boxes behind us on the |
pit tier.
The eyes Of the two Italians met
The instant before. had been per
fectly satisfied. from his own reiterated |
assertion that Pesca did not know the
Count. The instant afterward. was !
equally certain that the Count knew /
Pesca.
Knew him; and-more surprising stiI /
feared him as well! There was no \
mistaking the change that passed over
tho Villains face. The leaden hue that \
altered his yellow complexion in a mo-
ment. the sudden riRiditv ~ all his fea- /
tures the furtive scrutiny Of his cold .
gray eyes. the motionless stiffness Of him \
from head TO foot. told their own tale. .
A mortal dread had mastered him body .