Checkmate

him with tragic incident or emotion of any kind. He is plainly a foreigner. He is short, fat, middle-aged, with a round fat face, radiant with good humour and good-natured enjoyment. His dre

ost innocent and good-natured soul on earth, and why should I seem to avoid him? Better, if he's looking for me, to let him f

in French. "Ah, ha, ha, ha! you are surprised, Sir, to see m

same language, shaking him warmly by the hand, and smiling down on the little man. "I shall never forget yo

Monsieur found it well evaded," he said, myster

I suppose you thou

ed Lebas, with a shrug. "But per

me before we part, and you'll bring your portmanteau and stay

briel Laroque, the watchmaker. He lives on the Hill of Ludgate, and he would be offended if I were to r

u are not the Pierre Lebas whom I remember sitting with his violin at an open window. So com

ittle things like that." He smiled archly as he produced from his waistcoat pocket a little flat box with a glass top, and shook something in it. "Commerce, you se

hildren?" He was going to say "Madam

four by my second, and all enjoy the very best health. Three are very young-three, t

ndly, and laid his h

nt for each from me, and one for Madame

ile, the chisel, and knife." And he made a correspondin

ous emphasis in the word. "My good friend, remember there are details we talk of, you and I together, that are n

efore my caution. My wife, she says, 'You can't wash your shirt but you must tell

ain whether his talk with this man, whom you would have taken to be little above the level of

e pleasure of putting down your stake for you; and, if you win, you shall buy something pretty for Ma

o good," he sai

ou can't mistake him-with the velvet waistcoat all in wrinkles, an

rfectly,

ord. Our English custom is to tip, as we say, our friend's sons at school, and to make presents to everybody, as often as we like. Now there-not a word." He quietly slipp

only five minutes before I came here, fifteen pou

very low tone, as I do. And do you mean to tell me

ocket-book,

sealed if you do. There are gentlemen in this room who would hustle and rob you in the crowd as you get out; or, failing that,

one here but men distinguished,"

l attention of the police, s

houlder to the metal pillar of the gallery. My faith! he has observed my steps and followed me. I thought he was a spy. But my friend he says 'No, that is a man of bad

ere are people here other than gentlemen

ittle, "I have this weapon," produ

a police activity respecting foreigners, and that two have been arrested only yesterday on no ch

to the Hill

they won't let you bac

as, keeping his hand now in

of his finger a little ov

gcluse, suddenly. "Is yo

Monsi

London friend in th

e-y

whom you can trust, an

m place his purse so," he said, touching h

the far end of the room? They open into two parallel corridors leading to the hall, and a little way down there is a cross passage, in the middle o

swered Lebas. "I shall be writing to the Baron van Boe

is the baron?"

ing of retiring. I will tell him his work has succeeded. If h

pered Longcl

nd, but dropping his voice to a whisper. "He also sav

iled archly. In a moment Longcluse's impatient fr

hich I hope he will not think very impertinent?" asked Monsie

u can't be what you say-I am too much obliged

ore and parted, and Monsi