The Shasta courier., 1863-03-21
Hi~Frsneh Pslise.

anu made some cnange In my toilet, went
out for short stroll in that great and mag
niicent city-that heart, as it were, Of the
world. / had some letters of introduction,
but as | had not yet presented them, be-
lieyed myself wholly unknown to living
- l.i1tsat metropolis-except, it might be,
,zes who had read my passport at
q the clerk who had seen me reg
land that either should have
.-nxed tnift name in their recollection, was
that my modesty had not yet permitted me
| to take into consideration.
Judge Of my surprise, therefore, when
bad gone but few steps from Meurice's AZ
Rue de Rivoli. toward the beautiful palace
gardens nearly opposite, to hear myself ad-
dressed as follows:
"Will Monsieur Henry Neville have the
kindness to answer me a few important ques-
i tions 2"
turned to ID er, and saw at glance
! he was total 1lESHger to me-that 1 had
/ never, to my knowledge. looked upon his
! face before. He was middle-aged man, Of
rather prepossessing appearance, with gray
h.ir, eyebrows, and mustache, and was
dressed as plain substantial citizen.
= will do myself the pleasure to oblige
you, = i replied in a kind and courteous tone.
Permit me first to remark, however, that
yosl hxfS q little the advantage ofme, in that
you already know ny name"
Monsieur will please know me as Eugene
st Medard."
g Did we ever meet before ~
"Itis monsieur that has now become the
| questioner," rejoined the Frenchman, with q
peculiar smile, and kind Of formal bow,
half digni6ed, half polite, as if he would have
said the questions were only to come from
| his side.
Somehow felt just a trife vexed and net
ted at the look and tone, and remarked, a lit
| lie sc6hily:. 80
+ s.I-take it for grspted ohe has the same
right to fnterrogate as the other.''
The features of the stranger grew grave,
aAone who feels a little annoyed, and his re-
ply was impressive, without being exactly
stern
Ii Monsieur will be kind enough to waive
his right in this instance" he said, g it may
s3asa.ns Aath me time and trouble: - =
sjafcsfY Know why pefhaps s5s-- Asfsss Asfss
in look, tone and manner-but the idea now
suddenly occurred to me that was speaking
to man in authority-ahd l said, respect
fully:
:. Proceed, Monsieur St. Medard."
g Thank you, Monsieur. You are an En-.
glishman ~
~ am"
You are distantly related to the Earl of
Malvern
$50 distaatly, that his lordship could new
er get near enough to know our family"
replied, pleasantly, not little surprised that
a French stranger should know so much
about me, and wondering all the while to what
result his questions might be tending.
You were an only child?''
Yes"
Your parents are dead ~
"Yes."
"You were left small inheritance, which
YOU have lately converted into money and
brought with you, thinking it not unlikely
you might take fancy to settle on the Con-
tinent?'
'AIl true, Monsieur; but your knowledge
of me and my private affairs astonishes me. -
81 Let that pass. The family of his lord
ship, the Earl of Malvern, has been unfortu-
nate-no near of kin remain to him."
"Two profigate sons of deceased sister
are the nearest, believe"
They are both dead, Monsieur"
dead! ~ exclaimed /, with a start, for
this was news to me.
lone died of heart disease in Germany
the other was stabbed to death in Rome"
Are you sure?"
Certainly, Monsieur"
"Good heavens +! this astonishes me still
more had not heard of this"
81 know it"
:'It seems to me you know everything ~
18th stare of wonder.
ar st. Medard smiled and continued :
~ p are now the heir presumptive, Mon
If what you tell me is true, am !" ex
claimed l, almost startled at the thought Of
being SO near to an earldom-for the then
lord was old and feeble, and might drop of
at any minute.
Do you know who is next of kin after
yourself, Monsieur inquired my strange
interrogation.
II think 1 have heard it is one William
Byerly."
Right. Do you know him?''
Something by report"
Personality"
"No.r
g Did report speak favorably of him?
% am sorry to say it did not"
'' From what you heard, do you consider
him an honest man 2"
g do not.
| " As you alone now stand between him
and an earldom, after the death of the pres
ent lord, would you consider your life safe in
his hands?''
Before answer this question, will you
permit me to ask some two or three ?" said l.
Proceed. Monsieur"
" Are you William Byerly?''
"No."
g Are you related to him ?"
"No."
''Are you friend of his ?''
"No.'
"Do you intend to use my reply in lega
way ?"
mo"
SIS your object in these questions friendl,
to me?''
"Yes.n
"Then l will venture to say that should
not like, under present circumstances, Il
trust nv life in the hands of William Byerly