Max

te sensations. In a manner miraculously swift, miraculously smooth and subtle, he had discovered a niche in this strange city, and had elected to fit himself to it. A knowledge

ng conviction that it was deserted save for the presence of the assiduous young waiter, who came

was filled with a quiet assurance that debarred familiarity; Max, in fine, was bound upon a quest, and the submissive young waiter,

the Sacré-Coeur, looking down upon the city with its tangle of lights; and later, in the hours of darkness, when he had tossed on his h

, and, having finished his meal, left the room and went qui

o turn his face to the copper-red sun and breathe in the crisp, invigorating air; then, with a quaintly decisi

f the Sacré-Coeu

ble horse to the frosty roadway, and was about to shake his head in d

ill you take me to the co

cape; but, when all hope seemed fled, he laconically murmured the one word "Bon!" whipped up his horse, and

asure-seekers and pleasure-mongers has disappeared as completely as if some magician had waved his wand, and in its place the streets teem with the worker-the early, industrious shopkeeper and the householder bent upon a profitable morning's marketing. Max, gazing from the fiacre with attentive eyes, followed the varying scenes, while hi

urage strengthened, his belief in his own star mounted higher; the decision of last night stood

g inquisitiveness in all that concerned the quarter, paused to look into the old curio shop, no longer

lver and tinsel, its woollen and silk stuffs; but on that January morning of his first coming it still held place, its musty perfumes still conjured dreams, its open doorway, festooned wit

e. He loitered about the windows, peeped in at the doorway, would even have ventured across the threshold had not a ponderous figure, rising silently from a he

e Müller; there, in the rue Müller, he paused, his back to the green plantation, his face to the row of houses rising one above the other, each with its open doo

ome, and to add that, coming in the light of day, he found a door open to him, sounds at the least fabulous; yet, as he stood there-eager, alert, with face lif

only by the fact that in this curious world there are certain beings to whom it is

e success awaited him. He read the legend again, 'Appartement à louer 5ième étage. Gaz:

did morning lay in the two proceedings-the difference between self-distrust and self-confidence. Then he had been a creature newly created, looking upon himself and all the

features: it was a lofty, rather narrow space, the walls of which-painted to resemble marble-were defaced by time, by the passing of many skirts and the rubbing of many shoulders. In the rear was

he hurried down the hall and, regardless of the consequence

istening intently, he became aware of the monotonous hum of

he lifted his hand for the third time, the hum of the machine ceased abruptly, the door opened, and he turned to confront a small woman wit

e manner of one who has been distu

wed with as close an imitation as he could

have an appar

ifth floor-gas and water." There was pri

d it is a good

er in Mo

ciency o

s it not open to the skies-with those t

citement

his appartement! May

ght one. Madame shook her hea

y n

s the concierge! Th

ncierge wou

was true he

a wistful eye on the

hat h

t was a

morn

ssi

afte

ssi

for a c

as entirel

out a word he turned on his heel and strode do

ached the door, then something-perhaps his youth, perhaps his

ur!" sh

sto

olutely necessary that

tely necessary

, I will conduc

This appartement on the fifth floor had g

madame, a th

l we

oment, if

of stairs there was a window through which the light fell upon the bare oak steps, proving them to be spotless and polished as the fl

portals Max glanced with that intent and searching look that one bestows upon objects that promise to become intertwined with one's da

noted that while the door upon the left was plain and unadorned as the others he had

sible neighbor! He scan

e fifth flo

little woman went forward and, to his astonishment

me! The appartemen

two and the hissing whisper of a conversation of which he caught no word

ur, while madame th

'while madame threw on a garment'! A hundred speculations crowded to his mind. Into what milieu was he about to be hurled? What sordid morning scene was he about to witness? In a strange confusion of ideas, the white face of th

an altogether unreaso

e right checked him, and a gent

ame, if y

sudden shame at his own thoughts-a sudden relief s

te cleanliness. It was this cleanliness that struck the note of her personality-that fitted her as a garment, accentuating the quiet

ve deference the

apologize profoundly for my

im welcome by a simple gesture. "We are anxious, I assure you, to find a tenant for the apparte

ingers on the handle of an inner door, she looke

monsieur! He is an invalid an

on the shrunken figure and wan, expressionless face of a very old man who sat huddled in a shabby leathern arm-chair. This arm-chair had been drawn to the window to catch the wintry sun, and patho

th a mute, appealing glance; then, with a slight confusion, he turned to Max, and hi

's voice dropped to tenderness, and she stooped and arranged the rug about

y forward, openi

summer you can throw the windows open and pass f

the salon as she spoke, Max an

r! It is quit

carpet covered the floor; a fine old buffet stood against the wall; antique carved chairs were drawn up to a massive table that had obviously known more spacious surroundings; while upon the walls, from

nthusiasm of a fellow-craftsman instantly kindled

caught the fire of interest, an

band who is the creator of these." She waved her han

owned

warmth of feeling. Again Blake's words came back-'These are the true citizens of the true Bohemia!'-and he looked curiously f

ietly, "that I did not, unti

o? It is true that then my husband had a reputation; but,

kiss one of her thin, work-worn hands. The whole pitiful story of a vogue outlive

at pride to you, ma

ve the being we love-is it not so? But I must not detain you, talking of myself! The oth

icity, in which a narrow bed, with a large black crucifix hanging above it, seemed the only furniture, and passed on

at hand for cooking, and the light is good. And now, perhaps, you wo

ted, and they passed into the room so elo

ay, perhaps, for the frost blurs the distances;

e long French window and stepped

upon the city of his dreams. For long he stood absorbed i

it is a place of miracle. It

renticeship in the reading of the

ur? You will

it suits you to vac

"And may I ask, monsieur, whether you h

mad

-pardon me!-a li

d my last franc I would give that last franc with

woman softened to a

n artist,

the boy's face, his ey

how did y

monsieur. You tell

colored again. "Madame, I would like to say that when my home is here it will be my care never to desecrate the atmosphere y

u, ma

, mons