Max

the excitement of the past days had culminate

; and now, in the moment of waking, it seemed that again the same beneficent agency was dispensing love and favor, for he opened his eyes upon a changed world. A magician's w

y; he opened his eyes slowly and stared about the unknown room in an instant of hesitating doubt; then, with a great leap of the spirit, he recognized his position. Last

trees in their painted tubs were coated white with rime; then, with another impulse, as quickly conceived, as qui

as neither dressing-table, wardrobe, nor chest of drawers, that the entire space of the small apartment was filled by the clumsy bed, a folding wash-stand, and two ponderous arm-chairs covere

lancholy design, and content that he had acquitted himself dutifully toward his su

y looked at each article as he drew it forth with a quaint attentiveness quite disproportionate to either its appearance or its value. Bu

precision, in the serge suit. Worn as this suit was, it evidently retained a pristine value in its owner's eyes, for no so

an anxiety in seeming contrast to his nature, he pulled one of the massive velvet chairs to the fireplace and, mounting upon it, surveyed himself at every angle with deep intentness. At last, satisfied,

had been over the floor with his broom while the hotel slept, and the battered tray with its suggestion of sordid festivity had been removed. Even here the electric air of the mo

bilities. He began the descent, light as a Mercury, his feet scarcely touching the steps that last night had offered so t

, the good creature's smil

ttle eyes ran over the face and figu

ght-hearted laugh that belon

d now, you may believe

He lingered, drawn, as the Irishman in the train had been drawn, b

eur had the spirit as

the shabby carpet of the H?tel Railleux, seeing in vision the things that were to come. Then, with his swift impulsiveness, he flung his dream fro

! Let us consider the flesh!

nger was on the

' With a nod and a smile, he was away down the intervening steps and at the do

iling low, the only furniture a dozen small tables meagrely set out for déjeuner. On the moment of his entry eleven of these tables were unoccupi

d in strained anticipation, and the lady of the st

on of doing a daring deed, he glanced round the empty room, scanned the two long windows on which the cold, bright sun played laughingly, and through which the rattl

at her table? It was sad to be

, she was fat, she was ugly-but she was French. The sense of a pleasant encounter-the appreciation of romance was in

nsieur desired. The p

iter. Then the boy, laying his hat and coat aside, seated himself at the table and entered u

usly attentive, his head inclining gravely to one

y glan

the H?tel Ra

eadfastly. 'Anything that

fast look, and a little gleam

in with, should the

e weight of his body from one foot to th

behind an expression

! Or, perhaps, Cou

rate resolve to meet the worst. Mada

ubstituted, and laughed again in sheer pleasure at the waiter's sudden smile, his sudden restoration to d

is waiter was a good boy, but slow. They did not keep a sufficiency of

h disarming frankness, but his words w

s yet had time to

rrival? He had come-when was it-?' M

terd

it had been! What weather for a long journ

'Oh, it had been of

d? Monsieur was not French, although he had so charming a fluency in the language?' Her

e informed her. Then he added with convincing ce

t the soothing l

nteresting. She was

ial! Imp

were on the footing of friends, and madam

hough, of a truth, Paris was so well known to he

if it was pleasure alone that had brought madame to the capita

plate away and took a

er visit! This terrible business-exacting so much, giving so little in return!' She heaved a weighty sigh, then her fat face

er her glance of slow approval, and a swift sense of relief passed throug

the boyish face-the curious dark-gray eyes, in which the morning sun was discovering little

sagely, and began to ea

e waiter and ordered coffee, the

oung!' She sighed again, this time more softly. 'Youth was a marvellous thing-and Par

he table. Monsieur, suddenly and unaccountably uneasy,

t to procure a second cup; and, as her coffee-pot was quite full-' She raised the lid coquettishly

in search of the second cup; madam

it be an unpardonable liberty to

eur b

ould madam

mpossible to suppose that a razor had ever touched that soft cheek.' There was another little laugh, lower this time and more subtle in tone;

color rushed into his cheeks, he r

h older than m

tively must sit down again. It was assured that they would become

ur remaine

with interest, literall

st not allow the cof

picked up his

s impossible! He could not be so u

ter the door had closed and the boy was running down the st