The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-10-12
Selected story.
An Official Blunder.

became necessary flof the government to be |
on IT'S guard, to thwart the plots which the |
Socialists We're organizing against it In every !
part OF the country Those arch enemies OF 4
order and established government worked |
their affairs well, however, and gave the ofii-
cials no little trouble As. fast as one plot |
was detected and foiled another was organ
iZed and for time The danger seemef To IN
crease daily. 1 ,sF, IL
One morning, Eueene Larome, who had
been told by his chiefa few days before, 10
hold himself IN readiness TO obey summons |
from tbe government received a message to |
D. attend a certain high official without delay
IJpon repairing 10 the presence of that per
solage, he was received politely. @Monsieur
Iaromie. said the official, 1.-THE Chief of tha
secret Police has designated you as The ner-
son most deserving the confidence Of the GOV
ernment in conducting certain matters of i'm
porlahce. A conspiracy against the State is
known 10 be In existence. You are desired
! 10 unravel it, and am authorized to saw that
II you do SO to the satisfaction of the Emper-
q OF, you VIII be handsomely rewarded At
present we know nothing OF the parties con
+ eSernea IN II. Our suspicious have been reused
10y TINS paper, which was found on the street
IN front OF the residence of Count --, the
Ambassador OF ----. Youmust putus in
possession OF the remaining facts OF the case"
10 As he spoke he handed the young man a
d small periumed sheet of note paper, contain
50 i rss only the sentence h'goi'. 49, H. t.
"May not this be merely an assignation in
d. stead of the evidence OF a conspiracy Tfasked
Laromie, smiling, s4fse
Monsieur Laromie," replied the official,
Struggling his shoulders; ''the government has
an especial reason for believing itself to be
right in this matter. 1t can give you no clue
but tilis paper 1t relies upon your sagacity
TO discover the rest. l have the honor 10 hid
tend YOU"
Iaking the hint so politely given, Laromie
ie't tne oihclat to his duties, and started out
. 10 think over the task assigned him lie GER
fanny promised to be very difficult. He had
only an unintelisbe paper 70 work upon
ana Tue government expected him to discov7
er the whole matter. Laromie was a shrewd
man, and now be felt that his reputation was
at stake, he resolved TO exert himself TO the
utmost to succeed, h ~. s.-lf .-.-..4n.l
The paper was found in front of The resi-
dence OF the Ambassador from -- whose
government was known to be hostile to the
empire. Remembering this, Laromie proceed
ed TO the Office OF his chief, and procured a
'' complete list of the entire legation from the
minister himself, down to the humblest at
taehe. lie studied this, and watched the
mansion Tor couple OF days, but without be-
ing any the wiser Tor his trouble. ii.Et-,
by shouldn't it be an assignation after
all r he asked himself going back to his orig
mai idea. why shouldn't Rivoli stand for
hue Ri6od, and forty-eight for the number of
80 a house on that street? Ha! / have itw
sudden inspiration flashing through his mind.
len stands for the tenth of the month. six
Tor the sixth month which is June, and fifty
thfee Tor the year. There l. have the whole
sehtence-forty- eight, Rue Rivoli, tenth of
June, 1888. Why it's as plain as the nose ON a
nllii FACE, rs an assignation beyond a
doubt, ana the ministers are worrying them
serves over an effort directed at nothing but
the peace of a pretty woman IN stake nv
reputation on it that L am correct. Now to
see what sort ola place is No. forty eight" 4
h, Acting upon the impulse which had Dos
sessed INN, and which was one of those sud
den inspirations that so often befall men train
ed IN his profession, I4arome set off for the
Eue Rivoli. The more he thought of it, the
more he felt convinced that he was right No
conspirator would have made use of SO simple
cipher, ana the pertumed note paper, and
tho delicate hand in which the sentence was
Is written. made it plain that a woman was con
cerned In the matter. Reasoning thus i'm his
mind, he entered the Rue Rivo. and soon
came opposite the mysterious number, forty
eight ...ss r'l4. i3..IL 10y I~I1
The house was large, handsome, private
residence. 1t was evidently the dwelling of
some person of wealth, and upon inquiring of
geaddrnae who stood near by, Laromie learn
ca mat the house was the properly of Mon
sleur ID Encourt, wealthy banker. Being of
very communicative nature, the qenddrnae
added that Monsieur D'Encourt was happy
man, lnasmuch as he was the husband of the
most beautiful woman in Paris. He had mar
rled her only a year before, when she had
been sthe reiSniDS favorite at the Theatre
Comique 800 d.. s 1900
An, there she is now" lie exclaimed. as a
carriage drew up before the house. $780,.
