He was a tall, olive-skinned, handsome man,
apparently about twenty-five, strikingly dressed in a plaid coat, a vest
of red and black velvet, gray trousers, and a profusely ruffled shirt.
Evidently he was the leading spirit of the party. At all events he was
somewhat in front, with his black cap set well back on his shapely head,
while his jet black hair fell in shining curls over his strong
shoulders. He was shouting forth the French drinking carol in a voice as
sweet as it was loud, and at the same time waving in the air a small
cane. The entire group looked the worse for wine, their faces flushed
and their eyes brilliant.

"Who is that strange-looking man in front?" inquired Coleman of his
creole companion, as they passed them by.

"Zat ge'man ees ze goozh Favart de Caumartin," was the answer that
fairly startled the interrogator.

Coleman actually grew red in the face and exclaimed:

"_That_ Judge Favart de Caumartin! Surely, sir, you are mistaken."

"Beg pahdon, sah, zat ees Monsieur le Juge Favart de Caumartin. I him
know varee well myself at prayson."

Coleman turned and stared back through the window at the strutting
youthful figure leading the noisy rout.

How could that be the celebrated duellist, the guardian pirate!

"It cannot be," he muttered aloud. "It is impossible."

"Varee well, Meestu Coleman," said the young Creole dryly; "but I mus'
inqui yo' pahdon, sah. Monsieur le Juge Favart de Caumartin ees to me
well acquainted. I wemark to you, sah, zat zare ees not any mistake."

"Oh certainly, sir; I beg a thousand pardons!" exclaimed Coleman,
pulling himself together and seeing his breach of etiquette. "Of course
you were right; but I was so surprised to see the Judge looking so
young. I had supposed he was an aged man. I am astonished."

"Oh, Monsieur le Juge ees not so young--not so varee--hees hair not much
gray." While they were still discussing this matter the carriage stopped
in front of a square, heavy-looking house, which, painted a dull red and
projecting its upper gallery over the _banquette_, flung out on either
side a heavy brick wall on whose top was a jagged dressing of broken
bottles and jags. It looked more like a convent than like an
apartment-house.

Hepworth Coleman found his suit of rooms admirable in every respect,
large, airy, luxuriously furnished. His creole conductor parted with him
at the door without giving his name or address and without any
explanation whatever o