The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-28
AN AUTHOR In COURT.
Duhnas aud hEs Historical Characters
"A CuriOus Lawsuit.

ing suit to determine the liberties wbjr
writers may take with historical person
The dramatic episode in the life Of Mar
Antolnette which was so full of dranat
episodes) known as the journey 70 Va
ennes, tempted N. Dumas. he made
the theme of s novel It happened thst
d. de Prefontaine, q cheValier de st. I,oui
! and half pay msjor, was drawn into thi
history. He lived at Varennes, and, eithe
by accident or design, he opened his doc
when the carriages drove up. It was hall
psst eleven o'clock ct night. Count d,
MOustier Zone of the body guards who &C
comPsnied the royal party) had got out o.
the carriage to find somebody who Woulf
point out to him the road from Varennel
to Stensy. Perceiving q light and an
open door, II. de Moustier made for him,
6ut the door Was instantly closed. N. de
nousuer burst it open. Let US quote NJ de
Mous'lers narrative; "ThereupOn 8 man
appeared and asked what was wanted.
Inc reply made was, ITO ask you TO show
me the road leading out of town towards
Stensy.D The man said 'I would do so
willingly, but should be hanged if it wss
known" ID. de MOuster observed that he
was too well-bred not to do to do anything
to serve lady. He answered, awe know
all about it Il Is not lady"
"Thereupon N. ce 1oustier abruptly
broke off conversation to let the king know
what had taken place. The king ordered
him to return and bid the man come TO his
majesty. NJ. de Moustier went back and
said: "My mistress has charged me to
beg you come and talk with her" This
man dared not absolutely disobey; hewent
to the carriage barefoot 50 as IN mako Less
NOISE. he got up the carriage steps, and,
after talking moment with her msiesty,
he led N. de Moustier to the commandsnt
OF the detachment Of Lauzun's husssrs,
who was living at the OOrdeliers' Convent
at Varennes. This officer was not at his
post No one was there but a single hus.
sar, who said he had orders TO Join the COM
msndant at one o'clock, A NJ, if he failed
TO apr ear at Vsrennes.
"'Ehe man who acted as N. de Nous
tiers guide was named Prefontaine; he
was major Of cavalry, and knight ofthe
roy yal and military order of st. Louis. As
it is reported that he, with so many others,
has since made numerous commentaries on
he kings arrest and has boosted that if
The king had listened TO him, and had fol-
lowed his advice, he would have escsped,
NJ de Moustier owes it to the truth to de-
,lare that the only service which n. de
Prefontaine rendered, or was willing 10
'ender to his unfortunate master, was SIM
ply to lead him, NJ de Moustier, 10 the res-
dence of the cOmmRndsnt Of Lauzan's
lussars. He would add that he never saw
o timid or so pusillanimous a man IS this
nan that in the very slight and perfectly
Iseless good Office, which he could scarcely
efuse TO do his sovereign, ne pushed pre-
autions to the EXTREMIST limits, and that
10 did not cease to recommend TO NJ de
doustier secrecy in regard to his move
nents, saying they would compromise and =.
uin him if they were known Should q
decorated soldier reckon any perils or risks
T perils2 In these circumstances, what
J fortune compared with honor2 What
. his life, when the question is to save his
ing's existsnee2 This man, after this mo-
lent, did not once again appear before the
ing until his msjestys departure from
ais detestsble VarenDes.'
HThe family de Prefontaine protest
gsinst the narrative of NJ. de Moustier,
nd sppeal, to support their protest, to the
arratlVe OF M de Vslory, the second
ody guard who accompanied their msies-
es, and who, in his msmoirs says:
" The HOUSE Of the respectable N. de
refontalne might have served as the ref
&c for the relays, which had been prepsr-
|, had he been previously informsd and
lon Int tho setsret- M Alexander Du-
as preferred to Vslory' snsrraLiHA-Ia--.-0r
Loustler, because tha laJI5r was present
nd wss an actor IN the scene, while VAL
y had been sent forward TO gain what
he could; but the novelist con- =
Ises the names, and represents NJ de Val
y ss giving his srms to the fugitiEe uuaen-
NOM n6 repr6S6n5 KnCcR1ng ~ The ma
rs door. NJ. Dumas drsmstizes Nous.
ers narrative byputting it in the form of
dialogue. Vslory says: Sir, we are GO
g to Stensy will you be good enoughto
dicste the road to us p But if do that
shall be compromised Even if you do
yourself, you will not hesitate
do this service for lady who is ina
lngerous situation Sir, the lady behind
1u is not merely lsdy-it is queen
H NJ. de Vslory tried to deny it. p The
ueen drew him back, saying, Let US lose
D time in discussion; go tell the king 1
n recognized M. deValory fastened to
10 carriage, and in few words told the
Dg what had taken place. The king
id: ASK that man to come and speak to
q! The man obeyed, and advanced to
Ie cArrisgedOor, not without marks of
Vely apprehension. What is your
sme tDe PIefontaine, sire lWho
q your Cavalry major, knight of the
,ysl and military order of St. Louis tAs
sjor, and IS knight of st. Louis, you
Vice..took an oath to be faithful to me. 1t
, consequently, your duty to aid me in
le embarrs ssment in which I am
" The major stammered few words, the
1een stamped her foot impstiently. The
ing added: Sir, have you heard whether
le huSsars and relay horses expected 8
.easure which was to pass through Varen-
es 2 l diO hear 50, SIRE Where are
lese hussars Where are these horses p .
In the LOw-town, sire The officers are
,dging at the Hotel du Grand Molsrque.'
l thank you. Now you may return
ONE. Nobody has seen you, nobody has
card you, consequently no harm will be-
al you. The major pro6tted by the per-
Mission, and returned homo The Prefon-
siDe family moved the court to order n.
dumas to insert the ex ract from NJ. de
Talory's memoirs in the next edition Of
his novel. TIE lower court granted the
esired order; but the appellate court re-
ersed this judgment upon the ground that
Z. Dumas was at liberty to give prefer
nee to Moustiers narrative, and that he
ithfully followed it in substance"