You thought," he said, "that you had succeeded in throwing them off the
scent. So I had imagined this morning, when I saw you in your present
disguise. But permit me, my dear M. Andre, to assure you that there is
great room for improvement in it. I admit that a first attempt is always
to be looked on leniently; but it did not deceive La Candele, and even
at this distance I can plainly see your whole makeup; and what I can
see, of course, is patent to others."

He rose from his seat, and came closer to Andre.

"Why on earth," asked he, "should you daub all this color on your face,
which makes you look like an Indian warrior in his war-paint? Only two
colors are necessary to change the whole face--red and black--at the
eyebrows, the nostrils, and the corners of the mouth. Look here;" and
taking from his pocket a gold pencil-case, he corrected the faults in
the young artist's work.

As soon as he had finished, Andre went up to the mirror over the
chimney-piece, and was surprised at the result.

"Now," said the strange gentleman, "you see the futility of your
attempts. La Candele knew you at once. I wished to speak to you; so I
sent for Palot, one of my men, and instructed him to pick a quarrel with
you. The policemen arrested you, and we have met without any one being
at all the wiser. Be kind enough to efface my little corrections, as
they will be noticed in the street."

Andre obeyed, and as he rubbed away with the corner of his handkerchief,
he vainly sought for some elucidation of this mystery.

The man with the gold spectacles had resumed his seat, and was
refreshing himself with a pinch of snuff.

"And now," resumed he, "we will, if you please, have a little talk
together. As you see, I know you. Doctor Loulleux tells me that he knows
no one so high-minded and amiable as yourself. He declares that your
honor is without a stain, and your courage undoubted."

"Ah! my dear sir!" interposed the painter, with a deep blush.

"Pray let me go on. M. Gandelu says that he would trust you with all he
possessed, while all your comrades, with Vignol at their head, have the
greatest respect and regard for you. So much for the present. As for
your future, two of the greatest ornaments of the artistic world say
that you will one day occupy a very high place in the profession. You
gain now about fifteen francs a day. Am I correct?"

"Certainly," answered Andre, more bewildered than ever.

The gentleman smiled.

"Unfortu