Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 574 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ae oe - _— ia % 1 i. MN, ‘ - ap — ** Not the slightest. and to the full?” ** Oh, you /” ** Well, I’m not exactly a yokel in the detec- tion of disguises, if | say it myself. You’re the living image, the exact double, of the great de- tective.” * Truly?” ‘‘ Well, if there’s any variation, it’s in your refinement of feature, together with your voice, the imitation not being absolutely exact. But the discrepancies are so slight as scarcely to be noticed by his most intimate professional asso- ciates. How, in the name of all that’s wonder- ful, have you managed it?” ‘* Oh, the expJanation is easy. In the first place, you know my past success in private the- atricals?” ** {] should say so; and, now I think of it, es- pecially in male parts,” ** Yes, Well, | have been studying the great detective’s character and appearance ever since I received that first photograph of him from you, while my tailor has made me several suits to correspond under my directions, Then Florine has assisted me materially with the cos- metics, the age, or masculine face-marks, and so on, so that now lcan effect the transposition back into my true character, or vice versa, in very short order.” ‘* But how do you manage with your hair?” ** Don’t you see how lam managing with it now? Though [ could certainly doa little better before my mirror, and with Florine’s assist- ance, She had by this time, in some deft and myste- rious way, packed her abundant, glossy hair tightly over her head, so that it seemed but the eS a for numerous short, thick-curling, ark locks disposed in such a masculine fashion as would have sufficiently deluded the most penetrating of observers, ‘** There you are, cousin mine!” She calmly took up her hat, and was once more before him as the living double of the Falcon Detective at his best, Nothing seemed wanting. Easyyrather care- less summer dress and unconsciously graceful attitude, suggestive of both symmetry and mus- cular power, were alike perfect, Even the eagle look in the dark eyes, the firm non-com- mittal expression under the black mustache, the crow’s-feet about the corners of the eyes, the mingling lines of growing years and past hard- sbips in the dark, still handsome face, with its bleuded expression of keen intelligence, sphinx- ian reserve and latent power—all were tu&ero in counterfeit presentment wonderful to behold, yery critical examination might have evolved the discovery that Faleonbridge, in this copy of him, had become shortened by an inch or two, that there was a somewhat abnormal fullness of the chest, not theretofore noticeable in his physique, and that he had somehow ac- quired a certain delicacy of feature and soften- ing of the falcon glance from the deep, dark and mysterious eyes, but that was all, and very critical examinations are not to be apprebended either from strangers, or on the part of those with whom we have, presumably, enjoyed a life-long acquaintance or even familiarity, Spender had studied his transformed cousin at this pass with an admiration that had gradu- ally deepened into thoughtfulness, ** You'll do, Nelly,” he said, “It is simply wonderful, and out-does anything I ever saw or heard of, on or off the stage.” And then, after a somewhat troubled pause, he asked, abruptly: “‘Whatisit you purpose doing with this—this masquerading genius of yours, Cousin Nelly?” ‘*Ferret out those missing witnesses,” was the prompt response, in ber new voice that was a "sab of her fictitious character,” restore m over-husband to liberty, and put the inferna Period wretch, whose plotting has ruined im, in his place behind the prison-bars and stone ,, buttresses of the State Prison at Sing ing! Spender at first nodded his approval, and then he shook his head, while the expression of gravity deepened in his face. ss Oh, I'll do it—never fear for me, Cousin Hugh!” exclaimed the brave girl. ‘‘ Remem- ber, I am no longer a weak, s mbarrassed, Didn’t you deceive me, sex-fettered woman in this guise, which you ac- knowledge that I carry so bravely, but the ig Falcon Detective, with the magic name of alconbridze at my back, I have promised my husband, Charles Howland, that he shall bea free man, with his good name vindicated before the world, within one month, and I shall keep my word!” As Spender did rot make any immediate re- ply, she asked, a little impatiently: It is still _ @arly in the evening, is it not?” “ Only eight o'clock,” he replied, glancing at watch. **Come, then. My father will not be home tilllate. There is still time for you to make me