Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-18

the penalty if you break your oath. Now
follow u.s."
L was conducted up stairs, two or three
flights, into a small and elegantly furnished
apartment, in one corner of which was bed,
and on the bed young man, with face as
white as Sheet and groaning at every breath.
One of my mysterious companions turned
down the coverlet, and showed me leg COM
pletely shattered at the knee, evidently by a
pistol or musket ball.
'Well, monsieur?'' said an anxious voice.
''There is no help for 1.-THE leg must come
off, l replied, by this time completely So
bered
''Monsieur will take it off, then"
81 have not my implements with me-"
"Here is all monsieur can need"
A complete and beautiful set was produced
Without another word l took off my coat
rolled up my sleeves, and proceeded to the
work; the masks assisting me. The poor
sufferer tainted under the painful operation.
When all was finished, one of the men said to
me in a low, anxious tone,-
''Will he survivor"
''With careful attention and nursing, l
think he will"
''Thanks. Monsieur lie docteur will write
down all necessary Instructions"
Pen, ink, and paper being furnished me,
this proceeded to do. When all was COM
pleted, heavy purse was placed in my hand,
and the mask said
'Monsieur lie docteur will not forget his
oath?"
''Not very likely to, with assassination in
prospect" said l.
Enough. Comet"
| followed my conductor down into the
crypt again, and then, in total darkness, was
led throuUb Of
sages, alternating with stairs, the same as be-
fore-but not ending where l began; for a
door was at last thrown open, and suddenly
found myself in a dark, narrow street. |
heard slight click behind me, and on look
ing around, was greatly surprised to find my
self standing alone, beside a church, and only
blank wall where L expected to see door
at least The stones were all alike, as far as
| could see and nothing to indicate an OPEN
ing of any kind. And yet had either come
through that WALL or else 1 was dreaming.
Was l dreaming? 1 was not quite sure,
though the purse that had been put into my
hand felt very heavy.
Well, thought l, this will do for one night,
at any rate; and now, like the Dutch burgo-
master in the play, l will go home and think.
Twas some distance from the Seine; but |
soon found the river, and, in less than half an
iOul etlISls my lOuSluSs dlsOs WHICH, IcdCuSu
just as day was breaking.
/ went to bed and went to sleep, and slept
till noon, and then got up and counted my
money-ffty Napoleons in good, hard, heavy,
yellow gold.
"Well," said 1, eff my last nights adven-
ture was dream, l only hope and pray may
keep on dreaming so every night"
Butwhat was all this mystery? what could it
mean? Pshaw why trouble my brain about
it, since probably should never know?
On taking my breakfast-or dinner, if you
choose-at the Cafe de Tortoni looked over
the columns of the Moniteur Universal, and
soon found myself deeply interested in the
detail of the astounding assassination of Mad
anne --, well-known favorite of the king
of the French. Her apartments had been
entered by band of masked assassins and
the lady, stabbed in her he'd. Her diving
screams had brought assistance, but not SUI
fcient to secure the rufians, all Of whom had
escaped, though one had been shot and carried
off by his companions. One hundred thou
sand francs reward was offered for the appre-
hension and conviction of the ruffians, or any
of them.
'Oho!" said l to myself, 81 think know
something"
But l said it only to myself. Neither the
king Of the French, nor any of his subjects,
was ever made wiser Of my knowledge. l
never heard that either of the assassins was
ever arrested but to this day l believe was
made fifty Napoleons the richer for shortening
the leg of one of them.