Eight o'clock found father and son in choice orchestra seats in the Grand Opera House, and they began to look about them. Suddenly Mr. Walton said, sharply: "What was all that rubbish you were telling me about your cousin being arrested?" "It was perfectly true, pa," answered Clarence, looking at his father in surprise. "What do you say to that, then?" Following the direction of his father's finger, Clarence's eyes rested upon his despised country cousin, elegantly dressed, sitting two rows to the front, and a little to the right, with his eyes fixed upon the curtain, which was then rising. "That looks very much as if your cousin had been arrested!" said his father, with a sneer. "I can't understand it," ejaculated Clarence. "It can't be my cousin. It must be some other boy that looks like him." Just then Ben chanced to turn round. Observing his uncle's eyes fixed upon him, he bowed politely and turned once more to the stage. CHAPTER IX. CLARENCE IS PUZZLED. Clarence Plantagenet was so puzzled by the appearance of his cousin at a fashionable theatre at a time when he supposed him to be enjoying the hospitality of the police authorities that he paid little attention to the stage performance. He had a large share of curiosity, and resolved to gratify it, even if it were necessary to speak to Ben himself. At the end of the second act, Ben, feeling thirsty, and having noticed that ice-water could be obtained in the lobby, left his seat and walked up the aisle. Clarence, observing this, rose also, and followed him. He came to the water-fount just as Ben had quenched his thirst. He was surprised anew when he observed how elegantly his cousin was dressed. He was fastidious as to his own dress, but was obliged to confess that Ben surpassed him in this respect. Ben was conscious of the same thing, and, under the circumstances, it gratified him. Another thing also was evident to Clarence, though he admitted it with reluctance, that Ben was a strikingly handsome boy. He had appeared somewhat to disadvantage in his country-made suit, but all signs of rusticity had now disappeared. "Good evening," said Clarence, with a good deal more politeness than he had displayed at the office. "Good evening," said Ben, politely. "I am surprised to see you here," continued Clarence. "Yes," answered Ben. "I didn't expect to see you here." "Oh, I come here often. I thought you would spend the evening in an entirely different place," said Clarence, significantly. "You are kind to think of me at all," said Ben, smiling. Clarence was puzzled. He began to think that he must have been mistaken in the person when he supposed he saw Ben in the custody of an officer. Now he came to think of it, the boy under arrest had shown no signs of recognition. We know that it was because Ben was far from wishing to attract the attention of any one who knew him.