The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-25

upon business. lie had Carriage or cha:i
ot in which he proposed 10 travel, but a
the time when he found il convenient to Sc
OUT the vehicle required slight repair
and the merchant, then comparatively
young and active, thought il best TO ride
4 slowly forward on horseback for couple o.
stages, leaving his servant To bring the car
rage after him. NJ. Durance thus hope,
TO enjoy, for some par, Of The way, a more
leisurely view OF The country, which he hac
scarcely ever seen beyond few miles dis.
,ance from his own house. Accordingly
after giving full instructions TO The servant
NJ. Durance sci out respectfully mounted
and well armed. for he carried large sum
in bills and muney. To do him justice, he
had s,ou, spirit, and fair share OF cour,
age; We, not much Of either was required
to travel alone a, that period, owing to The
admirable deYree OF efficiency inlo which
the famous Fouche had brought the police
Of The country.
NJ. Durance's firs, days travel was un-
productive OF any wonderful event. He
s,opped before mighifall a, a village inn,
resieL comfortably, aud next morning pur'
sued his route. While riding slowly along
the border Of a large wood, in The forenoon
of the second day, he observed a patty o
men, also Oh horseback, short way before
him. He continued his course aud they
did the same; /; but The merchant was un-
comfortably surprised in the end 10 observe
them frequently turning round one aile'
another, apparently. 10 look at him. Nj
Durance thought Of his pistols, aud began
10 be very uneasy. The road now struck
iulo The wood already mentioned, and when
in the middle of it. poor Durance was
shocked 10 see the men halt, and turn
round TO observe him, as il simultaneously
The merchant was AT this lime but short
distance from them, and could not help
drawing up his hose also for a moment.
| While he was in Tins situation, one OF The
men, after All apparen; consultation with
the others, LEFT them and advanced 10 our
iriend.
snow is the time" thought Dnrance,
here comes the demand for my purse -
Wha, is to be done I" Aud the worthy
souls hear, sunk within him, as he thought
OF the heavy sum which he bore.
When the man came up, however, there
was no demand Of this kind mace. The
strangers first words 10 Durance were,
- What is your purpose here!" The mer.
chan, hesiiated, aud a, length s,ammered
out, =" am come - upon an honest Grand
| hope - like yourselves F" "Ah, thought
so,n replied the stranger. Then, aher mo-
ment's pause, he continued, "Well, what
will YOU take TO 30 away! Will you take
one hundred louis!n Mys,iied thoroughly
Durance almost by accident, bol,ed out q
"No!" The man again spoke, aud said
" canno, offer you more without speaking
to my companions" With which words he
turned and rejoiued his band.
Nj. DuTance was never 80 much puzzled
in his lie, but his spirits rose as he saw no
intention on the part OF the men 10 injnre
him, and he waited quietly till the stranger
returned. That parsonage was not long
away when he returned bag OF money
was in his hand. This bag he lsld ou' TO
Durance, saying, 1--we have come 10 The res.
olulion Of just offering you three hundred
louis at once-here they are-if you choose
TO 90 away. Durance sa, more bewildered
than ever, and was about 10 speak, when
| the bag was again thrust into his hand by
The stranger, who at The same time said,
Now do take i, without another word
It will be as well Tor you, perhaps, as you
are alone; and can tell you there are
some determined fellows yonder, who
would think nothing 10 drive you away
But | was for compromise, aud, upon my
I honor, we canno, give more" With ihi'
the man turned TO move away Part OF ,hi'
las, speech had made wonderful impres.
B h., nh
BILE 10 tell the me ining OF all this, thong eh
it wise TO pocket the bag, and ride onwaTds
He did so, aud soon lost sight OF the s,rans
Is liberal party he had met
I Nj Durauce continued his route peacea
bly, till niehliall, pondering all the way or
what had passed, yet incapable OF coming
10 any conclusion OH the subject. On reach
ing the village where he proposed to stay
all night, he was joined by his servant
Joseph Demarary, with his chariot, and OF
the ensuing day they pursued their journey
in tins vehicle. Nothing Of interest occur
red throughout their further progress, unli
they reached the very gates OF Paris. Bu'
Just as the vehicle was passing the barrier
q genllemanly looking person came up 10
the carriage side, aud thus addressed NJ
Durance: f" Sir, you will have the goodness
TO 90 with me.n "Whai u said the mer
chant, "whilher must | 90! and why "
la low tone OF voice, and with the utmost
ciylity, the gentleman replied, You vii
permit me The pleasure OF conducting yon
10 NJ. Fouche." an. Fouche " ejacula'
ted NJ. D1mnce in no small alarm al The
thought OF wha, the famous head OF the
police could want with him; 81 have
committed no offe ice, have broken nc
I law, and cannot understand why am
sent for byn The stranger cut short
this speech BY saying, have been waiting
for some time upon you, sir, being insirnci
ed that you would ride ia carriage Ike
this; and your person, porlmaniean, an'
every thing about you, answer the descrip
tiou given TO me. canno, therefore, b,
mistaken in the party, and you will hav,
the goodness TO attend me 10 M. Fouche
will himself explain his business with yol
, which is more than can do.n There wa
no resisting this peremp,orily civil request
By tue Strangers direction, NJ. Duranct
sen, OH hls servant to The hotel where h'
proposed 10 lodge, aud seeing no alternative
followed the messenger 10 The office OF ,E'
head Of police.
Fouche received our hero with the nj
: mos, poliieness, and after requesting hin
TO be seated, entered Immediately OH de
tail Of certain matters, which inside the
eyes OF Nj. Durance grow as round rs ful
moons, and led The good man TO the conclu
sion that Fouche aud the gentleman il
black were things synonymous. Yol
are Nj Durance, Of Bordeaux, the head o
the mercantile house that bears your name
you have in your porimanteau the sum o
- (naming the exact sum) in specie
and The sum of-in bills /; you are abou
! TO reside a, The hotel b., near the Boulc
: wards /; and 1t is your custom to retire TO res
about eleven o'clockn These are bu, {
: few Of the particulars regarding Nj. Du