New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-01-05


more noise Y cried one. " Four hundred louis til
i. villain eased me Of
A horse whose hoofs you can hardly hear whe
he is gallopng close at your side exclaimed another
A thousand louis am the poorer, entirely becaus
could not hear the creature coming after me-
Plainly horse out of the devils stables, adde,
fourth " It's my belief the brute has wings. 81,
hundred and fifty louis my friends mo joke to lose
complaints, the agitation of the marchioness in
creased for the popularity they all alluded to estab
ished the identity of the phantom horse.
Gentlemen, said the duke, waving his hand will
an inclination OF his head towards the nlarchioness
60 this lady and her servant have, three occasions
seen horse running away without o rider in thu
neighborhood in which you were robbed. Her servant
saw the animal go to certain persons door, 1t is
my belief that she may afford us some clue of impor
lance, and have called you to her presence in order
that her pity may be excited, and induce her to
all she knows
Did the horse run in strange, silent manner
:. 1t did-it did but know nothing about these
rObberes, and have never heard Of them before" eX
claimed the narchioness, her alright greatly in
| creased.
'To whose door did it go?" cried the chorus. "His
| name-madane, his name'
! 81 | would not cast suspicion upon an innocent per
son for the world.' exclaimed the marchioness
mo harm shall beal the innocent, depend upon it
madame. His name, we pray you"
owe mist secure Antoine, the ladys servant" said
the Duke, as the marchioness still hestated. Him
we will make more communicative
| He rang the bell and to the dismay of the mar
chioness, Antoine apparently frightened ont of his
wits was hurried into the room by couple of ackeys
| 81 have sent for him, you See,' said the Duke
Now we shall hear something"
He then proceeded to question the wondering An
tome as to all he knew about the phantom horse
and at length drew forth the whole of his stOry-he
company learning that the horse had stopped at the
country house of the Count du Foinvert
The name was echoed in general shout the mo-
ment Antoine mentioned it.
''Du Foinvert the villain
% u Fonvert the traitor T.
g Du Foinvert! the cheat!''
%. suspected it must be some one always present
at our play cried one 90 for whenever any one
gained lucky pull, he was sure to be robbed RI
The Duke laughed aloud, delighted by the strange
scene of excitement he had brough about.
'Du Foinvert will be here in a minute have
sent for him. said the Duke. Ha Ia we will put
him to torture, gentlemen
Presently the count entered the room with his
usual easy and nOnChaant air. He started however
when he saw the marchioness and Antoine and noted
who were present and the strange looks they wore ::
but he quickly recovered himself. and with CAV
laugh cried, " Well, what's the natter"
% The robbers horse" said the Duke, has been
seen to run to your house, Du Foinvert-the horse
with the muffied hoofs finds his home your stabes
g Then You have found he out: cried Du Foinvert
with hearty laugh You have indeed been very
kind to lei 60 so long. The horse in your grace
stables, now, and his rider is your humble guest.
1 y
g Restore my four hundred.
Return my thousand, Count. this instant.''
The victims crowded round the desperate young
r0ue, shouting with rage, whilst he stood in the midst
laughing, till he could barely stand.
Pay back the money! cried the eamesters-' pay
back the money!
Il have not lard Of it" cried Du Foinrert. still
laughing. " But I can tell you where it all is-eyery
louis.
"Speak!'
Where is it,
Let rs hear"
In his graGes pocket y exclaimed Du Foinvcrt,
pointing to the Duke. He WOE it from me- as fast
as I could get it. Take it from Lim-take it from
him ~
If it comes to this, cried the Duke, g il is time
fer me to be off
He shHffied away, but the party of gentlemen he had
summoned rushed after him, Du Foinyert at their
head, yocetating for their money and thus the chase
continued through all the great rooms Ut the cha
teau, to the amusement and surprise Of the company,
until the Duke took refuge in his private cabinet.
Such was the scene among the reckless gamblers
who tuttered in the favor of the eXregcnt. The only
penalty laid upon Du Foinyert for his desperate
method Of raising resources was that he should Day
back halt his winnings those he had robbed in two
annual instruments.
In the stables Of his grace were found the uGflnl,
Of leather lined with wool which had eacasa the boots
Of the phantom horse. and the lh2rl7cll bal. with
which sable hue had been impaired to It's white Legs
and breast. Dn FonFert had nOturther use for them.
\ still more characteristic trait Of the times. V hen
the narChoncss learned the secret Of the app0riOn
and found that everything quietly over, she ut
once gave her ha d-and no empty ore it was-to the
eN-highwayman and many a laugh she and her hus-
band had in after days at the adventures Of the Phab-
tom Horse.