Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-07-31

gcon, however, the chest was thorough, laid
open, when 1t was found that the heart has
been pierced to its centre by sharp instru-
ment ofexcccding minuteness ina direct line
with the external puncture. This obviously
had been the cause of his death. As the
young man could not have thus slain himself
and then have conveyed his body to the well,
it became apparent to all that Ernest de ST.
Maure also had fallen victim to the same
conspiracy which had over vhelmed his pa
rents. This, at all events, was the strong
presumpton: and so satisfactory did the dis
covery appear to the authorities, that they
LAID the son in the same grave with his pa
rents, thus clearing his memory, as far as
they could, from the dreadful charge Of being
parricidc. The arguments of Charles Da-
rancourt were chiefly instrumental in procur-
ing this justice for his departed friend. The
young advocate displayed in this cause all the
warmth Of sorrowiDg affection, and all the
power of forensic genius.
No further light was thrown on the fate of
the ST. Maure's, until some weeks after the
tragical event. Several papers were then
discovered in escritorc by the late counts
brother, which threw "a dark suspicion on one
Of the most intimate friends Of the deceased
ON Theodore de Valmont 1t appeared
by these documents that Dc Vamont had fix
cd his affections on Emily Duplessis, a beau-
tiful young lady, who returned his passion,
in spite of long standing quarrel between
their families. Ernest dc st. Mature and
Charles Darancourt had been De Valmont's
only confidants, and had assisted him in pro-
curing interviews with the object of his ailec-
tons. Being thus occasionally brought into
contact with the young lady, Ernest de ST.
Maure had himsclfbccn inspired with deep
and unhappy passion for Emily Duplessis
He had confessed this to Darancourt, and had
at the same time declared his resolution to root
it out of his mind, and to die rather than njarc
Dc Valmont. But the passion had not been
so easily overcome, and De Valmont had a,
length become aware of the truth. This led
to series of letters between him and St.
Maure, which letters are now discovered
In some passages of these, De Valmont rca-
soned with Ernest as with brother on the
subject of his misplaced passion, while in
others Theodore used language, that now
bore most unfortunate aspect. "Youknow
me too vel" said De Valmont in one letter,
mot TO feel convinced, that, independently Of
all other motives, an innate sense of what is
due to my own honor would urge me to in
nict the most ample vengeance on the head
of him who could avail himself of my UNI
bounded confidence to estrange from me the
affections of my adored Emily" These and
other passages of the discovered correspon-
dence, admitted of an inference so unfavo-
rable to Theodore dc Valmont, that the au-
thorities, on having the letters laid before
them, Immediately took him into custody.
Various other circumstances of disadvan-
tageous nature came subsequently INTO view.
TWAS remembered by those who had been
present, how comparatively little emotion
had been shown by Theodore on the disco
very of the murdered bodies, while Daran-
court had displayed such agitating grief and
horror. Besides, De Valmont, it now APP
pcared, had been met and recognized near
the scene of guilt on the night of the murders.
When asked to explain where he had been,
De Valmont showed manifest confusion, and
said he had been visiting friend, but posi-
lively refused to name that friend. And,
moreover, arespectable female came forward,
who averred that, on the third or fourth day
after the tragedy, she had washed shirt 70 r
the prisoner, the right sleeve of winch was
clotted with blood. The explanation which
De Valmont gave of this circumstance was
lame, confused improbable. On these grounds
of suspicion, Theodore De Valmont was APP
pointed to take his trial for the murder of the
St. Maure's, though no one could imagine
reason for his having included the parents
IN that revenge which Ernest alone seemed
to have merited at his hands.
Charles Darancourt was unremittinr in his
attempts to sustain his imprisoned friend I'M
der the heavy afiliction of such charge as
this. TO Darancourt, Theodore conlided
the task of communicating the intelligence of
this accusation to Emily Duplessis. The
young lady was so dreadfully affected as to
sink into violent fever, during the ravIngs
of which she revealed to her parents the fact
of her having not only loved Dc Vamont,
but OF her having been recently united,o him
by private marriage. This information,
which sh" did not gainsay on recovering par
tally from her illness, had the effect of widen
ing the circle implicated in these dark trans
"'''o"', s'ieC 'ic PdicHtS VI LiiIlIy Ildu tue
grief of seeing her fate bound up with that
of one on whom charge rested of the most
atrocious kind. Their previous hostility to
the De Valmont's the parents might perhaps
have readily got over; but there was now
deep disgrace attending any connection with
the very name of De Valmont. The discov.
cry of the marriage was therefore concealed.
The morning allotted for De Valmont's
trial arrived. The officers went to his eel! to
remove him, but 10 the place was empty
The prisoner had undermined the cell, and
escaped by means of scaling the walls. On
the table lay letter addressed to Madamo-
selle Dupless, which was opened by the au-
thorties, and was found to contain an ami
mated and solemn assertion of the writer's
innocence. But, seeing circumstances to bear
against him, he had resolved (thc letter said)
to take the only visible mode of saving his
life, in the hope of one day proving his in
nocence and until this was established, he
never would return (he sadly to Brussels. An
energetic search was made for Theodore de
Valmont, but it proved fuitless.