now that his head was uncovered. He was
amazed at himself, he felt a certain sense of shame.

"No," he replied, "I will go for it myself."

He went back to Goutran's apartment. As he passed through the vestibule
he heard a sarcastic laugh. He was of course mistaken, for only Goutran,
with Carmen, were coming down the stairs--Monsieur de Laisangy, Comte
Velleni, and his Secretary Fagiano.

"You have behaved like a hero, Count!" cried Carmen, as soon as she saw
him.

Her father at this moment had a violent attack of coughing. Through it
all he said:

"You have done well, sir."

Signor Fagiano said in clear, distinct tones:

"The Vicomte is a worthy son of his father!"

I know not why, but these words sounded disagreeably to Esperance, who
turned quickly. But Fagiano was in the shadow, and Esperance saw only
his eyes, which were very bright. The Vicomte began to think his nerves
were sadly out of order.

Goutran, when the door had closed on the last of his guests, turned to
him and asked how he would like a little walk up the Champs-Elysees.

"Very much," answered the Vicomte, "I need fresh air."

He took his hat from the hands of a lacquey, and the two young men
walked off together. Neither knew that Fagiano had not driven away with
Comte Velleni, but that, standing in a dark doorway, he followed the
Vicomte with his eyes. Hissing through his close shut teeth, he said:

"Yes, worthy son of thy father, I swear that I will have my revenge!"

CHAPTER XLIX.

HOW AND WHERE.

As the reporter had discovered, Jane Zeld occupied an apartment on the
first floor of a small hotel, or rather, in one of those boarding-houses
frequented by respectable people who come from the four quarters of the
globe to enjoy the attractions of Paris. It was a most respectable
establishment, with its iron gate _a l'Anglaise_, its well scrubbed
steps, its parlor on the _rez de chaussee_, and its three floors above
all occupied.

The lady who managed this enterprise was the widow of a captain. She
wore English curls, spoke a few words in various languages, and had a
marvelous ability for making out long bills. Her prices were high, very
high, but the situation of her house was at once elegant and retired. It
was a wonder that these items were not entered on the bill. She had
never admitted any artists into her sanctuary until the intendant
Maslenes one day offered her five hundred francs for an apartment which
she usually re