Mr. Longcluse leaned still with folded arms, and his shoulder to the wall. The stranger, smiling and fussy, was making his way to him. There is nothing in this man's appearance to associate 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 dress is cut in the somewhat grotesque style of a low French tailor. It is not very new, and has some spots of grease upon it. Mr. Longcluse perceives that he is now making his way towards him. Longcluse for a moment thought of making his escape by the door, which was close to him; but he reflected, He is about the most 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 find me, and say his say. So Longcluse looked another way, his arms still folded, and his shoulders against the wall as before.
Ah, ha! Monsieur is thinking profoundly, said a gay voice in French. Ah, ha, ha, ha! you are surprised, Sir, to see me here. So am I, my faith! I saw you. I never forget a face.
Nor a friend, Lebas. Who could have imagined anything to bring you to London? answered Longcluse, in the same language, shaking him warmly by the hand, and smiling down on the little man. I shall never forget your kindness. I think I should have died in that illness but for you. How can I ever thank you half enough?
And the grand secretthe political difficultyMonsieur found it well evaded, he said, mysteriously touching his upper lip with two fingers.
Not all quiet yet. I suppose you thought I was in Vienna?
Longcluse laughed kindly, and laid his hand upon his shoulder.
You must take charge of a little present for each from me, and one for Madame. And the old business still flourishes?
A thousand thanks! yes, the business is the samethe file, the chisel, and knife. And he made a corresponding movement of his hand as he mentioned each instrument.
Hush! said Longcluse, smiling, so that no one who did not hear him would have supposed there was so much cautious emphasis in the word. My good friend, remember there are details we talk of, you and I together, that are not to be mentioned so suitably in a place like this, and he pressed his hand on his wrist, and shook it gently.
A thousand pardons! I am, I know, too careless, and let my tongue too often run before my caution. My wife, she says,
Mr. Longcluse glanced from the corners of his eyes about the room. Perhaps he wished to ascertain whether his talk with this man, whom you would have taken to be little above the level of a French mechanic, had excited anyone's attention. But there was nothing to make him think so.
Now, Pierre, my friend, you must win some money upon this matchdo you see? And you won't deny me the pleasure of putting down your stake for you; and, if you win, you shall buy something pretty for Madameand, win or lose, I shall think it friendly of you after so many years, and like you the better.
Monsieur is too good, he said with effusion.
Now look. Do you see that fat Jew over there on the front benchyou can't mistake himwith the velvet waistcoat all in wrinkles, and the enormous lips, who talks to every second person who passes?
I see perfectly, Monsieur.
He is betting three to one upon Markham. You must take his offer, and back Hood. I'm told he'll win. Here are ten
pounds, you may as well make them thirty. Don't say a word. 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 therenot a word. He quietly slipped into his hand a little rouleau of ten pounds in gold. If you say one word you wound me, he continued. But, good Heaven! my dear friend, haven't you a breast-pocket?
No, Monsieur; but this is quite safe. I was paid, only five minutes before I came here, fifteen pounds in gold, a cheque of forty-four pounds, and
Be silent. You may be overheard. Speak here in a very low tone, as I do. And do you mean to tell me that you carry
all that money in your coat pocket?
But in a pocket-book, Monsieur.
All the more convenient for the chevalier d'industrie said Longcluse. Stop. Pray don't produce it; your fate is, perhaps, 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, who, seeing that you are a stranger, would follow and murder you in the streets, for the sake of a twentieth part of that sum.
Gabriel thought there would be none here but men distinguished, said Lebas, in some consternation.
Distinguished by the special attention of the police, some of them, said Longcluse.
Longcluse rubbed the tip of his finger a little over his eyebrow, thinking.
Listen to me, said Longcluse, suddenly. Is your brother-in-law here?
No, Monsieur.
Well, you have some London friend in the room, haven't you?
Oneyes.
Only be sure he is one whom you can trust, and who has a safe pocket.
Oh, yes, Monsieur, entirely! and I saw him place his purse so, he said, touching his coat, over his heart, with his fingers.
Well, now, you can't manage it here, under the gaze of the people; but where is best? Yesyou see those two doors at opposite sides in the wall, at 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 of which is a door opening into a smoking-room. That room will be deserted now, and there, unseen, you can place your money and dagger in his charge.
Ah, thank you a hundred thousand times, Monsieur! answered Lebas. I shall be writing to the Baron van Boeren to-morrow, and I will tell him I have met Monsieur.
Don't mind; how is the baron? asked Longcluse.
Longcluse frowned, a little embarrassed. Lebas smiled archly. In a moment Longcluse's impatient frown broke into a mysterious smile that responded.
May I say one word more, and make one request of Monsieur, which I hope he will not think very impertinent? asked Monsieur Lebas, who had just been on the point of taking his leave.
It mayn't be in my power to grant it; but you can't be what you sayI am too much obliged to youso speak quite freely, said Longcluse.
So they talked a little more and parted, and Monsieur Lebas went on his way.