Castles in the Air

  2.

  Then one day our eyes met: not in a fashionable restaurant, I may tellyou, but in a discreet one situated on the slopes of Montmartre. I wasthere alone, sipping a cup of coffee after a frugal dinner. I haddrifted in there chiefly because I had quite accidentally caught sightof M. le Marquis de Firmin-Latour walking arm-in-arm up the Rue Lepicwith a lady who was both youthful and charming--a well-known dancer atthe opera. Presently I saw him turn into that discreet littlerestaurant, where, in very truth, it was not likely that Mme. laMarquise would follow him. But I did. What made me do it, I cannotsay; but for some time now it had been my wish to make the personalacquaintance of M. de Firmin-Latour, and I lost no opportunity whichmight help me to attain this desire.

  Somehow the man interested me. His social and financial position waspeculiar, you will admit, and here, methought, was the beginning of anadventure which might prove the turning-point in his career and . . .my opportunity. I was not wrong, as you will presently see. Whilstsilently eating my simple dinner, I watched M. de Firmin-Latour.

  He had started the evening by being very gay; he had ordered champagneand a succulent meal, and chatted light-heartedly with his companion,until presently three young women, flashily dressed, made noisyirruption into the restaurant.

  M. de Firmin-Latour's friend hailed them, introduced them to him, andsoon he was host, not to one lady, but to four, and instead of twodinners he had to order five, and more champagne, and thendessert--peaches, strawberries, bonbons, liqueurs, flowers, and whatnot, until I could see that the bill which presently he would becalled upon to pay would amount to far more than his quarterlyallowance from Mme. la Marquise, far more, presumably, than he had inhis pocket at the present moment.

  My brain works with marvellous rapidity, as you know. Already I hadmade up my mind to see the little comedy through to the end, and Iwatched with a good deal of interest and some pity the clouds ofanxiety gathering over M. de Firmin-Latour's brow.

  The dinner party lasted some considerable time; then the inevitablecataclysm occurred. The ladies were busy chattering and rouging theirlips when the bill was presented. They affected to see and hearnothing: it is a way ladies have when dinner has to be paid for; but Isaw and heard everything. The waiter stood by, silent and obsequiousat first, whilst M. le Marquis hunted through all his pockets. Thenthere was some whispered colloquy, and the waiter's attitude lostsomething of its correct dignity. After that the proprietor wascalled, and the whispered colloquy degenerated into altercation,whilst the ladies--not at all unaware of the situation--giggledamongst themselves. Finally, M. le Marquis offered a promissory note,which was refused.

  Then it was that our eyes met. M. de Firmin-Latour had flushed to theroots of his hair. His situation was indeed desperate, and myopportunity had come. With consummate sang-froid, I advanced towardsthe agitated group composed of M. le Marquis, the proprietor, and thehead waiter. I glanced at the bill, the cause of all this turmoil,which reposed on a metal salver in the head waiter's hand, and with abrief:

  "If M. le Marquis will allow me . . ." I produced my pocket-book.

  The bill was for nine hundred francs.

  At first M. le Marquis thought that I was about to pay it--and so didthe proprietor of the establishment, who made a movement as if hewould lie down on the floor and lick my boots. But not so. To beginwith, I did not happen to possess nine hundred francs, and if I did, Ishould not Have been fool enough to lend them to this youngscapegrace. No! What I did was to extract from my notebook a card, oneof a series which I always keep by me in case of an emergency like thepresent one. It bore the legend: "Comte Hercule de Montjoie,secretaire particulier de M. le Duc d'Otrante," and below it theaddress, "Palais du Commissariat de Police, 12 Quai d'Orsay." Thiscard I presented with a graceful flourish of the arm to the proprietorof the establishment, whilst I said with that lofty self-assurancewhich is one of my finest attributes and which I have never seenequalled:

  "M. le Marquis is my friend. I will be guarantee for this triflingamount."

  The proprietor and head waiter stammered excuses. Private secretary ofM. le Duc d'Otrante! Think of it! It is not often that such personagesdeign to frequent the .restaurants of Montmartre. M. le Marquis, onthe other hand, looked completely bewildered, whilst I, takingadvantage of the situation, seized him familiarly by the arm, andleading him toward the door, I said with condescending urbanity:

  "One word with you, my dear Marquis. It is so long since we have met."

  I bowed to the ladies.

  "Mesdames," I said, and was gratified to see that they followed mydramatic exit with eyes of appreciation and of wonder. The proprietorhimself offered me my hat, and a moment or two later M. deFirmin-Latour and I were out together in the Rue Lepic.

  "My dear Comte," he said as soon as he had recovered his breath, "howcan I think you? . . ."

  "Not now, Monsieur, not now," I replied. "You have only just time tomake your way as quickly as you can back to your palace in the Rue deGrammont before our friend the proprietor discovers the severalmistakes which he has made in the past few minutes and vents his wrathupon your fair guests."

  "You are right," he rejoined lightly. "But I will have the pleasure tocall on you to-morrow at the Palais du Commissariat."

  "Do no such thing, Monsieur le Marquis," I retorted with a pleasantlaugh. "You would not find me there."

  "But--" he stammered.

  "But," I broke in with my wonted business-like and persuasive manner,"if you think that I have conducted this delicate affair for you withtact and discretion, then, in your own interest I should advise you tocall on me at my private office, No. 96 Rue Daunou. Hector Ratichon,at your service."

  He appeared more bewildered than ever.

  "Rue Daunou," he murmured. "Ratichon!"

  "Private inquiry and confidential agent," I rejoined. "My brains areat your service should you desire to extricate yourself from thehumiliating financial position in which it has been my good luck tofind you, and yours to meet with me."

  With that I left him, Sir, to walk away or stay as he pleased. As forme, I went quickly down the street. I felt that the situation wasabsolutely perfect; to have spoken another word might have spoilt it.Moreover, there was no knowing how soon the proprietor of that humblehostelry would begin to have doubts as to the identity of the privatesecretary of M. le Duc d'Otrante. So I was best out of the way.