Year: 1864

at the Frencn opera House; III IaflS


1t was past three in the morning


and was seriously thinking of re


tiring from that wild b0isterou


scene-not to call it by any harshel


name-in which had been par


ticipant for hours. | was weary


weary Of the dance, the lights, the


music, the crowd, the noise and con


fusion, the silly. nothings that were


being continually dinncd into my eal


by the flirting maskers-and | had


Withdrawn from the press and seated


myself in the most quiet spot could


find.


While was thus sitting apart from


the throng, listlossIy gazing upon


that which no longer gave me pleas


ure, a mask, in the dress Of a page,


sauntered quietly past me and said,


in low, guarded tone:


"Monsieur will not seem to see or
hear, but will look for the blue domino


with a single spot ofred on the bosom


and follow so carelessIy as not to


attract nOtice!'


| was only sure this language was
intended for me, by finding there was
no other at the moment within hear
ing; but what it meant, if it had any
meaning, | was at loss to con ee-



ture. would have questioned the
page, Notwithstanding thecaution not
to seem to see or hear, but that in
dividual had already passed on too
far, and was about mingliag with the
noisy crowd.


As | sat thinking the matter over,
it occurred to me that had been
mistaken toranother person, and that
what had been said to me had really
been intended for some o.c else
If this was so indeed, it might lead
to a novel adventure, and no one
was ever more ready for novel ad-
venture than myself,


@Look for the blue domino with a
single spot Of red on the bosom, and /
follow so careIcssly as not 10 attract I.
notice, repeated to myself VERY /.
WE'LL think will--if only to dis,
cover 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 a yawn,
and quietly, with sleepy, Indifferent
air, saunterad after the blue domino.
] had no difficulty in keeping it in
sight-ior the maskcr, so disguised.
moved slowly through the crowd,
seemingly withno paticularpurposc.
If She intended leaving the house, it
was not apparent to me then, nor
for some time after; aud being really /
very much fatigucd, and not certain
/ was not the sport Of a mischievous
page, | was about to depart myself
and finish my nights adventures in I
my own bedroom, when ! perceived
my fair unknown coming toward me
with o finger on her lips. She came
up close beside me and stopped, APP
parently for thepurposc ofobserving
something in another part Of the
house; and then, to my surprise,
heard her say in English, in a low,
sweet, musical voice:


"Listen, my friend, but seem not
to hear. In five minutes shall leave ,
the house by the entrance on the Rue !
Lopelletier, 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 another
opportunity before thecount's return
Till then, adieur


As she ceased speaking, she moved c
away, and was soon lost in the '
crowd, What did it all mean ? I'm
questionably | had been mistaken 5
for another person, as the words, '
DO not fail me this time evidently e
proved. Who was the count alluded v
to ? and what was the plan on foot, {,
to be perfected during his absence ? Il
My curiosity was excited, and | re- :
solved to go forward in the part thus n
thrust upon me till | could ascertain Y
more definite. And then S
her words in English so correctly v
spoken plainly showing that either
she was, or knew me to be, a foreign h
9r, or perhaps both-made me still t
more eager to fathom the mystery. Z
Perhaps some may blame me, know b
ng as | did there was a mistake. for
to find out that which did Ii
not concern me; and | have nothing II
to say in my defence, except that | |
saw before me the prospect of W
lovel adventure, the temptation of a
which | was not just then in the b
lumor to resist. ig
The French Opera House had three
main entrances, for three ranks, on fa
Is many streets-namely-one on Ii
Iepelletier for those who came in n
one on Pinon for those who c
'ame in facres, and one on Grange II
for those who came on foot. Il
dy fair unknown had stated that she d