The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-08-16


journey hither, will be briefly and easily
told. 4 violent satire against the admin.
istration and the persol. OF Monseigueur le
Cardinal has been ece'tly circulated at La
Rochelle 1t is said Il At the affair Of Cr-
tain Grardier and the nuns e Loudun is
introduced into il. as Well as notices Of bad
tragedies and worse yer .es attributed to his
EmlneBce, and comments upon \ certain
gay damsel named NJ ron Deorme. In
short | am Ignorant Of the exact contents
Of the book. as have never Vet laid my
ewes upon, but it would appear that it has
fallen into the hands of the Cardinals con.
fdant, Pere Joseph. the Capauchin. and
although have never in my life written
anything that could be published. | have
been named TO him as the author. You
know that in times in which We live. every
one has secret enemy. and it is evident
that mine has propsgated this supposition
in order TO iniure me. However. have
not hesitated 10 obey his ..minence's ipJunc-
ton to appear before HIN, aud | have no
to"- but tia, shall easily sxcnlpafs myself
from 80 absurd charge
The other stranger listened with the Ut
most attention to the foregoing recital. his
countenance at each word darkening into
thoughtful gloom. And at what hour. ="
he inquired, are you to appear before tho
Cardinal , and he pointed i'll the direction
of Mslmaison.
At six o'clock this evening. was the
answer.
Sir. rejoined the other with strong emo
ton. and grasplng the arm of his hospita
bic entertainer as he spoke, give thanks
to Providence for the happy chance which
has this day laid me under obligation to
You, for know that l too have been sum
moned at that hour by Monseigneur lie Car
dinal, and summoned for no less a reason
than-to caa og your head j"
At these words. the burgher of La lio-
chelle, uttering a cry of horror, started
back from his terrible guest.
Ay, sir" proceeded the last speaker.
empha;ically 10 cat OF your head, l am
the execu,ioner Of Chartres, and each time
that the Cardinal has private vengeance
to accomplish. | receive an order 20 attend
him in his chateau All that ycu have just
told me of the accusation that has been
made against you, aud Of the hour at which
you are commanded to appear before his
Eminence, convinces me that you are the
victim designed to fall by my hand this
evening But fear nothing you shall es-
cape the tolls that have been prepared to
ensnare YOU. Follow me To the stable let
us mount our horses without loss Of time,
and III few moments shall. hope. have
discharged to you my debt Of gratitude for
the courtesy with which you have this day
entertained nameless stranger
The burgher, in state Of anxiety and
terror, which deprived him Of the power
Of utterance, immediately rose, and follow
ed his liberatOr down stairs. As they
passed by the public room Of the inn. they
perceived that it was already filed with the
archcrs Of the Cardinals guard; and this
sight was not calculated TO infuse courage
into the mind Of the doomed traveller. who.
while the horses We're being saddied. paid
his bill, without demonstrating against the
exorbitant charges it contained. too thank.
ful to escape upon any terms from the i'm
minent perils that threatened him. La
few moments the travellers were on horse
back, and, squirting their steeds through the
woods of Batard, they speedily found them
selves close TO the approach Of the Cardi-
nails chateau
Then the terrible guide suddenly refined
in his horse, and, turning 10 the bewildered
Eochellois, pointed towards the building.
which was but just distinguishable in the
deepening gloom Of a November twilight
Look, said he, at that centre turret,
and observe the little arched window at the
summit Of it. II is there that the Cardinals
private Judgments, from which there is no
appeal, are pronounced and executed As
soon as nay ministry is accomplished. a trap
door opens, the lifeless body Of the victim
falls into dungeon below the foundations
of the chateau, filled with quick lime.
where all traces Of the crime are speedily
effaced
At that moment light glimmered in the
fatal window
1t is the signal, he continued. that the
preparations are completed, and that you
and | are now impatiently looked for Lose
not moment; take advantage Of the OBJ
scurity Of the evening and the speed Of
your horse, in order to gain the frontiers
and, when once beyond them. it will be
quite time enough to think Of justifying
yourself
And yet. sir. said the burgher Of La
Rochelle, am innocent -
Build no hope on that conviction. inter
: rupted bis companion, impatiently, there
is DO such thing as innocence. when Mon
seigneur le Cardinal sits in Judgment. Be
: lIeve me, do as have suggested; fly with
: out delay, or the hand which is now stretched
! save you must inevitably be raised to spill
= your life-blood
? The burgber eagerly grasped the hand
|, that was extended TO him--that hand from
: whose touch he would at any other moment
{ have recoiled with horror-and poured forth
the unrestrained gratitude Of bis heart for
the extraordinary service which had just
been rendered to him. When they separa.
: ted the bloody agent Of bis Eminence d.
rected his horses steps toward the entrance
. ofthe chateau, while the Rochellois. striking
: his spurs into the sides Of his good steed.
calloped awav from the dangerous vicinity.