Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-02-12
THE INN OF ROUELLE.


yember, a traveller, on horseback, stopped
at the door of an inn in the village of
Rouelle, which adjoins the park of NAL
maison. The hostess went out to receive
him, and, having given his horse to the
stable-boy, he ordered dinner. He was
shown into the best room in the house.
and the busy hostess set about preparing
the repast. In few minutes another
traveller, on horseback stopped at the inn,
and also ordered dinner.
81 am sorry that l cannot accommo-
date you, sir" said the hostess, "but ev-
erything we have in the house has been
bespoke by gentlemen who arrived few
minutes before you"
"Go up stairs" said the traveller, "and
tell your guest shall be obliged to him
if he will permit me to share his dinner,
and l will defray my portion of the ex-
pense."
The hostess delivered the message, to
the FIRST traveller, who politely replied:
"Tell the gentleman shall be glad of
his company, but that it is not my prac-
tice to accept payment from persons whom
| invite to dine with me-"
The second traveller accordingly went
up stairs, and, having expressed his ac-
acknowledgements of the kind reception he
had received, ,.they both sat down to the
table.
The dinner was as cheerful as could be
expected, considering the short acquant-
ance of the parties; but during the des
sert, when some excellent wine was placed
before then, the conversation became more
unrestrained, and the second traveller vel-
tured to ask his obliging Amphitryon
what had brought him to that of the coun-
try, where he appeared to be a stranger? ?
81 have been ordered here" he replied,
:" by the cardinal"
"By the cardinal" !" resumed his COM
panion."
Pardon my curiosity, sir, if | impure
whether you have given his eminence any
offence ?"
by no MEANS" replied the first trav-
eller and it is only to free myself from
any such imputation that / have come
here The fact is, there has been pub
lished at Rochelle, my native town, vir-
ulent satire upon the public conduct and
personal character of the cardinal, sever
al copies of which have been addressed to
the king, and though never in my life
wrote single word that has appeared in
print, am unjustly accused of being the
author of this pamphlet Nothing OBJ
tains such ready belief as the whisper.
ings of folly and ill-nature; and have,
therefore, lost no time in obeying the sum.
mons of his eminence, in the hope of ef
fectually refuting the charge that ii
brought against Inc"
:" Sir, said his companion, with an ex.
preston of marked anxiety, "returr
thanks to Providence for the fortunate ac
cident that introduced me to you to-day
also have been summoned hither by the
cardinal, and for no other purpose, | an
convinced, than that of beheading you
ua A thrill of horror passed through tn,
frame of the person to whom these words
we're addressed.
E" Yes, sir" resumed the speaker, my
task would have been to behead you.
am the executioner of neig ghboring town
and whenever the cardinal has any secre
act of vengeance to perform, receive or
ders to repair to the castle. The partic
ulars | have just heard yobrelate, tcgeth
er with the hour Of your appointmen
here all convince me beyond doubt
that you are marked out as victim. Blu
fear nothing, will secure your escape
Twill acquit myself Of the debt of graf
itude which your courtesy has imposed
upon me-"