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The rides in the tram-cars, the park, the buns, and the ducks were enlarged upon in turn; and then Maggie produced her ball, and plunged onto such broken and lavish praises of the "vewy nice man" that the Doctor looked at the governess for enlightenment. "A gentleman in the park, sir, gave her the ball," explained Miss Boucheafen gravely. "And zou a letter!" cried Maggie.
It was not an idea of his own which had caused him to inquire among his patients for a suitable situation for Alexia Boucheafen, but the hints, and then downright urgings, of his friend Mrs. Leslie. Both she and Kate Merritt had seen the governess, for in her kindness of heart the elder lady had paid more than one visit to Laura's children. Mrs.
Her name was the only stumbling-block. Her pupils could not pronounce it, the servants blundered over it, and Mrs. Jessop declared it "heathenish." By slow degrees it was dropped, and she became merely "Mademoiselle." "Children," said Miss Boucheafen, abruptly, "you have been good to-day, and it is fine. We will go out."
Miss Boucheafen, making great haste over the toilet of her pupils, had them ready and was ready herself before Ellen, and filled up the spare time by pacing the hall from end to end as she waited.
George Brudenell, listening and looking, believed after all his own fancy was but a fancy. The theory of the sergeant and the inspector was only a theory, a mere empty possibility, unsupported by fact. He abandoned both ideas forthwith. "Miss Boucheafen, could you recognize this man?" "I think not I am sure not." She shook her head, her eyes fixed musingly upon the fire. "It was dark.
The child was scared, but she held in one hand the paper he had given to her, in the other the gay-colored ball. He pointed peremptorily after the tall retreating figure of Alexia Boucheafen, and, frightened at his frowning face, the child darted toward "Ma'm'selle." "Ma'm'selle, Ma'm'selle!" She tugged at the governess's dress, at her hand. "'Ook what he dave me!" holding up the ball.
She let him take the letter; and he saw that it was written in a boyish, wavering hand, and that it commenced affectionately with her name. It was short, for the signature, to which his eyes turned instinctively, was upon the same page, and was, "Your brother, Gustave Boucheafen." The Doctor repeated it aloud. "Your brother, Mademoiselle?" "You have heard me speak of my brother, sir?"
They'll be better, you'll find, when we get a good strict governess for them; and that reminds me, I must certainly advertise for one to-morrow. I don't know how it is that it has slipped my memory for so long. So they're not in bed, the young rogues eh?" "No, sir they're with Miss Boucheafen." "With her?
A murder, Mademoiselle!" "A murder?" repeated Alexia. "Nothing less; and not a hundred yards away from this door." Miss Boucheafen had leaned back, almost fallen, against the window-frame. She was so pale that he said hastily: "I beg your pardon I spoke too abruptly. I have frightened you." "No, no; I am not frightened. Go on, pray! How was it? Who was it?" "As to who it was a man.
The smile seemed to imply that such a city held secret stranger things than that. Doctor Brudenell did not see the smile; he was a clever man, but it would have been far beyond his fathoming if he had seen it. He returned to his chair and sat down again. "In asking my questions, Miss Boucheafen, I have forgotten yours. I assume that you wished to ask me some." "Yes."
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