The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-09-04

well armed-but public rumor said that he
was economical-that he was miser. sdr
/ The house was called the villa Of Bel-Air.
The mans name was NJ. Benoit .45..,f
After Benoit had left his address and de-
parted from the cabinet, the bandits looked
at each otheramazed. Then the grinder COM
menced dancing the Cachuca around the Ia.
bles-and, after that, all the members of that
worthy association joined hands, danced
around, and raised cloud of dust in the
lower hall of the cabaret aifiaasi POI .bggai
About this time the Viscount Henri de-
Villiers, who had taken "a hackney coach at
the barrier, descended into the court of his
own hotel. His valet said to him s'Two
| gentlemen await the viscount in the saloon"
| "Their names ?"E aHa fl97anaa aa'3
SThcy refuse to tell me their Names 80 One
OF them says that you have given him an APP
pointment."
| Henri threw off his pelisse and entered tho
saloon. Two gentlemen were seated near the
fire, and they rose as Henri entered. One
Of them was General O'Brien. - ..r Jee .0a
"Pardon me for thus coming into your
house, said he extending his hand, and with
a smile upon lis lips. -e'' .7''''.'' :. 8A
"What procures me this pleasure ?" COM
menced the yiscount. ssFm III .9s.03 "a, sla
eve will talk about that answered the
old general but first permit me to present
to you NJ. Lemesle."
M. Lemesle, young man thirty years of
age, clothed entirely in black saluted him
with dignifed air, and reseated himself ms
SM. Lemesle is a notary added the gen.
eral, taking seat near the fire. eve expect
presently to have need of him" 7''. g
CHAPTER XI-GENERAL o'BR1EN9 g'l- O'
The Viscount Henri de Villiers, in turn, d
saluted the notary. The old general folded
up tho Independence Beige" which he SEEM
ed to have been reading, and put it in his
pocket. 'Iintended to have waited for YOU" .
he said, "even till tomorrow evening. "l'aad ga
Il am very happy to have come back" re-
piled NJ. de Villiers, smiling ;but may Iask- p
Undoubtedly. I should have waited for
you, because it is absolutely necessary that We
transact our business, before tomorrow" '9'f'
sWhat business, my dear general 2" H'isia
''My dear viscount, your will. e sYf ls..a
Henri believed thath had not heard Alright,
and turned to the notary to ask an cxplana-
ton. The young man dressed in black Silent
y bowed VI ~ 79dwps5 olta Hso'l2.s4
IN. Lemesle knows nothing -nothing at
all, the general FASTENED to. say. Gle is
here only to lend his aid, and give authen-
icity to the business"
"But," said Henri, making an effort to
keep calm, 'spermit me. 1 do not know that
have manifested the least desire to make
will" 81. t..s..z. ..4. ,.l,.-
The generals eye slightly twinkled as he
answered. w
"You do not recollect, then, what has pass
ed? 2" The age of the general, his title, his
character of chivalrous loyalty, gave sort of
solemnity to this strange scene. 81 see" re-
sumed he, without giving the viscount time
to answer, 'that it is necessary for us to talk
some before drawing up this instrument"
81 assure you.0 interrupted Henri, 'sthat
we will draw up nothing at all" .. ~
'Let us retire" answered the general, eto
your study. NJ. Lemesle will have the good
ness to excuse u.s." NJ Lemesle bowed again.
The general passed his arm through that
Of Henri, and drew him along willingly or
not, toward the study. It was a sort Of bou-.
dolr, very handsome, very curiously furnished,
and very full of strange Objects yeritable
Of the traveller viscount. i'baoW
General O'Brcn promenaded up and down.
"Be pleased, to tell me-" said Henri, "the
meaning Of this enigma .r.,,..fa
"a will, said General O'Brien, with much
gravity Henri assumed also grave air. 'ae,
SSH" he said, "you are the friend Of the
family of Boistrudan. For this reason ex-1
,use your conduct in doing what has already
been done. But an end must be put to this
My patience. like everything else in the
world has its limits" a4 2A i
The general sat down by the fire. II have
orgotten," he thought aloud, sto give my
paper to that poor NJ. Lemesle. He is a.,
Ioung man of prudence and discretion. AS
% your patience, viscount it's limits do not
liturb me. We are not here to talk of pleas
INT things. Be pleased to take seat, and
ct us talk calmly. present myself to you,
charged with the interests of my friend, the
Count Albert de Rosen"'r ~
II supposed so" answered Henri" ,andI
I'm ready to hear you" z.t ea,5 .s,.e
"Listen to me, then, viscount At first,
;wo words of explanation as to my conduct in
his affair. For some time l have known
your history, and at first it seemed my duty
10 acquaint the marchioness with it, and have ;,
you driven of"
"Sir," interrupted Henri.
Sir, ask your pardon very humbly in
advance, for all the unpleasant words 1 may
pronounce. On your part, 1 beg that you
will have some complaisance, in consideration
# the fact that if I choose to pronounce one
word, you are lost without remedy"
Henri shook his head ea t
eff it were only necessary to pronounce
me word" he commenced LAD e.ftt .fi
''Let us not wander off, viscount, in dis
,ussion of preliminaries We have some
purposes which have prevented US from speak
ng-this is clear. But it is clear, also, that
f you do not enter into our views with good
grace, we wiW speak"
"What are your views ?" - 40 -
"Ay visit is only for the purpose Of telling
7ou. But, believe me, let me steer my bout
ny own way, or we will take wrong direct
on. | tell you, then, that my duty as a gen.
leman, in appearance, at least, was to unmask
7ou at once. | understood it thus but Ros-
N is Of a different opinion, and has said to
ne what cannot reply to: M. de Villiers,'
aid he to me, will never marry Mademoiselle
lie Boistrudan, for shall kill him."
(No ho Cont;nuod