ey saw a tall man, wrapped up in
a huge cloak, coming towards them, and behind him a servant with a whole
armful of magnificent roses. It was Count Ville-Handry. Coming suddenly
face to face upon Daniel, he seemed at first very much embarrassed;
then, recovering himself, he said,--

"Why, is this you? Where on earth do you come from?"

"From the theatre."

"And you run away before the fifth act? That is a crime against the
majesty of Mozart. Come, go back with me, and I promise you a pleasant
surprise."

Brevan came up close to Daniel, and whispered to him,--

"Go; here is the opportunity I was wishing for."

Then he lifted his hat and went his way. Daniel, taken rather by
surprise, accompanied the count till he saw him stop near a huge landau,
open in spite of the cold weather, but guarded by three servants in
gorgeous livery. When they saw the count, they all three uncovered
respectfully; but he, without taking any notice of them, turned to the
porter who had the flowers, and said,--

"Scatter all these roses in this carriage."

The man hesitated. He was the servant of a famous florist, and had often
seen people pay forty or fifty dollars for such bouquets. He thought the
joke was carried too far. However, the count insisted. The roses were
piled up in the bottom of the carriage; and, when he had done, he
received a handsome fee for his trouble.

Then the count returned to the opera-house, Daniel following him, filled
with amazement. Evidently love had made the count young again, and now
gave wings to his steps. He ran up the steps of the great porch of the
opera-house, and in a few moments he was once more in Miss Brandon's
box. At once he took Daniel by the hand; and, drawing him into the box
close to the lady, he said to the young girl,--

"Permit me to present to you M. Daniel Champcey, one of our most
distinguished naval officers."

Daniel bowed, first to her, and then solemnly to Mrs. Brian, and long,
stiff Sir Thorn.

"I need not tell you, my dear count," said Miss Sarah, "that your
friends are always welcome here."

Then, turning to Daniel, she added,--

"Besides, I have long since known you."

"Me?"

"Yes, sir. And I even know that you are one of the most frequent
visitors at Count Ville-Handry's house."

She looked at Daniel with a kind of malicious simplicity, and then
added,

"_I_ do not mean to say that the count would not be wrong if he
attributed your frequent visits exclusively