The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-17


back of huge valet, who had run out for the
purpose of intercepting the bold intruder. The
shock knocked the servant down; but he
scrambled up, and Percival, thinking the in
cumbent much the better position, knocked
him down again, and started to run along the
road. But his fight was speedily arrested, by
stern command, ordering him TO stop, or be
shot. Dungleson turned about, and quietly
surrendered. Marched into the house between
master and man, the one carrying a gun, the
other holding the dog, the former began ques-
tioning him in French.
"Speak English, if you please" said PEREZ
val, "as perceive you are an Englishman"
"Very well, then. Now, what the devil were
you doing in my enclosure?"
You know all that did, sir How came
in 1T, Is what l presume you wish to know.
followed you from the opera, under the impress
SION that yours was the carriage of beautiful
French lady that l saw there. Before | was
aware of my mistake, found myself shut up
In your grounds. That is my name there is
my address; and if you wish to know more,
inquire of Messrs. Green & Co., my bankers,
or Mr.. a., Mr.. T., or Mrs. O."
Now, it happened that one of the gentlemen
mentioned was an intimate friend of the Eng
lishman, or, as should write, Irishman, for such
he turned out to be; and, as Dungleson spoke,
he burst into roar of merry laughter, which
seemed to be without end. Percival, in his
opera cap, white neckcloth, kid gloves, and
cloak, was certainly queer specimen of a
burglar.
/" / beg pardon for laughing, sir, as 1 do for
having attempted to bring you down with small
shot. But this is so very extraordnary-very
extraordinary indeed. But come, my horses
have been out too much for another trip to
Paris, and must beg of you to accept bed
here, and tomorrow we will see what can be
DONE"
presentation to the lady of the house was
followed by substantial supper, and, after,
Perclval was left to dream over the fair I'm.
known and his strange adventure. Next morn.
ing, after coffee, he was driven to town, having
made very narrow escape and some exceed.
lngly pleasant acquaintance.
This strange adventure led, not only to q
knowledge of most delightful family, but to
something more, as my little story will reveal.
The warm weather approached, and the new
made friends announced their intention TO oc.
cupy cottage they had engaged at Trouvine
the Fashionable bathing-place of France, and
they urged the young gentlemen to try sea.
bathing in the same neighborhood. 1t required
very little persuasion, and in a few weeks our
friends found themselves duly installed. Not
easily, however-for Trouvie is a new place,
and excessively crowded. With some difficulty.
they discovered a hotel promising all that could
be wished. 1t was huge, rambling affair,
built of slight material, on the seashore Dun.
gleson, yet remembering his fair opera vision,
was OF poetlcal temperament, and stipulated
for room looking on the bay, which was grant
ed him, and the young man was favored with a
wide stretch of desolate sands, over when the
sea rolled, with, at times, solitary bather
making himself miserable. The attractions of
the house were numerous. First came billiard
room, quite monopolized by small crowd of
moustached youths, who seemed to be on very
excellent terms with themselves-devoting their
entire lives to the thrilling pursuit of brandy
and billiards. Then came a reading room.
where the English papers were said to be re.
celved; but as none ever came, except an odd
half number of a Pictorial Times, the announce
ment was passed over as an unpleasant fiction !;
and the dodgers contented themselves with the
dullest OF Paris journals, which came regularly,
with nothing in it. And, lastly, table d'hote,
which, strange to say, was numbered with the
attractions, and the proprietor assured our
friends that a social reunion of the most ele-
waited character made the dinner charming.
Dungleson and Drayton tried the billiards, and
failed; sought the reading room, and after turn.
ing over the halfnumber of the Pictorial before
mentioned, and reading, with some labor, the
French journal, broke down dismally. They
then endeavored to amnse themselves by walk
on the sands, and found it as heavy as their
other experiments at enjoyment.
"Really," said Augustus, "this promises to
be more extensive bore than Paris"
They little dreamed, at this moment of dark
dependency, that busy future was opening
before them. Such is life-but / won't moral.
ize. 1t is heavy reading. Our friends worried
down, by severe work, the three hours before
dinner. Dungleson smoked and dreamed
Drayton slept and dreamed; and both disposed
of an entire hour in dressing for dinner Dun
gleson had his French valet, Drayton his Eug-
lish groom, and they secured some comfort out
of a bit of conversation with these worthless.
"Je ne troupe pas cette resort tres amusante,
Francois"
FRANCOIS shrugged his shoulders, and went
off into an enumeration of all the nobility to
be found in and about Trouville.
"Rather heavy here, Tom," said Drayton,
initiating, in his manner and tone, the English
spoken by "perfdious Albion" to his groom,
who appeared with boots and coat for dinner.
"Not exactly the dodge, yer honor; but
Prince Murat and Prince Bonaparte, that one
of your country, will be down next week with a
bloody lot of good horses, and that'll tighten it
nm n hit ~