shoulders. He, too, had a violin, and
was evidently giving the children a lesson. Tantaine at once guessed
that this was Professor Poluche.

"Listen," said he; "here, you Ascanie, play the chorus from the _Chateau
de Marguerite_." As he spoke he drew his bow across his instrument,
while the little Savoyard did his best to imitate him, and in a
squeaking voice, in nasal tone, he sang:

"Ah! great heavens, how fine and grand Is the palace!"

"You young rascal!" cried Poluche. "Have I not bid you fifty times that
at the word 'palace' you are to place your bow on the fourth chalkmark
and draw it across? Begin again."

Once again the boy commenced, but Poluche stopped him.

"I believe, you young villain, that you are doing it on purpose. Now, go
through the whole chorus again; and if you do not do it right, look out
for squalls."

Poor Ascanie was so muddled that he forgot all his instructions. Without
any appearance of anger, the professor took up the whip and administered
half a dozen severe cuts across the bare legs of the child, whose shouts
soon filled the room.

"When you are done howling," remarked Poluche, "you can try again;
and if you do not succeed, no supper for you to-night, my lad. Now,
Giuseppe, it is your turn."

Giuseppe, though younger than Ascanie, was a greater proficient on the
instrument, and went through his task without a single mistake.

"Good!" said Poluche; "if you get on like that, you will soon be fit to
go out. You would like that, I suppose?"

"Yes," replied the delighted boy, "and I should like to bring in a few
coppers too."

But the Professor did not waste too much time in idle converse.

"It is your turn now, Fabio," said he.

Fabio, a little mite of seven, with eyes black and sparkling as those of
a dormouse, had just seen Tantaine in the doorway and pointed him out to
the professor.

Poluche turned quickly round and found himself face to face with
Tantaine, who had come quickly forward, his hat in his hand.

Had the professor seen an apparition, he could not have started more
violently, for he did not like strangers.

"What do you want?" asked he.

"Reassure yourself, sir," said Tantaine, after having for a few seconds
enjoyed his evident terror; "I am the intimate friend of the gentleman
who employs you, and have come here to discuss an important matter of
business with him."

Poluche breathed more freely.

"Take a chair, sir," said he, offering the only one in