The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-04 00:00:00

A VERY STRANGE STORY.

About ten days ago a Frenchman, Monsieur M-,
arrived at Hastings, and demanded an audience of the
Empress Euenie. As his name was not known to her
Majesty the request was refused. Foiled in this attempt
Monsieur M- contrived to fall in with the Prince Im-
perial in one of his daily walks. He professed great
devotion to the Napoleonic cause, and it will surprise
no one that the Prince should enter readily into conver-
sation with one whom he believed to have been driven

from France by his devotion to the Imperial dynasty.
These walks were repeated several days, and in the end
M— asked the Prince to make him a present of one of
his photographs, with the additional distinction of the
Prince's own autograph appended. This natural request
was at once acceded to, with the kindly good nature which
appears to be a part of the young exile's disposition. The
photograph obtained, M— appeared no more in the
morning walks. It has since appeared that on leaving Hast-
ings M— made his way to the German army before Metz,
and obtained a pass through the lines into the beleaguered
.city. It seems that among the generals associated with
Marshal Bazaine in the defence of that fortress there was
one General B--, who had, as was well known in the
Prussian army, distinguished himself by his zeal and
intelligence in carrying on the gallant resistance to the
enemy which has already won the admiration as well as
the astonishment of both nations. Arrived in Metz, it was
to this Gen. B--, so valuable for the safety of the French
garrison that M— at once addressed himself. He
told General B-- that he had come as a messenger to
him from the Empress Eug4nie, and as his credentials
he presented the photograph of her son with the signature
attached. He added that the Empress desired the imme-
diate presence of General England, that she
had a special mission to rust to him on
the successful issue of which the future of the
war would mainly depend, and that her Majesty
dared not put it in writing lest it should fall into the
hands of the enemy. General B—, at once obeyed the
commands of the Empress, and, as he thought, with
difficulty ; but as the story reaches us it would seem to
have been with the connivance of the Prussian authorities
that he got through the lines of the besiegers and making

the best of hls way to England, arrived a few days since
at Camden-place, near Chiselhurst, where the Empress is
now residing. The surprise of the Empress Eugenie at
seeing the General was very great, and after
a few words of explanation it was discovered that
General B-- had been the victim of a very novel if not
very creditable ruse de guerre, by which the gallant army
of Metz had been deprived of the services of one in whom
on account of his gallantry and intelligence, they had
reposed the most perfect confidence. By the last accounts
that reached us, the gallant General was still in England,
trying to arrange his return to his comrades, but he will
probably not find the Imperial photograph such a good
pass through the Prussian lines for him this time as it
proved for the enterprising M-- last week.—Pall Mall
Gazette.

The Germans are using the Chassepots they have cap-
tured in the war. Soldiers not immediately engaged in
war operations have been set to learn the use of them.