THE BOX AT THE CALIFORNIA THEATRE.
It was quite a gala night at the theatre, and every seat was taken.
The prima donna of an English Opera Company which had been delighting
the town took a benefit.
Soon after the curtain rose Harkaway, in evening dress, sought the
seclusion of Box B, to which he was shown by the usher.
"Any one inside?" asked Jack.
"Only a lady, sir," replied the usher, with a sly smile.
"A lady?"
"Yes, sir."
"Surely there must be some mistake. I expected to meet a gentleman."
"This is Box B," the usher said, opening the door.
Jack entered and bowed to a very pretty young lady, who was no other
than Elise Holt.
She had been placed in the box by her husband, who had gone away,
telling her that he had a little business to attend to, but would
return shortly.
The opera was "Faust," which Elise liked very much, but she did not
seem to be paying much attention to Gounod's music.
"I beg your pardon if I am intruding," exclaimed Jack. "I was invited
here by a gentleman."
"You are expected, if you are Mr. Harkaway," replied Elise.
"I am that individual."
Elise rose and came hastily to the back of the box.
"Oh, sir," she said, "do not think ill of me. I owe a duty to my
husband, and also one to you, though you are a stranger to me."
"Really, madam, I am at a loss to understand you," answered Harkaway,
in some perplexity.
"You have an enemy."
"Yes, and a very bitter one."
"I know all. Let me be brief. If I do not make myself understood it is
because I am agitated," said Elise. "You are brought here to-night in
order to be ruined. Let me beg of you to fly."
Jack smiled.
"Oh, no," he replied. "That is not my way of doing things at all."
"You refuse?"
"Most distinctly. I must see this thing out."
"Then I am powerless to help you," said Elise, with a sigh.
"My dear young lady," exclaimed Jack, "I know I am living in the midst
of danger, and you said so much that I have the strongest wish to hear
more."
"Every moment is precious."
"Why waste any time, then? You seem to take an interest in me."
"I do, indeed. Oh! what shall I do?" cried Elise.
They were still standing at the back of the box, so that no one could
see them, and the crash of the music prevented their voices from being
heard.
"Speak! No one ever regretted telling the truth," said Jack; "and I can
see by your face that you are too good a young lady to wish to conceal
anything you ought to reveal."
Elise suddenly made up her mind.
"I will save you, if possible," she said. "Listen. I have heard my
husband talking to a stranger. My husband is a clerk in a bank; he has
committed forgeries to enable him to gamble. These forgeries are held
by Mr. Smith, alias Lord Maltravers, who is your enemy."
"Ha!" ejaculated Harkaway.
"You expected to meet Lord Maltravers here this evening," pursued Elise.
"Candidly, you are right."
"He is gone to the Geysers to make terms with Vasquez, the bandit, to
kidnap you."
"And then?"
"You are to be shipped to Rio de Janeiro, where for the remainder of
your days you will work as a slave in the diamond mines of Brazil."
"But how is all this to be done, my dear girl?" asked Jack, smiling.
"I know not; they have their plans all made up. It is horrible."
"Is that all?"
"No. You love Miss Lena Vanhoosen, in New York?"
"I do."
"Well, my husband will come in presently."
"In here?"
"Yes, in this box, and accuse you of flirting with me. He will raise a
disturbance. You are to be arrested. The case will be in all the papers
to-morrow, and Miss Vanhoosen will be told that you are unfaithful to
your vows."
Jack whistled.
Though Elise spoke quickly, and her story was disconnected in parts, it
was, nevertheless, intelligible enough.
His enemy was actively at work.
"I thank you, very much," said he. "I am a thousand times obliged to
you. Good-night."
"Good-night. It is not safe for you to stay here."
"No, indeed."
"You will not reveal what I have told you?" pleaded Elise.
"Not for worlds."
"They would kill me if they only knew."
Jack went to the door of the box and was about to depart, when he saw
Elise's handkerchief lying on the floor. Always gallant, and quite a
ladies' man, he stooped and picked it up.
"Your handkerchief, I think," he said; "allow me to return it."
"Thank you!" replied Elise.
He was about to give it to her, when the door of the box opened and
Clarence Holt entered.
The latter pretended to be profoundly astonished.
"Elise!" he exclaimed, "who is this man?"
The poor girl, terribly frightened, sank into a seat.
"Answer me!" continued Clarence, "I insist upon it, for it is my right."
Jack stepped up to him.
"You need not continue this farce, sir!" he said, "for you know
perfectly well that my name is Harkaway, for you met me at the Cliff
House this morning."
"I deny it. I never saw you before in my life, and I want you to be
good enough to explain how it is that I find you alone in a private box
with my wife?"
"I shall give you no explanation."
"But I will have one," blustered Clarence.
"Ask Lord Maltravers," said Jack.
Clarence stepped back at this shot.
"Subterfuges will not avail you, sir," he replied. "This is my wife's
handkerchief you hold in your hand. You are a villain and a trickster!"
"No man shall call me that," cried Jack.
He raised his fist and knocked Clarence down, which was precisely what
that pliant tool of Lord Maltravers wanted.
Elise shrieked.
The attention of the whole house was quickly transferred to the
occupants of Box B.
"Help! help!" shouted Clarence.
Two policemen who had been stationed outside now entered and seized
Jack.
At the same time a newspaper reporter, who had also been told to be on
hand, made his appearance.
"Arrest that man!" said Clarence. "I charge him with assaulting me,
because I tried to protect my honor."
"I protest," exclaimed Jack.
The policeman, already heavily bribed, dragged him away to the
station-house.
"What is it all about?" asked the reporter.
"I will tell you presently," replied Clarence.
To add to the confusion, Elise had fainted.