pper Mining Company, and a fine thing it is, too. If you
have any money laid by, M. Benoit, this is a grand chance for you."

Benoit shook his head gravely.

"All is not gold that glitters," said he sententiously; "nor, on the
other hand, are things as bad as they are painted."

Benoit was evidently a prudent man, and was not likely to commit
himself.

"But if your master is going out, you, M. Mouret, will be free, and we
can have a game at cards together."

"No, sir," answered the valet.

"What! are you engaged too?"

"Yes; I have to carry a bouquet of flowers to the young lady my master
is engaged to. I have seen the young lady; she seems to be rather
haughty."

The man, who wore an enormously high and stiff collar, was absolutely
speaking of Sabine, and Andre could have twisted his neck with pleasure.

"Let us hope," remarked the coachman, as he hastily swallowed his
breakfast, "that the Marquis does not intend to invest his wife's dowry
in this new venture of his."

The men then ceased to speak of their master, and began to busy
themselves with their own affairs, and went out again without alluding
to him any further, leaving Andre to reflect what a difficult business
the detective line was.

The customers looked upon him with distrustful eyes, for it must be
confessed that his appearance was decidedly against him, and he had not
yet acquired the necessary art of seeing and hearing while affecting to
be doing neither; and it was easy for the dullest observer to be certain
that it was not for the sake of obtaining a breakfast that he had
entered the establishment. Andre had penetration enough to see the
effect he had produced, and he became more and more embarrassed. He had
finished his meal now and had lighted a cigar, and had ordered a small
glass of brandy. Nearly all the customers had withdrawn, leaving only
five or six, who were playing cards at a table near the door. Andre
was anxious to see Croisenois enter his carriage, and so he lingered,
ordering another glass of brandy as an excuse.

He had just been served, when a man, whose dress very much resembled his
own, lounged into the wine-shop. He was a tall, clumsily built fellow,
with an insolent expression upon his beardless face. His coat and cap
were in an equally dilapidated condition; and in the squeaky voice of
the rough, he ordered a plate of beef and half a bottle of wine, and,
as he brushed past Andre, upset his glass of brandy. The arti