ulder at Saint-Prosper before vanishing
in the cavernous depths of the vehicle of the muses.

Her departure was the signal for the dispersing of the party to their
respective couches. Now the fire sank lower, the stars came out
brighter and the moon arose and traveled majestically up the heavens,
taking a brief but comprehensive survey of the habitations of mortals,
and then, as if satisfied with her scrutiny, sailed back to the
horizon and dropped out of sight.

CHAPTER VIII

FLIPPING THE SHILLING

Shortly after the departure of the strolling players from the tavern,
Mauville summoned his servant and ordered his equipage. While waiting
he strode impatiently to and fro in the dining-room, which, dismantled
of the stage, by very contrast to the temporary temple of art, turned
his thoughts to the players. The barrenness of the room smote him
acutely with the memory of those performances, and he laughed
ironically to himself that he should thus revert to them. But as he
scoffed inwardly, his eyes gleamed with vivacity, and the sensations
with which he had viewed the young girl night after night were
reawakened. What was one woman lost to him, his egotism whispered; he
had parted from many, as a gourmand leaves one meal for another. Yes;
but she had not been his, insinuated vanity; another had whipped her
off before his eyes.

"Why the devil didn't you tell me he was going with them?" he demanded
of the landlord while settling his account.

"He--who?" asked the surprised inn-keeper.

"That adventurer you have been harboring here. How far's he going with
them?"

"I don't know. The night after the performance I heard the manager ask
him to join the company; to write a temperance play."

"Temperance play!" sneered Mauville. "The fool's gone with them on
account of a woman."

"I did think he was mighty attentive to one of the actresses," said
the landlord, reflectively. "The one with them melting eyes. Purty
good-looking! Quiet and lady-like, too! So he's gallivanting after
her? Well, well, I guess actresses be all alike."

"I guess they are," added the heir savagely. "And this one took me
in," he thought to himself. "Holding me off and playing with him, the
jade!" Then he continued aloud: "Where are they going?"

"Didn't hear 'em say," answered the other, "and I didn't like to
appear too curious."

"You didn't?" returned Mauville, ironically. "You must have changed
lately."

"I don't know as I under