The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-08-21
They separated. George took the hand Of
the old general, who asked him:
care Won satisfied z"

/ ARE you sa0isAeu!
ssWithin an hour we shall know" answer
| George. He reached the dressing room
wrapped himself in his cloak, and left.
On the Quay d'Orsay the man whom W
have described as crouched under the littl
gate in the wall of the garden Of the Hote
de Boistrudan, was still at the same place II
had his head between his two hands, and re
NAMED perfectly motionless.
Several patrols passed along the quay, Blu
no one perceived this man, whose gray blan
ket SO much resembled in color the old wall
So cold was it, one would have supposed thi
poor devil to be stifened and frozen in hi
niche.
Some minutes after George Leslie left thu
saloon of the marchioncss; rapid step was
heard in the snow, on the side Of Rue de Bel
lechasse. A man enveloped in mantle turn
ed the corner of the guard house and emerg
ed upon the quay, directing his steps toware
the Place de la Concorde.
| The individual crouched under the gate Of
the garden Of Boistrudan was not benumed
nor frozen, for he made movement Of the
head when he heared the smothered noise oil
the step in the snow. He threw of the blan-
ket from his ear, and listened attentiyely.
The man in the mantle passed near, with
out seeing him. A hoarse and cultural noise
escaped from the breast of the latter.
The man in the mantle stopped short.
"You are there" said he "Come with
me. It is time"
The other sprang up Immediately. He was
a man Of large frame, and perfectly erect
HIS blanket fellaround him even to the ground.
When he walked, he made no noise.
The two turned toward Rue de Bellechasss.
When they passed before the sentinel at
the guard house, this latter looked attentive
ly at the poor devil.
"You rise early, wanderer,' he said, be-
tween his teeth.
The other did not answer. But at this
moment gust Of wind, catching his blanket
at the corner of the street, made it futtcr be-
hind him. The sentinel said m
"a droll citizen Naked feet in the snow,
and a visage painted red. It will be the
carnival soon"
Within the street de Lille, before the por-
tai of the Hotel de Boistrudan, a long line OF
equipnges was stationed. The man in the
blanket planted himself in the middle Of the
street, and remained motionless. His COM
panion paced up and down. Before quitting
the man in the blanket, the one in the man
tie said:
ssAre you very sure that you will recognize
him ?'' -
ssTowah would know Golden Tongue among
thousand, !" he replied.
;sWhen he appears upon the threshold !
will whistle. Pay strict attention.
Some few Of the coachmen who were not
asleep upon their seats, remarked this singu-
lar parsonage, SO curiously clothed, and stand
ing SO erect. The cold was intense and sharp
-aggravated by northwestern wind which
seemed to cut the face. When the coachmen
would awake, they would beat their bodies
with their arms, to re-establish the circulation
of the blood. But Towah appeared insensi-
BILE of the cold. He was like statue.
The northwestern wind brought the sound
of the Tuileries' clock, which struck four in
the morning. A movement was made in the
interior of the hotel, and the outside folding
doors opened. The carriages entered, and
under the peristyle, the voices Of Wallets cried
out the noble names Of the marchioness' guests.
Towah glided between two carriages, and
placed himself in front Of the steps.
ssThe carriage Of the Viscount de Villiers,"
cried valet.
A whistle echoed down the street. Towah
advanced to the foot of the steps. The Wis
count descended, when he suddenly saw be-
fore him the bright eyes Of the Pawnee,
burning under his cowl. He recoiled as it
some one had struck him in the face.
His eyelids closed in spite Of himself. and
he felt his head swim. When he raised his
eyes (for the idea occurred to him that he was
the victim of an illusion) the phantom had
disappeared.
Henri entered his carriage and said to the
coachman
"To the Pont Royal"
The man in the blanket had rejoined his
companion on the other side of the street.
He said but this: -
cit is he -
A quarter past four sounded from the clock.
An elegant equipage, drawn by two fiery
black horses, stopped in the middle Of the
Point Royal. The footman opened it. A man
descended who wore ball costume under
large pelisse, trimmed with furs. The smok
ing horses struck the snow with their ice-shod
hoofs.
The equipage left, the master remaining
behind .ss
Two or three other carriages, coming from
The Hotel de Boistrudan, crossed the bridge
softly and without noise. When the last car
riage had passed, there was that strange 81
lence which marks the Partisan night, from
two to FIVE o'clock The march Of the senti-
Dels at the Tuileries could not even be heard,
their steps being mufled by the snow. Moth
ing could, in fact, be heard except the dull
noise of the river drifting down enormous
masses Of ice.
The viscount occupied the western path
way of the bridge. He staggered as if he
were drunk. He leaned against the parapct,
not to look at the river, but to support him
self. It was beautiful night, calm and
grand, but sad.
The Viscount Henri dc Villiers supported
his head on his two hands. His cold feet
sent all his blood to the head: and his face
flushed.
He looked inattentively at the large masses
Of ice which were passing under the bridge,
and which retarded the flow of the river
and sometimes his eyes turned, in spite of
himself, to where the large cakes Of ice were
lost in the distances on the river.