The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-06-12
vICISSITUDES OF A MILLION.

The Viscount Robert de P was
twenty-five years Of age, had an income
Of $4,000 livres. with good looks, an il
! lustrious name, and could have made q
very brilliant marriage. He ought te
have been the happiest man in the world
He had only one regret-he had nothing
to do. He was unhappy at his happi-
ness. He needed a little bitter in his
cup Of perpetual sweets, but heaven re-
fused to grant it to him. He resolved to
fly to other lands, there to seek the fati-
CUES, the suferings and the novelties he
lacked
So five years ago he entered by chance
an auction room, just'as they were put
ting up a capital portable writing desk.
He was about to travel, and it was just
what he needed ; SO he bought it for three
hundred francs
1t probably cost more than ten times
that sum. In the interior were compart-
ments for everything, and plate bore the
name of Lord N. one OF the richest
peers of England, He was enchanted
with his purchase, and carried it home in
triumph. Some days after he set out for
Spain. Ashe went from Madrid to Cadiz.
he was stopped by thieves, who complete
ly robbed him. The only thing that he
missed was his desk. He prayed them to
return it. They refused, but their chief,
Don Jose Maris, promised to send it after
him to Cadiz, on receipt Of ransom
Robert promised two hundred reals, and
gave the address of the hotel where he
meant to stop when at Cadiz. He sent
the money and got the desk.
In America, in the wilds of Mexico,
his desk was carried off by the Mexicans.
He thought it lost. -Four months after
wards he found it in shop in Vera Cruz,
and paid five hundred francs for it.
In 1862, having returned to France, he
thought Of going to Baden. He passed
the summer there, and went to Paris, Wis
iting Cologne and Aix-la-Chapelle on the
way.
Arrived at the frontier which separates
France from Belgium, he fell into the
hands of the custom-house officers. Some
days before, some skillful fellows had de-
frauded the customs to a considerable
amount; consequently, the officers were on
their guard The search was long, and
the Viscount became furious.
"What do you fear" he asked angrily.
ooh sir, objects Of great value can be
concealed in small space"
"Have I the air Of a smuggler?" he
asked.
''No; but there are ambassadors who
smuggle without scfuples."
The search was continued, and the Wis
count was astonished to see the officers
open drawers in his desk, of the existence
Of which he was ignorant. At last, full
of impotence, he wished to reclaim it.
"Now that you have seen ALL" be said,
Hlet us not prolong this unpleasant inves
tigation."
"What did you say ?"
II say that you have seen all, and
know that I have nothing contraband"
"Your GOODNESS, sir, makes me pity you.
Have you nothing to bring forth? If you
do SO, you will be freed by paying the dues;
if not, and [ find anything, there will be
both confscation and fine"
"But you have seen all"
"Perhaps." A
"What do you mean by perhaps?"
cit is well made. Any one but myself
might have been deceived"
"But I swear to you that you have seen
ALL"
"Why deceive me !? am going to prove
to the contrary"
eff you find anything else I will swear
know nothing Of it."
ga poor excuse. I warn you that l
do not believe you"
"Let US finish this bad joke as quick as
possible"
eve will, and 50 much the worse fer
you"
And with nail the officer pressed
against what was apparently little orna-
ment, which few back, disclosing draw
er in which was paper parcel.
The officer took it out, looked at it, snd
put it back.
''That is not contraband," said he with
a bow, "and with so much money l was
wrong to accuse you"
But the Viscount was stupifad with
establishment.
'Bank notes! But did not put them
there"
'sYou are very fortunate, sir. if yea can
forget million SO readily"
In fact there were million pounds
sterling.
The viscount took the notes, counted
them, replaced them, aud determined to
find the owner. Arrived at London, he
sought out Lord NJ, whose name was
engraved inside. The nobleman affirmed
that the money was not his. He had
given this desk to former valet Of his,
whose address he gave the Viseount.
This valet was now . wealthy shop
keeper in Pail Mall. He told the Wis
count that he knew naught Of the money,
but while in Italy had sold the desk to
Count Luigi Settimauni, who was i'm
mensaly rich, and il whose service ha then
was.
The Viscount set out for Italy, and
went to Raveana, where Count Ssttima-
Uni lived. He recognized the desk, but
avowed that he had never placed aay
money in it. He sen. the Viseount, how
ever, to the Sigaora Laura R, for
mer prima donna Of the San Carlo, whose
house. in his gay days, he had forgotten
his desk. The Signora Laura recognized
the desk. and related that she had given