The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-08-10
NATIONAL .WHlG.
From Blackwood's Magazine.
M OF ALClBIADES.

have acted under such circumstances ne
would have given the money TO me poor
and thrown the purse into me hre. ! VIII
YOURSELF ,,l,,o NJ
Sand approaching the fireplace Mar
same dropped the purse upon INC e'owins'
embers, which instantly consumed H.
There was something noble and solemn IN
tho action Of the Count; the blood of the
Erencb cbevaliers, those loyal subjects Of
besntv had been stirred in the veins of their
descendant BY the recital Of this hlamable
ac, Of curiosity. Marsanne continued:
q Allow me to tell you, sir, that the men
'of vour generation, accustomed to live with
courlezans, and to seek venal and ready
made loves, are ignorant Of what is due to
women because they are women. None
make more allowance than do fol. the levi
lies of youth. But what blame is, that
in utter wan,onness, and for the gratifica-
ton Of an idle curiosity, you hit the curtain
shrouding secret, and pour out misery
and dcsola,ion upon poor woman, more
deserving, perhaps, OF censure than OF utter
condemnation. Be not more severe than
a.husband, you, young man, liable TO
profit by such errors and remember that
a true gentleman will respect women even
in their weaknesses. Weigh my words,
NJ. de Movillez; you will not be offended
at my frankness.'"
- A few hours after this scene, the Coun-
tess de Marsanne, alone in her boudor,
and busy with her embroidering frame, re-
ceives a visit from her husband. Just
returned from one hunting party, and about
TO start upon another, the incorrigible
sportsman is seized with remorse at the
solitude to which his wife is condemned,
and, touched by her resignation to lonely
and cherries existence, he generously re-
solves 10 sacrifice his own pleasures to her
happiness. He proposes that they should
go to Italy, and pass the winter at Florence
or Naples, where he trusts to wean himself
from the chase aud acquire taste for do
mestc enjoymeuts. The Countess refuses
to take advantage Of the generous impulse,
processes her sincere friendship for her hus-
band, but avows that her love for him has
fled, driven from her heart by suffering and
neglect. Il
"Atthis moment Madame de Marsanne's
maid came 10 tell her that her bedroom
was ready for her reception. Then she
added;
p. eel have looked everywhere for the
purse Of Madame la Comtesse, but it is
nowhere to be found
"At these words, Marsanne's counte-,
nance assumed singular paleness, and il
was all he could do TO master his emotion
and say to his wife: ..~
5., g You have lost your purse? ?
GO Yes,' replied the Countess, unebser-
want of her husbands agitation or, rather,
fshave misaid it in some corner
asIt was dnnhiles. of value =
atOh! by no means. A little green
silk purse, my own work, and nealry
empty ..g4
d. s'The Count remained motionless, like
a man struck by thunderbolt.
saYou have no commissions for Plessy ?
he at last arliculated, breathing short and
quick, and not knowing what he asked.
81 thought you just said you were go
ing 10 Orleans replied the Countess.
"t shall visit Plessy on my return
"sThen kiss my little godson Henriot.
Much pleasure 10 you and return as soon
as possible
sMarsanne raised the Countess's hand to
his lips, and left the boudoir; but he stag
gcred like drunken man, and was obliged
10 support himself by The bannister in order
to reach his room.
"Towards the middle of that night, a
belated passenger through the Rue d'Anjou
would have witnessed a curious spectacle
Although the cold was intense, window
was wide open, and by the light Of lamp
man was to be seen leaning upon the
bausrade. From time to time, deep
drawn sobs Of rage and despair burst from
his breast, and he violently pressed his
head between his hands, as If to prevent j,
from splitting. This man was the Count
de Marsanne.
1.-The following morning hackney
coach, containing lady closely yelled, hat
scarcely turned from the Rue Miromesni
into the Rue Verte, when man, who fo
some time previously had paced to and fro
muffied in large cloak, passed at No; l;
in the former street, dropped the folds o
his mantle, and took off a pair OF huge. greer
spec,acles that had previously concealed hi
face. The Count de Marsanne, for be
was, renamed motionless beside the doc
whence the coach had driven. From hi
extreme paleness, and the gloomy immo
biIity Of his features, he might have bee
taken for statue Of stone.
The hackney-coach was scarcely on
+" Of sight, when Vassigny appeared al tn
door of No. II. On beholding him tn
Counts eyes sparkled; he extended hi
hand and seized Vassigny by his arm.
"tWill NJ. de Vassigny,,' he said, hor
our me with a moments interview p
D.. Don Juan, dragged towards the ably.
BY the statue of the Commentators, cam,
have experienced such feeling of terror
at that moment took possession Of Va
signy. ..-
"'Sr,' =. he sammered,
know not. 49,. .'.....
eel ask an interview, SIR said the Coun
with sinister calmness have grave ma
,.rz IN J;ecuss WI n Won we shonld not