would call.

"About twelve, if that hour is convenient," said Graham, rising. "I
presume there is a restaurant in the neighbourhood where I could dine
reasonably."

"Je crois bien, half-a-dozen. I can recommend to you one where you can
dine en prince for thirty sous. And if you are at Paris on business,
and want any letters written in private, I can also recommend to you my
friend here, M. Lebeau. Ay, and on affairs his advice is as good as a
lawyer's, and his fee a bagatelle."

"Don't believe all that Monsieur Georges so flatteringly says of me,"
put in M. Lebeau, with a modest half-smile, and in English. "I should
tell you that I, like yourself, am recently arrived at Paris, having
bought the business and goodwill of my predecessor in the apartment I
occupy; and it is only to the respect due to his antecedents, and on the
score of a few letters of recommendation which I bring from Lyons,
that I can attribute the confidence shown to me, a stranger in this
neighbourhood. Still I have some knowledge of the world, and I am always
glad if I can be of service to the English. I love the English"--he said
this with a sort of melancholy earnestness which seemed sincere; and
then added in a more careless tone,--"I have met with much kindness from
them in the course of a chequered life."

"You seem a very good fellow,--in fact, a regular trump, Monsieur
Lebeau," replied Graham, in the same language. "Give me your address. To
say truth, I am a very poor French scholar, as you must have seen, and
am awfully bother-headed how to manage some correspondence on matters
with which I am entrusted by my employer, so that it is a lucky chance
which has brought me acquainted with you."

M. Lebeau inclined his head gracefully, and drew from a very neat
morocco case a card, which Graham took and pocketed. Then he paid for
his coffee and lemonade, and returned home well satisfied with the
evening's adventure.

CHAPTER VII.

The next morning Graham sent for M. Renard, and consulted with that
experienced functionary as to the details of the plan of action which he
had revolved during the hours of a sleepless night.

"In conformity with your advice," said he, "not to expose myself to the
chance of future annoyance, by confiding to a man so dangerous as the
false Lebeau my name and address, I propose to take the lodging offered
to me, as Mr. Lamb, an attorney's clerk, commissioned to get in
certain debts, and transact other matte