The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-02

CHAP xxx.
The Mission Of the Black BaUards.
The Prince was still musing upon the proph.
ecy that had fallen from Madame Trompette,
when the waiting entered, and placed
note In his hand. The Prince opened and
read it. The contents were extremely brief;
nothing but the words "Secret Service" coun-
tersigned by himself
admit him." he said.
The officer withdrew, and the Commissary of
Police was presently introduced
"Well !" calculated the Prince
Highness," replied the Commissary, I" a
| suicide has taken place in my quarter this
morning, under very strange circumstances.
f! The artist Roussillon has shot himself" -
| The countenance of the Prince slightly
changed.
"He left a letter for young man named
Paul." continued the Commissary, "in.which
was one addressed to your Highness, and which
this young man was himself to place in your
Highness's hands. / thought it my duty to con-
duct him. He is in the ante chamber"
The Prince rang a hand bell, and instructed
the oficerin waiting to call in Paul.
"This loaded pistol, Highness, labeled as
you perceive" resumed the Commissary, twas
found on his table. He shot himself with it's
fellow"
The Prince took the pistol, looked at it, and
laid it upon the mantel-shelf. At this moment,
Paul was ushered in.
&c Won hava laftor for mn rouror NOR, -
said the Prince, addressing him.
Paul bowed but answered not word. He
looked aside, however, at the Commissary.
"Leave U.S." said the Prince to this function
AIRY, who at once retired.
"Now, my young revolutionist," said the
Prince; "what is your message to me from
your late chief?"
Paul took out the letter, and handed it to the
Prince. 1t was thus couched:
"The hand that traces these lines, Citizen,
will be stiffened in death when they meet thy
eyes. l intrust them to be delivered to thee by
one to whom bequeath all my worldly goods,
and whose future | leave thee to take care of.
Thou vert doomed to fall, by his hand or mine.
Our oath-thou knowest it-bound us not to
spare him who should betray the Republic.
The lot fell upon me. Had | acted whilst yet
under the influence of the madness that seized
me when / found my mission was to kill, thou
would'st now have been even as | am. But,
though my courage failed me not, delayed the
act, to reason upon its consequences. For
three days and nights l have struggled to per-
suade myself that my country would benefit by
| thy death. L have only arrived at the convic-
| ton that l should remove one despot, to make
way for another; perhaps for many. Better
thou than any one else. Thou hast not only a
name, but destiny. 1t is for thee to raise the
one to the height of the other.
/ " l was to Kill thee. confess it, the mis-
| sion gratifed me at the time. | will tell thee
why. Thou hadst failed in thy promises to me.
We bargained: Thou had'st my secret; pos
sessed thine. / helped thee to power, that too
might rule, though under thee, and for the con-
solidation of the Republic / sought thee to
claim the fulflment of our contract; but Citi-
zen Roussillon was refused admittance to the
| august presence of the Prince President Dost
thou wonder / should brood over the slight in
secret, until my blood boiled for revenge2 1t
was so, and fate at length appeared to open
the way. Yet, why should / shrink now from
confessing that l did not contemplate staying
thee myself. In our clubs, we have no lack of
instruments ready to commit political assassin
ations, and to one of these | looked. 1t was
|
| sin.
"And now my desire for revenge vanished.
For the first time in my life, l felt that to slay
a man in cold blood was to commit huge
crime. A strange feeling to one like me;
who have fought behind the barbados, and
| killed many men. Yet, so it was. | came then
| to reason on the nature of human life what it
is =? whence it came whittier it goes? | seem
ed to hold a mysterious communion with the
spirits of the unseen world. / learnt from them
that life is sacred, and not mans to take.
sought counsel of them, but when | fancied
they were about to point out the way that l
should go, everything again became confusion
and darkness. Still, this mystery Of human
| life haunted me, and / could not reason my
self into any other belief than that l must hold
my hand from thine. Once this resolution
come to- again had visions, in which l saw
myself floating in space, spirit amongst many
brethren.
"But my oath Ny vow of fidelity to the
Republicl Thou wilt understand my position !;
thou wilt comprehend the contention that arose
| in my breast. i am no traitor. | could not
betray my comrades. | am no coward, yet
could / not take thy life and fulfill my OATH
| What alternative remained? Thou divinest it.
| "Then thy letter came. The letter-which
| return, lest other eyes should see it-calng
me to the high office which thou thinkest l am
suited to fill. 1t bowed me down with shame,
for it proved that had wronged thy sentiments,
whilst it explained wherefore thou had'st not
communicated with me, and wherefore thou
| had'st refused to see me. Thy generosity van
pushed whilst it Inundated me. / felt that
| thou vert greater, more magnanimous, than /,
| and that thou vert worthier to live.
ain taking my own life, save my country.
must either kill myself or thee. can better
| be spared than thou. Would that / could be-
| lieve thee republican at heart, as thou art in
| speech, sometimes. But it is not so, and the
Republic is dying fast, though newly born. i
| fear me thou art indeed right, and that repub-
licanism is not for our time. Fulfil thy destiny
then, whatever it be. l take my leave of thee
| and Of the world, with heart at profound
peace with all mankind. A last request make.
Respect our comrades. If necessary to punish,
let Justice fall lightly on them. Adieu! l ask
not thy pardon. / have acquired a right to
| claim it, and / know thou wilt grant it freely.
Adieu, again, for the last time. My sand has
run out. ROUssILLON.
Paul watched the Prince as he read the let
ter, and observed the change that stole over his
countenance. 1t presently, however, re-assu-
med its habitual passive expression, and, fold
ing up the letter with its enclosure, he put it
on the mantelshelf by the side of the pistol.
Fixing his cold eyes on Paul, he gazed at him
steadfastly for several minutes, without break
ing silence. At length he said, in a calm, low
| voice:
"What had done to thee, that thou should'st
seek my life, young mann"
"To me, nothing" answered Paul, looking
up. "But thou knowest our oath was binding
On me- as on all. God preserved me from that
| fearful crime, and bless him for 1t.