The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-21
AN AGREEABLE |TETE-A-TETE.

IL was on the afternoon OF gloomy, wet
day, in the month of November, 1857, that "a
traveller, mufiled in all ample riding cloak, and
mounted on strong limbed Limousen horse,
stopped at the door of an inn in the village of
Ruel, close to the Park boundary of Malmaison,
which was at that period in the possession Of
and occupied by Cardinal Richeeu. The
travel-stained, weary appearance of both horse
and rider bstokened that they had come from
affair." A felt hat without feathers, and pour
point of plain black cloth, unadorned By either
ribands or lace, indicated that tue traveller be,
longed not to the class of court ruffiers, 50 re
nowned in that day for their dexterity in
handling the sword and dagger. But, from the
form of his mOustache, the sober expression of
his calm penetrating eye, and the general
style of his dress and equipage, 1t to be
inferred that he was one of the class of active
and independent burghers, whose fathers had
been the originators of the League, and who,
although at the moment crushed almost into
extinction by the iron grippe Of Richelieu, were
destined subsequently to revive, and figure for
a space in the Saturnaha of the Fronde, and
then to become extinguished aud lost forever
in the overwhelming glory of Louis the Four
teenth.
Alighting at the entrance of the inn, the tray
eler's first care was, to desire that his horse
should be we'll looked to his second, that din
ner should be prepared for him forthwith. He
was then conducted into one of the best cham
bers in the house, where, blazing fire of dried
branches of the vine having been lighted for
him, he took off his wet garments, spread
them out to dry and, drawing chair into the
chimney corner, warmed himself at his ease
While he was thus employed, another traveller
also on horseback, pulled up at the same inn,
and inquired whether dinner could be prepared
for him Immediately He was answered by
the hostess, that it would not be in her lower
to serve him, as all the provisions that remain
ed in the house had been bespoken by trav
eller who had preceded him, and who was at that
moment going to place himself at table.
600" said the last conner, and ask the
gentleman if he will permit me to share his
dinner, in which case will gladly divide the
reckoning with him."
The hostess lost no time in conveying the
message to her inmate in the choicest terms.
" Tell the person who sends YOU" replied the
burgher, politely, that he will confer a favor
upon me by becoming my guest at dinner, but
that / am not accustomed to allow any one to
pay the reckoning of repast to which ] invite
him." And the new conner, without lurthe-
preliminary, having accepted the conr,as =. -
frankly as II was ouef@- was introduced into
'he PrVase ..amber of the burgher, where.
sea,oeeu before brisk fire, the two travellers
did ample honor to the dinner that was set be-
fore them.
The nature of the rencOntre banished all
ceremony FROM the tete-dtete repast, which was
as gay as it was possible to be between two
persons who had never before met. The sew
eral viands that were served up were all excel.
lent OF their kind and bottle of fine old
which was placed upon the table at
the dessert, appeared to be the signal for dis
carding the commonplace generalities upon
which the conversation of the two strangers had
hitherto turned, and established a more conf
dental communication between them. The
one who played the part of guest, warmed by
the generous wine that sparkled in his glass,
could not forbear complimenting his oblging
Amphytrioa upon the excellence of his enter
taipment,
You must be well known in this inn" said
he, Sin order to be so well servedl"
-" replied the other, g not at all, assure
you'll"
Probably, then, you inhabt the neighbor-
hood, and are in the habit of often passing this
wayy"
l am here for the first time in my life to-
day" answered the burgher. {" came from La
Rochelle"
From La Rochelle !" repeated the other,
with gesture Of surprise.
"FrOm La Rochelle ! y said the burgher.
"And what, may | ask, can have brought
you from such distance? p pursued his inter
rogator.
Oil provoking reason enough. ! have
been sent for by Monseigneur lie Cardinal
"By Monseigneur lie Cardinall' exclaimed
the first speaker, with increased establishment.
' Pardon the question ! am about to put to
you-have you ever been involved in any UNI
pleasant affair with his Emnence ?"
"Never! and the explanation / shall here
with give you, of the motive for my journey
hither, will be briefly and easily told. A vo
lent satire against the administration and the
person of Monseigneur lie Cardinal has been
recently circulated at La Rochelle 1t is
said that the affair of Urban Grandier and
The nuns of Loudun is introduced into it, as well
as notices of bad tragedies and worse verses at
tributed to his Eminence. and comments upon
q certain gay damsel named Marion Delorme
In short, l am ignorant Of the exact contents
Of the book, as l have never yet laid my eyes
upon it, but it would appear that it has fallen
INTO the hands of the Cardinals confdant,
Pere Joseph, the Capuchin; and althodkh |
have never in my life written anything that
could be published, have been named to him
rs the author. You know, that in the times in
which we live, every one has secret enemy,
and it is evident that mine has propagatea
his supposition in order to injure me. How
ever, l have not hesitated to obey his Emi
nsnce's injunction to appear before him, and