ocummanted with that particular wine-room, des enabling me to fledge my new character an pablie.” _ The lawyer rose, but slowly and irresolutely ~“ Cousin Nelly,” he said, in an ee step?” “have you reflected serio on this ’. ~ ‘ 2 Old Falcon’s Double. **T never act without reflection, Cousin Hugh. You ought to know me too well to ask sucha question.” ‘Still, your education, your wealth, your social position—” ‘* A truce to all that, if you please!” in an al- tered and somewhat hard tone. ‘‘ As for my wealth, I possess it in my own right, I believe?” ** True,” ‘As for my education and social position, they are not superior to Charles Howland’s, notwithstanding that he was poor, a mere clerk an orphan, perbaps the last of his race, and comparatively friendless, . Am I right?’ ‘* Yes.” ‘* And, notwithstanding that I might have had richer and gayer suitors, I am not aware that my father made any special objection to Charles Howland paying his addresses to me be- fore this black plot emptied its poison-rain upon his head?” ‘* Gad! he knew that it would do him precious little good to offer any.” ‘* And you assisted me in my secret marriage to Charles Hammond last night, on the thres- hold,” her voice trembled, ‘‘ as you might say of the State Prison which has ere this ingulfed his purity within its dishonoriog maw!” ‘* Come right along, Nelly!” he bustled out of the room in advance of her. ‘“‘I have nothing more to say.” | ‘¢ But you may still think—” ‘*That you are simply noble and as true as steel, to say nothing of your cleverness, and I am with you from first to last. Come’along!” As they passed through the broad deserted hall on their way out, Florine Duprez, the maid, secretly observed them from midway on the stair, smiling approvingly, and perhaps a little enviously, at the brave, nonchalant air with which her young mistress supported her novel character. A few minutes later, there was a ring at the door-bell, and the footman attended it to admit a visitor, who asked for Miss Sherwood. The visitor was John Burley. ‘*My mistress is not at bome, Monsieur Burley,” said Florine, coming down into the hall, — Both visitor and servant started, for the latter had just vouchsafed the information that he thought the young lady was to be seen, ‘* Miss Sherwood ly went out a short time ago for a visit,” the maid went on to explain, with an unchallengeable air of truthfulness, faad shé will not be back till late. I alone saw er gO. ‘*'This is a disappointment,” said Burley, re- retfully. ‘* However, I should like to speak a ‘ew words with yourself, then, Florine, if agree- able to you,” ** Certainly, monsieur; I do not think madem- oiselle would object.” She accordingly showed him into the lesser drawing-room, the only one which chanced to be lighted, and closed the door. The footman, a burly, dark-featured cockney, of an herculean frame and with the conven- tional calves, named Mopper, who had stood back obsequiously, stood looking at the closed door with lowering indignation for a moment or two, Then, with the whispered ejaculation, ‘‘ Well, I’m blowed if that ain’t himpudencs! and onl a lady’s maid, too!” he turned and stalked bac through the hall with high disgust written over the expression of his back, as Artemus Ward might have said, He was deeply in love with the blonde Florine himself, x CHAPTER VII, MISTRESS AND MAID, FLORINE DUPREZ was too French to be fairly characterized as ‘ susceptible’, and too thorough- ly a lady’s maid to be otherwise than extremely wide awake. But she had long before this had an eye for the young West Indian’s swarthy good-looks, as distinguished from those on exhibition among her young mistress’s visitors,’ and it is barely n to say that her sprightly blonde come- liness, which has already been mentioned as not inconsiderable, was not altogether lost upon Burley, whose ordinarily composed exterior was but the mask for ungovernable passions and a voleanic temperament. ‘* Florine,” said Burley, respectfully, ‘‘ I am greatly disappointed at not finding Miss Sher- wood at home,” ‘* So I have already had the honor of hearing monsieur say,” replied Florine, com ly. He looked at her fixedly, drawing his chair a little closer to hers, when she pushed a little further away, but not quite so far as his ad- vance had been, ‘* Florine!” in a low, serious and intense voice, ‘*' Yes, monsieur,” ‘*Can you and will you keep a secret—for a consideration?” She elevated her handsome brows. ‘*T think so, monsieur. Why not?” erhaps you mean to detmand, and justly, what the consideration would be?” | “You do not conjecture badly, monsieur; ., ¢ ; a « a “et r ¥. J ‘ te 4 J 7 Eee