The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-13
THE DAILY DISPATCH
THE SECRET DISPATCH.
From Maurice Termay," the Soldier Of Fortune

loiterin' about home for some time, and not
liking the ways of turning TO work again,
took sarvice with one Mister Brooke, Of Cas-
tie Brooke, in Fermanagh, young man that
was just coue of age, and as great devil.
God forgive me, as ever was spawned. He
was a Protestant, but he didn't care much
about one side or the other, but only wanted
dvarsion and his own fun out of the world;
and faix he took it, too! He had plenty of
money, was fine manto look at, and had cour-
age to face a lion!
The first place we went to wns Aix-la Cha
pelle, for Mr. Brooke was named something
| forget what-to Lord Sandwich, that was GO
ing there as an ambassador. 1t was a grand
life there while it lasted. Such liveries, such
coaches, such elegant dinners every day, |
never saw even in Paris. But my master was
soon sent away for piece of wildness he did.
There was an ould Austrian there-a Count
Riedensegg was his nalne-and he was always
plottin' and schemin' with this, that, and the
other; buyin' up the secrets of others, and
geitln' nt their sacret papers one way or the
other; and at last he begins to thry the same
game with us; and as he saw that Mr.. Brooke
was very fond Of high play, and would bet any
thing one offered him, the ould Count sends
tor great gambler from Vienna, the greatest
william, they say, that ever touched a Card
Ye may have heard of him, tho twas long ago
that he lived; for he was well known in them
times. He was the Baron Won Breckendorf,
and great friend afterward of the Prince Ra-
gint and all the other blaguards in London.
"Well, sir, the baron arrives in great state,
with dispatches. they said, but sorrow other
dispatch he carried, nor some packs of marked
cards, and dice-box that could throw SKIES
whenever he wanted; and he puts up al the
Grand Hotel. with all his servants in fine live.
ries, and as much state as prince. That very
day MIR. Brooke dined with the Count, and in
the evening himself and the Baron sits down
to the cards; and, pretending to be only play
ing for silver, they were betting u hundred
guineas on every game.
81 always heerd that my master was cute
with the CARDS, and that few was equal to him
in any game with pasteboaid or ivory; but, by
my conscience, he met his match now, for if il
was ould Nick was playin' he couldn't do the
trick mater than the Baron. He made every
thing come up just like magic if he wanted
seven OF diamonds, or an ace of spades, or the
knave Of clubs, there it was for you.
Most gentlemen would have lost temper at
seein' the luck so dead agin' them, and every
thing gon' so bad, but my master only smiled,
and kept muttering to himself, "Faix, it's beau.
tlful by my conscience il is elegant; | never
saw any body could do il like that" Atlast,
the Baron ssops and asks, "What is it he's
saying to himself?'' "Fll tell you by-and by"
says my master. "when we're done playing )"
and so on they went, betting hig her and higher,
till at last the stakes wasn't very far from q
thousand pounds on single card. At the
end, MIR. Brooke lost every thing, and in the
last game, by way Of generosity, the Baron
says TO him, double or quit" and he tux il.
This time luck stood to my master, and he
turned the queen of hearts; and as there was
only one card could beat him, the game was
all as one as his own. The Baron takes up
the pack, and begins to deal. "Wait," says
my master, leaning over the table, and talking
in a whisper; wait" says he, "what are you
he had his thumb dug hard into the middle of
the pack.
do you mean tc insult me! ~ says the Ba.
ron, getting mighty red, and throwing down
the cards on the table, "Is that what you're
att"
"Go on with the DEAL" says Mr.. Brooke,
quietly; "but listen to me-" and here he drop
ped his voice to whisper, Gas sure as you
turn the king of hearts I'll send ball through
your skull! Go on now. and don't rise from
that seat till you've finished the game" Fax,
he just did as he was bid; he turned little two
or three of diamonds, and getting up from the
table, he left the rOsm, and the next morning
there was no more seen of him in Aix.la-
Chapelle. But that wasn't the end of il, for
scarce was The Baron two posts on his jour
ney, when my master sends in his name, and
says he wants 70 speak to Count Riedensegg
There was a long time, and a great debatin' !,
[ believe, whether they'd let him in or not; for
the Count couldn't make if it was mischief he
was after; but at last he was ushered into the
bed room where the other was in bed.
"Count," says he, after he fastened the door
and saw that they were aione-"Count, you
tried dirty thrick with that dirty spalpeen Of
Baron-an ould blaguard that's as well
known as Frenzy, the robber; but forgive you
Il = sl,
know well what you was aflher; you wanted
peep at our despatehes-there, ye needn't
look cross and angry-why wouldn't We do it,
just as the Baron always took a sly glance at
my cards before he played his own. Well,
now, I'm just in the humor to serve you.-
THEY'RE not treating me as they ought here,
and fm going away, and if you'll give me
few letthers TO some of the pretty women in
Vienna. kateuka, Bathtyani and Amelia
Gradoftsky, and one or two men in the best set,
II send you in return something that will sur
prise you."
1t was after long time and great batin'
about the bush, that the ould Count came in;
but the sight OF a sacret cipher did the busi-
ness, and he consented.
"There it is," says Mr.. Brooke: "there's
the whole key TO our correspondence, study il
well, and Ill bring you a sacret dispatch in
the evenIng-sotnething that will surprise
you.''
"Ye will-will ye?" says the Count.
"On the honor of an Irish gentleman, will"
says Mr.. Brooks.
"Ihe Count sits down on the spot and writes
tue letters 10 all the Princesses and Countess
ses 10 Vienna, saying that Mr.. Brooke was
the elegantest, and politest, and most trusty
young gentleman ever he met: and telling
them to treat him with every consideration.
"There Will be another account Of me,'
says the master to me, Thy the post; but I'll
travel faster, and give me fair start, and ] ask
no more.n
And he was as good as his word, for he
started that evening for Vienna, without leave
or license, and that's the way he got dismissed
from his situation.
And dld he break his promise to the Count,
or did ne really send him any intelligence ~
he kept his word like a gentleman; he pro-
missed him something that would surprise him,
and SO ne did. He sent him the weddin' Of
Baiiyporeen in cypher. Itiook week 10