Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-08-30
Cur sturr-GeIItr.
WONDERS OF Tile FRENCH POLICE,

/ WUNDLIS UE HE .ElENUH IVHtULi
! I ARRIVED in Paris perfect stranger,
and took lodgings at Meurice's famous
English -hutei.=H Having been shown to
nv apartments, and made some change
| in my toilet, 1 went out for ashOrt stroll
| in that great and magnificent oity-that
heart, as it we're, of the world. 1 had
some letters of introduction, but as 1 had
not yet preseted them, believed myself
wholly unknown to living soul in that
metropolis-except, it might be, to the
officers, who had read my passport at the
gates, and the clerk who had seen me
register my name-and thateither should
have fixed that name in their recollec-
ton, was something that my modesty
had not yet permitted me to take into
consideration.
Judge Ofmy surprise, therefore, when
1 had gone but few steps from Meurice's,
AZ Rue de Riyoli, toward the beautiful
palace gardens nearly opposite, to hear
myself addressed as follows:
q Will Monsieur Henry Neville have
the kindness to answer me few import
ant questions 2"
I turned to the speaker, and saw at
glance he was a total stranger 10 me
that I had never, to my knowledge,
looked upon his face before. He was
middle-aged man, ofrather prepOssessing
appearance, with grew hair, eyebrows
and moustache, and was dressed as a
plain, substantial citizen. = + 81
q will do myself the pleasure to
oblige you" 1 replied in a polite and
courteous tone. Permit me to first to
remark, however, that you have little
the advantage of me, in that you already
know my name.
" Monsieur will please know ne as
Eugene St. Medard"
Did VIC erer meet before2n
A" 1t is Monsieur that has now become
the questionor, rejolned the French
man, with a peculiar smile and a kind Of
formal bow, half dignifed, half polite, as
if he would have said the questions we're
only to come from his side.
Somehow felt just trife vezed and
nettled at the look and tone, aud re
marked, little coldly:
l take it for granted one has the
same right to interrogate as the other. ~
The features of the stranger grew
grave, as 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" he
said, "it may save US both some time and
trouble"
I scarcely know why-perhaps some
thing in the look, tone and manner-but
the idea now suddenly occurred to me
that I was. speaking to aman in authority
and I said, respectfully:
Proceed, Monsieur St. Medard."
Thank you, Monsieur. You are an
Englishman? ?".J
al am"
"Tou are distautly related to the Earl
of Malvern ?"
$50 aiaanty, that his lordship could
never get near enough to know our fami,
ly," I replied, pleasantly, not alittle sur
prlsed 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. l--- " ---
Your parents are dead ?"
Yes" ...
q" You were left a 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?"
"All true, Monsieur; but your knowl
edge of me and my private affairs as
tonishes me"
"Let that pass. The family of hil
lordship, the Earl Of Malvern, has beer
unfortunate-no near kin remain to him
"Two profigate sons of a deceased
sister are the nearest, believe"
They are both dead, Monsieur
Dead p exclaimed l, with a start, fo
this was news to me.
zone died of heart disease in German,
the other was stabbed to death il
Rome"
"Are you sure?"
Certainly, Monsieur
Good heavens this astonishes n
still more / I had not heard of this"
al know i"
" It seemstO meyou know everything!
said I, with a stare Of wonder.
Monsieur St. Medard smiled and con
tinued
" You are now the heir presumptivC
Monsieur"
"If what you tell me is true, I am
Exclaimed /, almost startled at th