eee ee re f MAL 2 *. @ J . i- 4 5 though I would also demand what the nature of the secret might be.” The Creole reflected. Despite his calculating disposition, he was singularly prone to think, formulate and acton the impulse of the mo- ment, as was evidenced in the present instance, when, not meeting with Eleanor as he had hoped, he was willing to turn this interview with her maid to his advantage on the spur of a scheme which had at that instant, or when he had pro.osed to exchange a few words with her, sprans into his brain. Still, the matter required thought, though he was in the habit of thinking rapidly. ‘“‘ As to the consideration first,” he at last slowly said, still keeping his black eyes upon the young woman, and suggestively turning round and round a diamond ring upon the third finger of his Jeft hand, ‘*T never accept of trinkets as a considera- tion,” promptly replied Florine, who had per- ceived that the ring could be of no great value, ‘*T couldn’t wear them without attracting mademoiselle’s suspicions, and perhaps losing her confidence.” He nodded, and drew from his pocket a purse, whose contents he slowly emptied out into his hand, showing that they consisted of a dozen or more gold-pieces, half and quarter eagles, and then returned them to their old-fashioned, silk- meshed receptacle. The French maid’s eyes sparkled, and her a seemed to have the itch, hough honest in the main, and fairly de- voted to her mistress, avarice was her weak point. ‘*Monsieur’s temptations improve on ac- quaiptavce,” she murmured in a faint voice, which she strove to render sarcastic, or coquet- tish, though not very successfully, ‘*So much for the consideration—as a begin- ning,” continued the Creole, in his quietly in- tense, thrilling way. ‘‘ Now for my secret. ‘* Yes, monsieur,” with assumed indifference, “Will you keep it?” She cast down ber eyes. ‘* Yes,” so faintly it was hardly audible— ‘for the consideration,” giving the word its French pron .nciation. ‘* Here is my secret, Florine: I love you, but would marry Miss Sherwood for her fortune, and wish to have your secret alliance to assist me to that end.” She started, looking up at him in genuine as- tonishment. He had lied, Eleanor herself—even apart from her fortune, though that was not to be despised —being the object of the only genuine, or ele- vating passion, he had ever known, though the French girl was fair enough in his eyesasa passing amusement. But then a few lies more or less were nothing in the code of Juan Borleo, otherwise John Bur- ley, and he still kept his ardent gaze fastened upon his companion with a species of mesmeric intensity. ‘‘We could divide and enjoy her fortune be- tween us afterward, you know,” he went on, nonchalantly. ‘Really, Monsieur Burley,” the girl at length found voice to say, ‘‘ this is an—an altogether startling and unheard-of proposition,” **Florine!” he was bending nearer to her now, his dark face aglow with the verisimili- tude of his acting, his black eyes burning a more passionately; ‘‘ we are meant for each— for a secret life-partnership—you and I. I am an adventurer, and you are the same, or should be. I am Spanish, you French—I dark, you fair. The passion of the tropics is in our blood, in mine by race, in yours by temperament; the boldness of the old adventurous stock that rip- the blood and gold out of Mexico and Peru is in our spirits and our brains. But, unfortun- ately, you are poor, and so am I, or with a lit- tle bagatelle of a bank account recently re- ceived from the division of my mother’s estate in Porto Rico upon her death. But with made- moiselle’s fortune at our di — Body of the Lord! think of it, Florine, The girl was still more or less terrified, but with her eyes askance upon the purse of gold, ** Monsieur, this is not right,” she stammered. **T may be frivolous and vain, but I am not without principle. I—I still don’t exactly un- derstand.” “This for your further enlightenment, then!” He boldly clasped her in his arms, and kissed her repeatedly. | Florine was unaffectedly furious. To struggle out of his embrace, and send him staggering back under a tremendous box on the ear, was the work of an instant. ‘* Scoundrel! how dare you? Youtocall a self a gentleman, and to aspire to my d TONE, a y’s hand, that you may deceive and rob her. The Creole could afford to forgive the blow from such a pretty hand. He smi wi his cheek, kissed the palm of his hand with which he had eased : of the blow, and then, coolly resea tantalizingly jiagled the purse of her eyes, \ “a Florine had mastered her anger. Shealsore- glint in ber seated herself, but with a w ee) . ? ¥ hea, A