Year: 1865

| Opefa-HOuSc IN farlS. III was past three III
the morning, and was seriously thinking
of retiring from that wild, boisterous scene
not to call it by any harsher ame-in
which had been participant for hours.
| was weary-weary Of the dance, the lights,
the music, the crowd, the noise and cOnfu-
sion, the silly nothings that were being con-
tinually dinned into my ear by the flirting
maskers-and | had withdrawn from the
press and seated myself in the most quiet
spot that | could find


While | was thus sitting apart from the
throng listlessly gazing on that which no
longer gave me pleasure, a mask, in the
dress of "A page, sauntered quietly past me,
and said in low, guarded tone: "Mon-
seur will not seem to see or hear but will
look for the blue domino with a single spot
of red on the bosom, and follow 50 careless
ly as not to attract notice :"


was only sure'this language was only in
tended for me, by finding there was no 9th
er at the moment within hearing but what
was meant, if it had any meaning, was at
loss to conjecture. | would have ques-
toned the page, Notwithstanding the eau
ton not to seem to see or hear, but the in
dividual had already passed on too far, and
was about mingling with the noisy crowd


AS sat thinking the matter over, it oc-
CURED to me that | had been mistaken for
another person, and that whathad been said
was intended for some one else If this was
SO indeed, it might lead to a novel adven-
ture, and no one was ever more ready for a
novel adventure than myself.


Look for the blue domino with single
spot Of red on the bosom, and follow SO care
lessly as not to attract notice" | repea-
ted to myself "Vcry well-I think | will
if only to discover what it means"


The next minute the object for which |
was about to seek slowly passed along,
not very near me, but in plain view
arose with yawn, and quietly, with a slee-
Ply, Indifferent air, sauntered after the
blue domino. | had no difficulty in keeping
i'll sight-for the masker's, so disguised,
moved very slowly through the crowd, seem
lngly with no particular purpose If she
intended leaving the house, it was not ap-
parent to me then, nor for sometime after :;
and being really very much fatigued, and
not certain was not the sport of mischie-
vous page, | was about to depart myself
and finish my knights adventures in my
own bedroom, when | perceived my fair un-
known coming towards me with finger on
| her lips. She came mp close beside me and
stopped, apparently for the purpose of OBJ
serving something in another part of the
house and then, to my SURPRISE | heard
her say III English in a low, sweet musical
voice :


Listen nv friend, but seem not hear.
In five minutes | shall leave the house bv
the entrance on the Rue Lepelletier, and
will meet you at the place Vendome-after
which we will perfect our plan. Do not
fail me this time, or we may not have an
other opportunity before the counts return
Till then, adieu !"


As she ceased speaking, she moved away,
and was soon lost in the crowd-What did
it all mean? Unquestionably had been
mistaken for another person, as the
words, "Do not fail me this time" evi-
IDENTIFY proved. Who was the count alluded
and what was the plan on foot, to be per-
fected during his absence? My curiosity
was excited, and | resolved to go forward
in the part thus thrust upon me till could
ascertain something more definitely. And
then her words in English, 50 correctly spo-
ken-plainly showing that either she was,
or knew me to be foreigner, or perhaps
both-made me more eager to fathom the
mystery. Perhaps some may blame me-
knowing as | did, there was mistake, for
seeking to find out that which did not con.
Germ me and have nothing to say in nv
defence, except that saw before me the
prospect of a novel adventure, that tempta-
tion of which | was not just then in the hu-
NOR to resist.


The French Opera-House had three main
entrances, for three ranks, on as many
streets-namely one on Lepeletier for those
who came in carriages, one on Pinion for
those who came farces, and one on Grange
Bateliere for those who came on foot. Nv
fair unknown had stated that she would
leave by the Rue Lepelletier-wh went
far to prove that she laid claim to the high
est rank among those present, if not indeed
among society in gcneral-and | went out
on the Rue Pinion to order farce and Join
her at the Place Vendome.


! reached the place first and dismissed
my driver before her carriage appeared,
which stopped near the triumphal pillar of
Napoleon lie Grand As FASTENED up to
the carriage-which was plain black with
out emblazonry of any kind-th door was
opened by a small gloved hand from the in
side while the driver sat still, neither turn
ing his head to the right or left | could
just see that my unknown was its only occu-
pant, and | quietly entered and took my
seat beside her, feeling little nervous and
somewhat guilty, | must confess The door
was then shut quickly. heard the sharp
snap of spring, the blind was let down.
and we were whired away in almost total
darkness.


For nearly an hour we rode in silence
through the streets Of the great city, ! see
ing nothing but the dim form of the fair un-
known beside me, having no idea of the d.
rection we were going. | thought over
some curious stories had heard of stran-
gers being by one means and another de-
coyed in dens of robbers, and began to feel
rather uneasy. My pistols had been left at
my MOTEL and had not single weapon
with me, unless a small pocket-knife might
be 50 called. had not the feeling moreo-
yer, of acting in a right and honorable man
ner, to give manly courage F.; and | could
not but admit to myself that, should harm
come to me through this adventure, it would
in great measure be owing to my own
folly


had been thinking this matter over for