New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-04
a BOOK FOR A nrSNrR.

In these days of universally disseminated French
\ literature, everybody has heard of the iustrious
AleEandre Dumas and how, on the occasion of the
memorable Spanish marriages, he iourneyed to
| Madrid as the official historian of the events lie
came to witness. Everybody knows, TOO, the repu'
| tatiun acquired by the volumiaous novelist, who
| is peculiarly presumed to write six novels day,
| with pen in each hand, and four amanuenses con
4 tinually around him. each receiving distinct die
| tation from his lips. But everybody may not know
the way in which he dined abroad the day after his
1 arrival in Spain, and so We may at once, without
/ further preamble, proceed to enlighten them On
| this hitherto mysterious point
Imagine then, Dumas, the morning after he
entered Madrid, rambling forth into the country
around leaving his carriage at inn on the road,
to enjoy the delights of solitary stroll. Behold
him r&pt in the busy realms of romance, his mind
busy in the construction of complicated plots and his
his thoughts engrossed by the dilena into which he
was about plunge his chief character. Thus oc-
cupied he very naturally loses his way and awakes
from his day dreams to fnd he has got entangled
in the mazes of q gloomy wood, with the shadows
Of twilight deepening around him. He has left
word for his attendants to follow, and he now
shouts for their aid, but in vain; nothing overtakes
him but night, this he has the prospect of pass
ing, dinnerless and supperless, in the midst of q
tangled thicket Now, though this is an interesting
situation for novelist to place his hero in it is by
no means very agreeable position in reality for
The ns1alist himself; and as he gazed around,
doubtful OF his own safety, he suddenly saw some
figures advance from an opening in the trees,
which did not contribute to reassure him.
'sBah " cried Dumas, slapping his breast to
arouse the dormant courage Within g there are no
robbers in this part OF Spain.n
But unfortunately, at this crisis something start
ngly cold touched his ear; it was the shining bar
rel OF veritable carbne, Dumas jumped round,
and found himself surrounded by some half-dozen
Unlocking rufans, all armed tho teeth and sew
orally directing their threatening muzzes at his
head, which at that moment the great Alexandra
felt painfully insecure. The chief of the gang adj
vanced quietly, observing, with graceful salute /:
- \ on will excuse me, signor, but will you have
the kindness to follow US ;"
How, if refuse?" sternly inquired Dumas
with melo.dramatic flourish Of his cigarcass
which he made to look as much like a poc ket.pis.
toll as possible.
., In that case, returned tho bandit AM. Dumas
will acknowledge that he places smaller value on
his head and its contents than we do.n
The author smiled approvingly at the implied
compliment, and as he felt his vanity fattered by
recognition 50 singular, esuhdued the high tone
of his first excitement into quiet tone of nterro-
gation.
ttWho are your"
/" My name, signor, is Luigi Yanpa, who, thanks
to the indiscreet revelations you have thought fit
to make concerning me in your Justly celebrated
romance of Monte Christie, has been forced to
leave Italy and commence practice here in COM
pany with the gallant gentlemen to whom have
now the honor to present yon.n
.Indeed9' calculated Alexandra. 4" And what
may be your pleasure with me? '' r
: Business, signor! You will, perhaps, be good
enough to follow y
Finding resistance was useless, and, perhaps.
DESTROYS Of seeing the end of an adventure SO curl
ously commenced, Dumas oheyed. After rapid
march OF about quarter of an hour the banditti
arrived, with their prisoner at sort Of cave stu
ated in dense part of! theforest, and conducting
him into Q small cell scantily furnished, and ap,
parently cut out Of the rock they left him to his
meditations. 1t was late, and Dumas having had
nothing since breakfast felt the appetite of wolf
str. within him. He was getting positively vo-
racious; so, shouting loudly, to make his hunger
known, Vampa himself made his appearance.
s.What does the Signor do US the honor of re-
qniring?p
aDianer!H 5
HFhe Sighor viii, perhaps, examine our bill of
are, and, above all our prices.n
And as the hrigand politely placed the paper on
HE table, Dumas read as follows:
Bread. Five pages.
n soup ~ "a bluiligataWny.,. Ten pages.
q koast Fowl ..,s..,...e.s-.. One sheet.
DUO aux trutles. Two sheets.
an DrdinaiTe u. Halt.sheet.
Creme 4 10 Portuguese. - . Ditto u
Blrgnndy, per bottle. Three sheets.
pessert. twenty pages.
cigars .,...5.s...... Ten pages.
Naiter ......,......,........F Five pages.
Come said NJ Alexandre, iii is oniy one
Folnme for dinner. Let ii be got ready at once.n
.rhe Sgnor must know that we give no credit.
Ind as our dishes arc perfectly fresh, so we ex
'ect to be paid in original matter. The signor
will not deceive US in this point"
Agreed said Dumas. 'tAnd now, what O'Clock
3 it ~ -
Eight, signor.n =
" Then order my dinner to be ready at half.past
o preciselyn
At Al O'Clock Dumas sat down to superb BAN
net magnifcenty served, comprising the whole
4 the articles enumerated in the bill Of fare Just
9 he had finished, Luigi Yampa made his appear
nee with some more cigars and tempting bottle
+ curiously pale cognac. 80
" Wen, /" laughed Dumas, struck by the oddly of |
ne whim, { now you have got my romance, what
re you going to do with it2
Signor, replied the brigand, "a shallinstantIy
ause it to be translated into Spanish, and pub
shed in nv paper, the Herdzdo of which have
ing been the proprietor. Excuse the little pro-
ct to which we have had recourse twas our
My chance. You gain 10000 reals, and we 10 900
eW subscribers, for which sum- continued the
Fetended origand, taking it from his pocket,"I
nall trouble you for receipt
Thus terminated tie most singular literary din
ef on record; and the next day the Rera5lo.
nnonnced, in all the confidence of large type, q |
'rtheoming romance, entitled "' The Kings Of
con- by Signor Alexandra Dnmas''
r...