The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-17

laughter with which they were usually received
very good humoredly.
Count du Ssillent being much surprised al ,nis
sudden change in his friends manner, tooS nun
aside after supper, and beggea INA. NC "ou'o Nv
con,papy him to another room Wheh 'hey "ele
there alone. he tried in vain for long time 10
ohtain n satisfactory answer 10 his anxious IN
ouiries az TO the cause Of his friends unwonted
melancholy and taciturnity. AT length the VISIT
rr 80 - N~s -
NAV. nay; YOU would nsysr Selieve il. Yea
} - .3a-l, 80 bal telling Won one Of my
fables, 81 afisY. sGsso9 W can mem and per
haps this time we might fali out
I What do YOU mean ~ cried Count du Sail
liant. "This seems to be a serious affair Am l.
then. connected with your presentimentsW
"Not exactly you; butt
" w hat does this bat mean Has it anything
] to do with my wife Explaip yourself
No the FEAST in the world. Madame du Sail
! liant is in nowse concerned in the matter
butt
!-5m you tire me out with your bms.
| Are you resolved 10 worry me with your mystic
resl Tell me at once what has occurred-what
has happened to youlo
ooh, nothing-nothing at all No doubt was
frightened"
Frightened and at what by whom For
| Gods sake my dear friend, do not prolong this
painful state of uncertainty"
{" Do you really wish me TO speak out q
81 Not only so, but demand this of you as an
act of friendship
well, was stopped tonight at about the dis
lance of half league from your chateau"
"Stopped In what way? By whom W
"Why, stopped as people are stopped by foot
} pads A gun was levelled at me; J WAS peremp-
torily ordered TO deliver up my purse; threw it
down on the ground and galoped off. Do not
ask jpe any more Questions" .,....
why not | wish to know all Should you
know the robber again? Did you notice his fig
ure and general appearance I"
" Ii being dark, | could not exactly discover;
| cannot positively say. However, it seems to
What seems to you? What or whom do you
think you saw ?"
4" never can tell you"
Speak-speak; you cannot surely wish to
screen malefactor from justice Z"
No; but if the said maefactor should be -
"lf he were my own son, should insist upon
your telling me-"
Well, then, it appeared to me that the rob-
Der was your brother-in-law, MIRABEAU! But
might be mistaken and, as | said before,
fear y
Impossible no, it cannot be. Mirabeau
footpad No, no. You are mistaken, my good
friendD
Certainly-certainly
"Let us not speak any more of this" said
Count du Saillant 1--WE will return to the
drawing room and hope you will be as gay as
usual; if not, | shall set you down as a mailman.
will so manage that our absence shall not be
thought anything Off
And the gentlemen reGntered the drawing room,
one short time before the other.
The visiter succeeded in resuming his accus
toned manner but the Count fell into a gloomy
reverie in spite of all his efforts. He could not
!. Danish from his mind the extraordinary story he
, had heard-it haunted him and at last, worn
out with the most painful conjectures, he again
took his friend aside, questioned him sfresh, and
the result was, that plan was agreed upon for
solving the mystery, 1t was arranged that M.
De - should in the course of the evening men
tion casually, as it were, that he was engaged on
certain day to meet party. at friends house
to dinner, and that he purposed coming afterward
to take bed at the chateau, where he hoped to
arrive at nine in the evening The announce
ment was accordingly made in the course of con-
versation, when all the guests present
good care being taken that it should be heard by
Mirabcau, who at the time was playing game of
chess with the cure.
A week passed away, in the course Of which a
farmer was stopped and robbed of his purse; and
at length the critical night arrived.
Count du Saillant was upon the rack the whole
evening; and his anxiety became almost unbear-
able when the hour for his promised arrival had
passed without his having made his appearance
Neither had Mirabeau returned from his noctur-
! nal promenade Presently storm of lightning,
thunder, and heavy rain, came on in the midst
of it the bell at the gate of the courtyard rang
| loudly. The Count rushed out of the room into
the courtyard, needless of the contending ele-
ments and before the groom could arrive to take
his friends horse the anxious host was at his
side. His guest was in the act of dismountiDg
Well,o said M De -,"l have been stop
ped. 1t is really he, | recognised him per-
fectly"
Not word more was spoken then but as soon
as the groom had led the horses to the stables, M
| De - rapidly told the Count that, during the
storm, and as he was riding along, a man, who
was half-concealed behind very large tree, or
dered him to throw down his purse At that mo-
ment fash of lightning enabled him to discover
a portion of the robbers person, and M De -
rode at him; but the robber retreated a few
PAGES and then, levelling his gun at the horseman,
cried with powerful voice, which 1t was impossi-
bic to mistake, " Pass on, or you are dead manW
Another flash of lightning showed the whole of
the robbers fgure--it was Mrabeau, whose voice
had already betrayed him The wayfirer, hav-
| ing no inclination to be shot, put spurs to his
| horse and soon reached the chateau.
The Count enjoined strict silence and begged
of his friend to avoid displaying any change in
| his usual demeanor when in company with the
other guests he then ordered his valet to come
again TO him as soon as Mirabeau should return.
| Halt an hour afterward, Mirabeau arrived lie
was wet to the skin, and fastened to his own
| room he told the servant to inform the Count
that he could not join the company at the evening
meal, and begged that his supper might be
brought to his room; and he went to bed as soon
as he had supped.
All went on RS usual with the party assembled
below, excepting that the gentleman who had had
| 10 unpleasant an adventure on the road appeared
more gay than usual
When his guests had all departed, the master
of the house repaired alone to his brother-in-laws
apartment He found him fast asleep and was
obliged to shake him rather violently before be
could arouse him.
| What's the natter Who's there What do
you want with me ~ cried Mirabeau, staring at
his brother-in-law, whose eyes were flashing with
rage and disgust.
What do want7 want to tell you that you
are wretch !"
" A fine compliment truly y replied Mrabesu,
with the greatest GOODNESS. " IL was scarcely
worth while to awaken me only to abuse me 60
away and let me Sleep
Can you sleep after having committed so bad
an action Tell me-where did you pass the
EVENING" Why did you not join us at the sup
per-table1p
:" was wet through -tired-harassed had
been overtaken by the storm. Are you satisfied
now Go, and let me get some sleep; do you
want to keep me chattcring all night7n
insist upon an explanation of your strange
conduct You stopped Monsieur De - on his
way hither this evening. This is the second time
you have attacked that gentleman, for he recog-
missed you as the same man who robbed him @
week ago You have turned highwayman,
then -
Would it not have been all in good time TO