The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1863-01-03

He hastens the spirit to free;
And speaks through the holy evargel
e. That comes from the Father to thee.
II. n. j.
THE PERILS OF AN EARLDOM.
arrived in Paris q perfect stranger, and
took lodgings at Meurce's famous English hotel
Having been shown to my apartments, and made
some change in my toilet, l went out for short
stroll in that great and magnificent city-that
heart. as it were, of the world. ! had some let
ters of introduction, but, as had not yet pre-
sented them, believed myself wholly unknown
to living soul in that metropols-except, II
might be. to the officers who had read my pass
mort at the gates, and the clerk who had seen
me register my name = and that either should
have fixed that name in their recollection was
something that my modesty had not permitted
me to take into consideration.
Judge of my surprise, therefore, when I had
gone but few steps from Meurice's, AZ Rue de
Rivoli, towards the beautiful palace gardens
nearly opposite to hear myself addressed as
follows:
"Will Monsieur Henry Neville have the kind
ness to answer me few important questions! =
turned to the speaker, and saw at glance
he was total stranger to me-that had never
to nv knowledge, looked upon his face before
He was middle.aged man, Of rather prepos
sessing appearance, with gray hair, eyebrows
and moustaches, and was dressed as a plain,
substantial farmer.
81 will do myself the pleasure to oblige you,
replied in a polite and couteous tone. "Per.
NIT me first to remark, however, that you have
little the advantage fine, in that you already
know my name"
Monsieur will please know me as Eugene st.
Medard."
"Dld you ever meet me before ?"
''It is Monsieur that has now become the
questioner," rejoined the Frenchman, with pc.
cuar smile and kind of formal bow, hall
digni6ed, half polite, as if he would have said
the questions were only to come from his side.
Somehow felt a trife vexed and nettled at
the look and tone, and remarked, little coldly:
~ take it for granted one has the same right
to interrogate as the other"
The features of the stranger grew grave, az
one who feels little annoyed, and his reply was
impressive, without being exactly stern.
'If Monsieur will be kind enough to waive
his right in this instance, it may cave us both
some time and trouble"
scarcely knew why-perhaps something in
the look tone and manner-but the idea now
suddenly occurred to me that was speaking to
aman in authority-and said respectfully:
Proceed, Monsieur St. Medard."
"Thank you, Monsieur. You are an English
man."
II am"
"You are distantly related to the Earl of NAL
a. vern?"
$50 distanay, that his Lordship could never
get near enough to know our family" replied,
pleasantly, not little surprised that French
stranger should know go much about me, and
wondering all the while to what result his ques-
tions 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 continent"
GAN true, Monsieur; but your knowledge Of
me and my private affairs astonishes me-"
"Let that pass The family of his lordship,
the Earl of Malvern. has been unfortunate-no
near Of kin remain to him."
1.-TWO prohgate sons of deceased sister are
the nearest, l believe"
"They are both dead, Monsieur"
"Dead!" exclaimed l, with . start, for this was
news to me.
"One died OF heart disease in Germany-the
other was stabbed to death in Rome"
care you sure?" .et
"Certaiply, Monsieur" te.
"Good heavens! this astonishes me still more!
had not heard of this" -
II know it."
ut seems to me you know everything" said
with stare of wonder.
Monsieur st. Medard smiled and continued:
"You are now the heir presumptive, Mon
sieur" -
"If what you tell me is true, ami" exclaimed
l. almost startled at the thought of being so
near to an earldom-for the then lord was old
and feeble, and might drop off at any minute
"Do you know who is next of kin after your
self, Monsieur" inquired my strange interroga.
tor.
81 think have heard it is one William Byer.
ly"
"Rght. Do you know him?"
Something by report"
'Personall,?"
mo"
"Did report speak favoraoly of him?"
II am sorry to say it did not"
"From what you heard, do you consider him
an honest man?"
II do not"
"As you alone now stand between bm and an
earldom, after the death of the present lord,
would you consider your life safe in bis hands?'
"Beiore l answer this question. will you per.
NIT me to ask some two or tbree?" said l.
proceed, Monsieur
Are you William Byerly?
"No."
"Are you related to him?"
"No."
"Are you a friend of his?"
"No."
"Do you intend to use my reply in legal
way?"
"No."
''Is your object in these questions friendly
to me?"
"Yes" st
"Then will venture to say, that should not
like, under present circumstances, to trust my
life in the hands of William Byerly, provided
there were single chance of his escaping de-
lection in case of willful murder"
'very well. May now proceed?"
"Yes, Monsieur"
"You will please answer to each statement Of
mine as if question we're directly put. On your
way to Dover fellow traveller made your ac-