New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-10-26
Exploded rzumbugs Of other Days.

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nlistrust as Louis, yet none had more favorites
! who for Il time had great influence with him
! lie had very summary way OF getting rid o
them, if once suspected, and he seldom allowed
| himself to doubt twice. The provost Tristan
was charged with the settlement of all ques
| tions either BY drowning or decapitation Some
times these executions were carried on so Sc.
cretly that it was frequently uncertain whether
persons denounced were still in prison or had
been put to death. AT one time mysterious
whispers circulated through France, each man
demanding of the other the fate Of the once pow
erful fayorite, Antoine du Lau, created Lord
of Chateauneuf He had suddenly fallen under
the suspicion of the King, and was seen no
more. For some time it was thought that the
silent, secret, and terrible Tristan had caused
him to be sewn up in a sack, q common prac-
tiee, and thrown into the river; but at last it
was known, by his escape, that he had been for
some time IN the castle of Usson, one of those
| dreary edifices which crown many an elevated
spot in that land Of extinct volcanos, Auyergne.
Louis, who had discovered that Du Lau had
! been in communication with the princes at the
time of LIE Bien Publique, was extremely fear
ful that he might evade his justice, and sent the
model of an iron cage, in which he desired that
| the prisoner should be confined, to the Batard
| de Bourbon, Admiral Of France, who was then
| the Governor of Usson. The Admiral, however,
| Indignantly refused to attend to this order, ex-
| claiming, That if the king intended to treat
| his prisoners in this manner, he had better be
| the gaoler himself, and make minoe-meat OF
| them at his pleasure Du Lau, finding the
great peril in which he stood, bribed every one
| by whom he was surrounded, and gained many
! to his interest. The lady Of Arcipges, wife OF
| the captain of the castle, was chiefly his friend
and through her means he eontriyed to escape.
As soon as Louis was aware of this, he was ter
ribly enraged, and sent Tristan instantly with
the torture and cord to punish all who had been
concerned in his flight Several sacrifices were
accordingly made, and his master was for the
time satisfied. The next suspected fayorite was
the Sire de Melun, who had been even more
| powerful than Du Lau. He made him at one
! time lieutenant general of the kingdom, and ii
was thought that to him Paris was indebted for
| preservation in the war for the Public Good
but he fell into disgrace for the same cause MS
| Du Lau, being suspected of holding intelligence
with the Count de Charerois and the other prin-
ces The hatred of his former protege, Cardinal
Balue, and the resentment of the Count de Dam
martin, whom he had injured were the ultimate
cause of his ruin and death, which took place at
Andeley, when he was given over TO the care Of
Tristan.
So promptly was Louis accustomed to be
served when he desired to have execution done
on any person that offended him, that it is re-
lated of him that, dining one day in public, he
!
certain captain of Picardy, against whom he
entertained serious suspicious. He accordingly
made a sign to his familiar, the provost of iris
tan, who well understood what was expressed
by it; but it happened that good honest monk,
innocent of any i'll, was standing close to the
f captain at the time, and Tristan imagined that
the glance Of Louis had fallen on him. No
sooner, therefore, had the monk descended into
the court than he was seized, put into sack
and thrown into the river. The captain, seeing
the tnnult, was instantly aware that it was a
mistake, Of which he thought it best to profit
without loss Of time; and, mounting his horse
he rode of with all speed, taking the road tC
Flanders He was seen on the route; and on
Louis being informed, he exclaimed to Tristan
! ''Why did you neglect yesterday to do thai
, for which | made you sign about the man ?
All, sjre, said the Provost, ' he is far enough
off by this time 90 Yes,n said Louis, % for Il,
has been seen near Amiens." 6 Near Rouen
you mean, having drank his fill Of the river, ;
replied Tristan "Who are you talking of y
answered his master, surprised why, tina
monk you pointed out to me, said the Provost
e. had him thrown into the river without
/ moments delay Sc raque Dieu!" cried Louis
laughing, he was the best monk in my domin
ions What have you done We must tax
care to-m morrow that half a dozen masses are sal
; for him. 1t was that Picard Captain that
meant. miss Pardoe.