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

"Yes." continued to answer, getting NOR,
and more astonished every minute
What could it all mean? Had every action o
my life been noted? and for what purpose? n,
strange interrogator proceeded:
This stranger Was dressed in . blue coat
with bright metal buttons. nankeen trowsers, /,
bun vest, parti colored neckerchief, Whit
hat and black boots?"
EYES,"
"He had reddish hair, reddish whiskers, ,
florid complexion, and wore green patch ovel
his left eye ?"
Eyes"
AFTER some commonplace remarks, he ven
| tured to ask you which way you were trav-
cling? ?"
"Yes,n
"You replied you we're going to PARISH"
HE was delighted to hear it, because he wal
going there also, and it was very pleasant, in g
! foreign coantry, to have travelling companion
from ones native lani?"
"Yes."
"On the whole, he made 80 favorable an i'm
preston upon your unsuspicious mind that you
we're quite pleased to have his company"
Yes"
"On your way to Dover he gave you some ac
count of his past l,fe-of his trials, struggles,
disappointments and successesY
"Yes,"
HE was an INVENTOR man of genius, who
bad lived to benefit mankind and himself? ?"-
England owed much to him, and so did France,
and so, in fact, did the whole world?"
"Hs statements were to that effect"
"Very well, Monsieur, as l have shown you
that know the nature of your conversation, it
is not necessary that weary you with detail
This man, the inventor, was going to Paris to
take out patent for new motive power-one
that was destined to revolutionize the world
He was very sorry he could not show it to you
then; but until HE papers should be fled in the
proper department. he would not trust his own
father with the secret"
"All correct, Monsieur"
Now, most unfortunately, as it appeared on
reaching Dover, where you were TO take the reg
ular steam packet for Calais, your new aequaint.
ance, in some way unknown to you, received the
startling intelligence that his father was lying at
the pointtof death, which would require him to
post to London Immediately; and would you, in
whom he had every confidence, do him the favor
to take charge of small box, containing some
important papers, and, on your arrival in Paris,
open it, and deliver them to their proper ad.
dress?"
"Yes, Monsieur" said I, becoming most in
tensely interested.
Curiosity, Monsieur" continued the French
man, "is not one of your failings, l am happy to
say, or you might not now be living to hear
what have to reveal"
"Good Heayens!" calculated I-"what s com,
ing now?"
THAT same box, Monsieur, is an internal ma
chine, intended to destroy your life the moment
you opened itv'
"Gracious God!" exclaimed, with thrill! Of
horror-"csn this be possible?"
81 will prove it. Get it, and come with me
before a Commissary of Police!"
"Pray, Monsieur, who are you?"
"a secret agent Of police"
! fastened to get the box, handling it with
great care, and together we proceeded to the
nearest Commissary, when, with my permission,
it was split open, and 10! to my astonished and
Mortified gaze was revealed a row of small load
ed pistols, SO arranged that, had unlocked and
opened the box in an ordinary way, they would
have been discharged into my body.
On my subsequently asking for an explanation
concerning this mysterious affair-how so much
connected with myself and others had become
known to the police of foreign city-I was
gravely, but politely, answered:
"It is not allowed us, Monsieur, to reveal our
sources of information. We are happy to have
thwarted the plans of villain, and saved your
life."
never knew who that villain was, though
always suspected Byerly of having hand in it.
l do not know that my life was ever again at
tempted, but certain it is that never again per-
mitted intimacy from an unknown stranger.
On my accession to the title and estates, which
occurred the following year, did not forget to
reward Eugene st. Medard, alias Henri Pouget,
Secret Agent of Police, as thought he deserved
to be rewarded for the preservation of my life,
and to this dayI have not ceased to wonder
over the perfection of the French system of
police.
With the exception of substituting fictitious
names for real ones, the foregoing may be re-
garded as the authentic narrative Of an English
nobleman to an American friend.
webster and Writ.
Daniel Webster was once engaged in q case
in one of the Virginia courts, and the opposing
counsel was William Writ, author of the
"Life of Patrick Henry" which has been crit.
icised as a brilliant romance.
In the progress Of the case, Mr.. Webster
produced highly respectable witness. whose
testimony (unless disproved or impeached) set.
tied tho case, and annihilated Mr.. Wirt's
client. After getting through the testimony,
he informed Mr.. Writ with significant ex-
preston; that he was through with the wit.
ness, and he was at his service. Mr.. Writ
rose to commence his cross examination, but
seemed for q moment quite perplexed how to
proceed, but quickly assumed amanner ex-
pressive Of his incredulity of the facts eliclt~
ed, and cooly eyeing the witness moment,
he said
.Mr K allow me to ask you whether
you have ever read work called Baron Nun
chausen?'
Before the witness had time to reply, Mr.
Webster quickly rose to his feet and said
II beg your pardon, Mr. Writ, for the in
terrurition; but there was one question forgot
to ask the witness, and if you will allow me
that favor, promise not to interrupt yon
again."
Mr. Writ, in the blandest manner replied
Eyes, most certainly" when Mr.. Webster
in the most deliberate and solemn manner
said;
'.Sir have you ever read Wirt's Patrick
Henry?'
The effect was so irresistible that even the
Judge could not control his rigid features
Ar Writ himself ioined in the momeptarp