Lafomie was all attention, and placed him
sell SO as to command a full view of the lady
as she aliShted from her carriage. She de-
served all that her humble admrer had said
OF her. She was regally beautiful She pa,s.
Cd INTO the house almost Immediately. and
i.aroHie after lettering about for short while
longer, left the street, and was soon in the
presence OF the chief police. q
DO you know Madame D'Encourt ofthis
city 7" he asked the chief, carelessly. -
10y reputation, only. You know, have to
Keep myself informed concerning every one of
note here" til t.l'il III
Nv hat is her character ?o - -r--
te''s :" "e.t,,oofIsil woman, young enough
TO be her husbands daughter. She doesp'f
money. 'o- ''''
''Do you think her capable Of CONSUMING
against the government %
Ille Chief burst into laIlgh.
e nonsense, Lafomie. She has too tender a |
ieeiing tor certain member of the govern I
ment,s TO seek to do it any harm. No. nv
friend the only ntrigues she cares to engage
M threaten more harm to herhusband's peace
OF mind than to the Emperor" edag
That evening, Laromie posted himselfat the
entrance OF the grand opera, having learned
ffom Madame DEncourts .coacbman. that
she would be there. AT last the lady arrival
Suffering her to pass into the box he waited
patiently until the close OF the performance. |
and then placing himself immediately behind |
her, followed her toward her CARRIAGE Inst 1
before they reached the street entrance he |
took advantage of the crowd around them
ana leaning toward her, said in a low, distinct |
tone; nH er ss.l i,,.as ....l ~ - -
three" .'.. - - 10y
g.. She uttered slight scream, and turned
SHARPLY around; but the detective had drawn
back among the crowd. There was an anxions
look on her face as she turned around. I,sro-
lnie ielt convinced that he had found tbe
writer ofthe mysterious note
The next day Madame DEncourt was in
formed that man desired to speak with her.
she bade the domestic to show him into the
room where she was seated. She glanced AFT
hlln III surprise. His beard was worn n1,ch
heavier than was the custom in rance and
nlS mn was long and inclined to curl. His |
iorchead was traversed by deem scar which |
terminated in the corner ofhis lett eve pivin1 |
nm singular and not very attractive appear'
ance. If'ilI - ''PP'"'
.You wish to see me, l believe said tho
lady, as he entered N '''o
Madame is right. 1 have heard that sbe |
WISHES TO employ confidential seryant---one
upon whose discretion she can always RELY y
said the man calmly. ;, ~ r''"'' i'S' /
"Wel?" zoe ~ --,is' as.iie fau
CO., nave come to solicit the place. feeling
sure that can give entire satisfaction. ~
GU? Why, yon look like a brinando
SAID the lady, laughing. Il should never sIean
ia peace with you in the house, IL
nevertheless" replied the man calmly c
not think Madame can do bettern
Wnat are you good for? What can Won |
can keep secret, madame can see
tnat a lady does not suffer too much from sus |
plclon on the part OF her hrlsband.n was the
significant reply" ~ "''~ -
Madame DEncourt's color heightened and
que loohed al the man searchingIy; but he
met her gaze calmly and without embarrass-
ment I = e'A''a Oh 90" a
T.. what is your name?" she asked, abrupt-
Eustache Peloubert.> s 44il..t
!. MY Wy do you wish to enter nv seryice9,
moor Wy Goes the bright flame draw the
piN iho'h 10 it, madame ?" was the cool re-
% ran can natter, see,' said the ladv laugb-
ing. mat shows you have foot i" p. 49, -.
me, sne sad sharply" don't yant,,ua .' n'aln