Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/33

 to come here to-night. I met and talked with him to-day. He said the word ‘Fidelity’ would admit me to his presence.” Le Févre looked into the youth's honest cyeseyes [sic], and was satisfied with their expression.

“All right!” he said briefly. “Follow me.”

After looking around and seeing that the last customer had been served, Monsieur told his attendants to close the shop for the night. He then said in a loud voice to Hugo, “Perfumes, did you say? Come, my lord, into the next room, and I will show you some perfumes worthy of your inspection. It only remains for you to select the odor you prefer. Many young gentlemen are fond of musk, but to me it is very disagreeable.”

The door which led into the front shop being closed, it is needless to state that Le Févre and his companion did not loiter to test the quality of concentrated extracts. Behind a curtain was a door, and through this the two entered a long, dimly lighted passage, passed through another door, and then down a flight of stairs into a large cellar.

About a hundred people were present, mostly men and women from the humble walks of life―mechanics, artisans, farmers, bakers—all sons of toil, with their wives and children. It needed but a glance into those earnest, devout faces to read the tale of suffering and devotion to a well-chosen cause. Old men with whitened locks were there,