The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-07-12
A SUPPER WITH CARDINAL RICH:
4 - o- ELIEU. 4" '-'l"

L Z =
| ELIEU.
| Nearly all the world following the
lead of certain historians have agreed to
call Cardinal de Richelieu a great man,
and in some respects he deserved the re-
putation. He rendered great service
to monarchy in destroying the last heads
of the feudal system which so long desola-
| ted France; and he rendered a great
service to letters in founding the French
iAcademy ifLiterature. To be sure his
own attempts at poetry were sufficiently
poor, but he sometimes rewarded the
verses of others very generously.
NOT content with destroying illustri-
Gus enemies, he, from time to time, in
dulged IN petty vengeances, one of which
forms the subject of the following anec-
dote: -....... ....,..f .
Monsieur Qumont, shopkeeper in. a
small way, livingjn the Rue ST. Dennis,
received a letter dated at Reuil, Will
cage in the environs of P Paris, where the
Cardinal had a country. house. 4 This let
lter contained an invitation to supper on
tile following day with his eminence.-
Monsieur Dumont could hardly believe
his eyes; he read the letter over three or
four times, looked at the signature at
tentiYely, and then re-perused the direc-
tion, to make sure it was really meant
for him. He then called upon his wife
and two daughters to sympathize in his
good fortune 1t would be hard to ap-
preciate the joBi and pride of those
worthy people at the unexpected honor.
e., 81 l. L. "a of
the succeeding day, our mercer mounted
his mule and took the road to Reuil He
had hardly passed the gates of the city
when heavy clouds. began to obscure the
summer sky, and soon the muttering of
heavy thunder announced the approach
of violent storm. NJ Dumont had neg
leeted to provide himself with a cloak,
and could only urge to. greater speed
But the storm was even, swifter than
Dapple's Lbest pace, the flashes of light
ming followed each other with binding
swiftness, and the rain fell in torrents.
Our friend put his mule to gallop, but
finding the storm still increased, he drew
reins at little roadside in and alighted.
His first care was to put honest Dapple
under shelter, and he then entered the
large kitchen of the inn, where he found
a blazing fire of faggots. While our
hero was standing at one. corner of the
wide fire place engaged in drying his
reeking garments, the door opened to
admit another traveller, who, standing in
the opposite corner occupied himself in
the same manner. For some little time
the strangers regarded each other in
silence. which was broken by NJ. Du-
mont.
"What furious storm, q" said he
4" 1t is bad enough,'' responded the
other, I" but from its violence, / predict
that it will not last long. :" ~.
81 hope not, indeed" pursued the
mercer, for 1 have an important affair
which calls me to Reuil p 100" tl''' u
The stranger started lightly, but was
silent. ..g.E He.,. -a4sE .aia.g-. sszl
"Only listen,', continued Dumont,
who, it must be owned, liked the sound
of his own voice "The storm instead
of diminishing increases in violence; the
thunder fairly shakes the house; but for
all that, must pursue my journey. u
+" Sir said the stranger, after a
thoughtful pause, "permit me to say
that your reasons for pursuing your jour
ney in such weather must be very ur-
gent. !" - .-..'t, ..e,.-.-t Lsa
HThey are so. Indeed, do not know
any occasion to make mystery of the
matter; am invited to sup with the
Cardinal de Richeheu. y o-4lsJ ,g-s-=F3
-f"Ah, I can well understand that you
are anxious not to appear to slight such
an invitation. But you have still a con-
siderable distance to 60, and how can you
present yourself to the cardinal in the
condition which you will be 'at7the end
of your journey?lnn 5r....as. ~
g I trust his eminence will excuse me
on account Of my haste to obey his COM
mands. - s'3 - 49,
eff L did not fear to be impertinent,
1 should enquire if you have any ae-
quaintance with the cardinal.
None; and, in fact will confess to
you that I was very much astonished at
the honor of this invitation" u i-.-' 's.'2.
| g The cardinal, u, answered the stran-
ger, after considering moment, T" is very
jealous of his authority; he does not love
that others should pronounce judgment
upon his actions even one word will
SOln0IlnISo dIoeoC@ @hlS ouSpiOiOhoi iOhOCO
we'll; have you never given the cardinal
any cause to. complain of you? " ...
:" Never, I believe. Occupied with
my business, do not meddle with poll
ties. g. The only thing of which can ac-
cuse myself is, that in the presence of
two or three persons, 1 spoke somewhat
bitterly of the death of the Duke of
Montmorency; and you will not wonder
at me when you tell that my father was
major domo to that noble gentleman. !"
g Sir, you have the face of an honest
man; you inspire me with interest, and
am willing to risk something for the
sake of giving you apiece of fadvice. Do
not go to Reuil."
+" Not go to Reuil Why am about
to set out this instant, in spite of the
storm. " r... ..4s...... .,r.
"Stay one instant: your position af-
feots me in spite of myself You believe
that a supper with the cardinal is await
ing you. Undeceive yourself: The car
dinal is indeed waiting you, no to feast
you-but to-hang you. ., adj
F" Gracious heaven What do you
sayt tits impossible.
81 repeat it-they wait to hang
you, "-.,..lls sve a7ol5,l-l.J as .5tsE ID
Dumont almost speechless with horror