Henry C. Rowland

“ Blinded, baffled, thwarted, Legrand was still the béte sauvage. He sprang first on Dominica, because she happened to be the nearer, and dealt her a blow on the side of the head which sent her rolling over and over into one of the shallow excavations around the roots of a tree. He knew that he was hitting a woman; and he knew, a second or two later, that he had been hit by a man, for Macfarland had recovered himself sufficiently to jump in and land a blow which might have interfered seriously with Legrand's criminal activities for a number of years to come, had it landed properly. ”

“ She slung her mandola from her shoulder and slipped out into the street, making her way back to the Avenue Henri Martin on foot. She arrived in time to see the last of the guests departing, but, to her surprise and vexation, Braga did not show himself.
Worried and uneasy, Dominica sat down on the bench and waited. She was convinced that Legrand was still about the premises, either inside the house or else not far away, waiting to enter it when all should have gone to bed. The idea of two helpless women being at the mercy of such a cold-blooded devil was more than Dominica could permit. ”

“ She faltered.
“So much the better,” said Miss Primrose. “I abominate the modern styles of dress. A woman's body is her temple—the sanctum sanctorum of her soul—and why certain shameless creatures should seek to—but, there, the less said about such things the better. Thank God that I have never been tempted myself to any such vain display!”
III
Braga was much pleased at Nica's success with Miss Macfarland, not only because the girl knew by sight so many thieves but also owing to an undoubted instinct which she possessed for sensing what might be called the criminal aura of an individual. ”

“ Legrand, himself, was a murderous pariah, entitled to no consideration from thief or honest man. Dominica was a thief and the ally of thieves, but she was a long way from “the complete criminal,” which supreme material egoist is, thank God, extremely rare!
Turning the situation quickly in her active mind, she decided that the easiest way to avert a possible tragedy would be to find the nearest agent de police and tell him that, while resting on a bench in front of the Macfarland house, she had seen two men climb over the wall with what appeared to be a kit of tools. ”

“ I can sing you the Italian version of the German-Swiss cow-song; what the French-Swiss call the ranz des vaches. Our Veneto song is far prettier.”
“Let me hear you sing it,” said Primrose. “Can you play your own accompaniment?”
Dominica gave her a look of surprise.
“Of course, signorina,” said she, “on any instrument.”
“Indeed? You must be quite an accomplished musician.”
“We are a musical family,” said Dominica modestly.
“Let us go into the salon,” said Miss Primrose, “and you may sing me something. What is your name?” ”

“ Braga took from his case an Argentine cigarette which had been made in Spain, lighted it, and inhaled deeply, saying, as the smoke eddied languidly from his lungs:
“On these festive soirées it is the custom for Primrose and Pensée to wear all—or nearly all—of their previous birthday presents. The new gift is passed around from hand to hand, and the guests examine it nervously and wonder if they are going to be subjected to a search before leaving the house. So far, this has never happened, and the next day the bulk of the jewelry goes back to the safe-deposit.” ”

“ I have not been long in Paris, and I live in a little apartment off the Boulevard Raspail.”
“Alone?” asked Miss Primrose.
“Yes, signorina; I cannot afford a maid.”
“Why did you come to Paris?”
As Dominica did not deem it advisable to inform her that she had left New York hastily, having in her care the equivalent of several thousand dollars in money and jewels, cleverly obtained by a master-cracksman known as “Gentleman Joe” from the household of a family in which Dominica was temporarily serving as lady's-maid, she replied, demurely. ”

“ The agent would immediately take the case in hand, and Legrand might be captured—which, after all, was the best thing that could happen for Dominica, Braga, and society at large.
Dominica was therefore about to slip off her bench and put this plan in execution, when the front door of the villa swung open, letting out a flood of light. A moment later Leonardo opened the garden gate and bade good-night to a tall young man, whom Dominica recognized as Mr. Macfarland, a nephew of the maiden ladies. He had complimented her singing, and Dominica had overheard him asking Miss Pensée about her. ”

“ She thinks that I am maître d'hôtel in a Venezuelan family on the Avenue Victor Hugo.”
“So that is why you shaved off your mustache,” said Dominica.
“That and other reasons. Now what I have in mind is this: I want you to help me watch the Macfarland house the night of the dinner-party. They are always big affairs—at least a dozen guests. Can't you put on your Italian boy's costume and take your mandola and hang about in front of the house? You can sing a few Neapolitan airs and beg a few sous from the arriving guests, then go and sit on the street-bench and munch some bread and cheese. ”

“ This peculiar faculty is not uncommon in vigilant and well-trained watch-dogs, and it is probable that certain people of primitive nature are similarly gifted to varying extents. From much association with criminals, Dominica had cultivated the gift, and Braga thought it possible that were she to come within the atmosphere of a wolf in sheep's clothing circulating among harmless muttons, her flair, as the French say, might react upon her sensibilities as it is said to do with a police-dog. ”

“ She gives it the French spelling and signs herself, 'Pensée.' It appears that Primrose's birthday comes in May and, Pensée's in September. According to the article which-I read this morning, it has been their habit for years to give a birthday party on each occasion or, at least, a dinner to a few select friends. The one whose birthday it is always finds upon her plate a jewel of some sort as her sister's gift.”
“A good one?” asked Dominica.
“On the last birthday, which was Primrose's,” said Braga dryly, “there was a Bartier pearl pendant valued at one hundred thousand francs.” ”

“ She looked appealingly at Miss Primrose and threw out her hands with a little shudder. “It is impossible for a girl who means to be honest to get on. There is always the—the price to be paid——”
“I quite understand,” interrupted Miss Primrose, nodding violently. “You need say no more, my dear.”
“And so I have given up the idea of appearing in public and wish to sing only in private houses,” murmured Dominica.
“You are quite right, my child,” said Miss Primrose. “Well, we shall see what we can do. Have you a pretty evening gown?”
“Oh, yes, signorina,” lisped Dominica ”

“ At times, I am almost inclined to believe that some brilliant amateur has taken the field. What makes me think so is this: During the last few years I have become known in the criminal world as the safest and most liberal 'fence' in Europe. ”