CHAPTER IV.
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 delightingthe town took a benefit.
Soon after the curtain rose Harkaway, in evening dress, sought theseclusion 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 otherthan 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 wouldreturn shortly.
The opera was "Faust," which Elise liked very much, but she did notseem to be paying much attention to Gounod's music.
"I beg your pardon if I am intruding," exclaimed Jack. "I was invitedhere 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 myhusband, 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 isbecause I am agitated," said Elise. "You are brought here to-night inorder 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 midstof danger, and you said so much that I have the strongest wish to hearmore."
"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 couldsee them, and the crash of the music prevented their voices from beingheard.
"Speak! No one ever regretted telling the truth," said Jack; "and I cansee by your face that you are too good a young lady to wish to concealanything you ought to reveal."
Elise suddenly made up her mind.
"I will save you, if possible," she said. "Listen. I have heard myhusband talking to a stranger. My husband is a clerk in a bank; he hascommitted forgeries to enable him to gamble. These forgeries are heldby 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, tokidnap you."
"And then?"
"You are to be shipped to Rio de Janeiro, where for the remainder ofyour 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 adisturbance. You are to be arrested. The case will be in all the papersto-morrow, and Miss Vanhoosen will be told that you are unfaithful toyour vows."
Jack whistled.
Though Elise spoke quickly, and her story was disconnected in parts, itwas, nevertheless, intelligible enough.
His enemy was actively at work.
"I thank you, very much," said he. "I am a thousand times obliged toyou. 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 sawElise's handkerchief lying on the floor. Always gallant, and quite aladies' 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 andClarence 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 knowperfectly well that my name is Harkaway, for you met me at the CliffHouse this morning."
"I deny it. I never saw you before in my life, and I want you to begood enough to explain how it is that I find you alone in a private boxwith 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'shandkerchief 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 whatthat pliant tool of Lord Maltravers wanted.
Elise shrieked.
The attention of the whole house was quickly transferred to theoccupants of Box B.
"Help! help!" shouted Clarence.
Two policemen who had been stationed outside now entered and seizedJack.
At the same time a newspaper reporter, who had also been told to be onhand, 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 thestation-house.
"What is it all about?" asked the reporter.
"I will tell you presently," replied Clarence.
To add to the confusion, Elise had fainted.
The Slave of the Mine; or, Jack Harkaway in 'Frisco Page 4