Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-06-12
THE LAST
MYSTERY OF PARIS.

following mysterious affair, Which. saws the
Brussels Obserudfeur, is as full Of the horri-
BILE as any Of the romances Of Mrs. Radcliffe
and which promises to impart lively inter-
est to the proceedings of the Partisan tribu.
mails. The account has filled the Faubuur /!
St. German with CONSERVATION.
Several months since, says the Courier
Francais, not far from The end of last De.
cember, DR.. Hubert was returning to his
house M eleven o'clock in the evening Just
as he was about to knock al the door, and
had raised the knocker for that purpose, his
hand was all at once arrested, by vigorous
arm, and he was surrounded by three masked
men. The street was deserted, the Doctor
had no arms, and. seeing that all resistance
would be in vain, he prepared TO escape as
well as he could, by means Of his purse, from
the three bandits with whom he had to deal
when he who held him by the arm SAID, very
politely
Monsieur is, If I mistake not, Doctor
HUBERT 2 ....
1t seems you know ME, them replied
the Doctor; take my purse and watch, let
me enter my house, and 60 about your bust.
ness
Sir replied the man haughtily, we are
not robbers, but have come to ask you 10 do
us n SERVICE
'You have certainly selected very singu-
lar hour
ANY hour is good enough for so skilfnl a
surgeon as Yourself to perform an operation.
'Whnt do YOU desire = said the Doctor,
who was little treasured, and, looking at
his three applicants more atirntively ,prrcriv-
ed that they were dressed much more like
dancers on their way from a ball, than high
way robbers.
I'VE beg you, Dnctor,' added the un-
known, 'to follow us inmediately.'
Give me, AT least, time 10 go and inform
my wife,
That is Of no use. You have your case
Ofinstrumen,s with you. That is all that is
necessary. Oily suffer us TO put this band
age over your eyes
But, sir,-'
Fewer words, and let us be gonc,' said
one Of the unknown. He then whisllrd aud
immediately a berlin drove from neighbour
ing street the three men, taking the doctor
with them, Immediately entered it, and the
carriage rolled on, the horses at full galIop.
HUBERT saw that all resistance would be
useless; and submitted to this mysterious vi
olence. For two hours not "A word was ex-
changed between HIM and his travelling COM
panions, who conversrd together in tongue
the doctor could nc, understand. A at once
the carriage entered an arch. The mise of
the gate opening was heard, and the carriage
stopped, and the door was opened.
'Well 2 a voice was heard to ask, anx-
iouslv.
: lie is here replied one Of The men in
the carriage, and taking the doctor by the
hand, he assisted him to aligh.
They made him ascend several steps,
Bv the kcrnncss of the air, DR.. HUBERT per.
ceived that he was mounting outside steps,
Then a door opened, and the doctor percriv-
ed tina, he was crossing large room, paved
with f'g stones, perhaps ves'lhul', and
afterwards several apartments covered will
thick carpet. Al length the guide Of NJ. tlu.
berl stopped and said to him:
Doctor, we have arrived, take Off YOU
bandaee.'
Mr. HUBERT. whose terror had given place
TO ,hn most lively curiosity and vague aprre
tensions, obeyrd, and found himself in hui,
room, decorated with the greatest luxury, ant
dinly lighted by an alabas,cr lamp suspend
ed from the ceiling. The window curtains
were closely drawn, as were those also of Al
alcovp, AT the bottom of the room. In thi
room the doctor found himself alone with on,
of the three unknown who had arrested him
lie was a man tall in statute, of imposin!
appearance and dressed with the most arts
lta,r,t;, I,r,to H., ll,,G rl;u,,n
ed through the half mask which covered th,
upper portion of hls face, and a nervon
trembling aeila,ed his uncovered lips, aud ih'
thick beard which concealed the lower par
of his cOunienance.
doctor, said the man, in a short and alb
rnpt manner, prepare your instruments, yo'
have an amputa,ion to PERFORM
where is the patientF demanded NJ
HUBERT.
So saying, the doctor turned towards tn
alcove, and advanced one step towards it,
The curtains were slightly moved, and a sli
fled sigh was heard.
Prepare your INSTRUMENTS, said the mat
with the mask, IN a convnlsive manner.
But insisted NJ. HUBERT, i must frs
see my patient
You will only see tho hand which you ar
10 cut off, replied the man.
NJ. Hubert crossed his arms upon hi
breast, and, looking the other firmly in tn
face. said TO him
Sir, Won have used violence to conduc
me here; yet, il it is really true, that any on
stands in need of my professional services
without troubling myself about your secrets
forgetting how ] have been brought hiihrr,
will do my duty as surgeon. But, If it i
your intention to commit a crime, although
You have been able 10 compel me 10 follow
you, YOU shall not focre me to be your &C
rcomplice.'
Reassnre YOURSELF said the unknown, il
tome of bitterness; ',here is no crime 10 al
this Taking the doctor by the arm he ap
preached the alcove then pointing to hnn'
that was thrust out between the curtains
',his is the hand which YOU are to cut off,
The doctor took the hand in his; he fel
the fingers trembIe n, his touch. II was tn,
hand of woman, small, admirably formed
and its delicate Wilderness was Sc, of by
mag ui6cent ruby, surrounded by diamonds.
Bui.' cried the doctor, there is nothing
that calls for ampulation, nothing
'And | tell YOU cried the unknown, vic
lenlly. that if the surgeon refuses me. vii
J do his Office myself and seizing hatehe
which was at the foot Of the bed, he PLACID