The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-26

HdQ TAKEN pldCt III lQe eApFts5 uiBut tThiu
from Paris 10 Marseies, on my route to Algeria
and Morocco. There was nothing remarkable in
my fell0w-trayeeTs, nor IN their conversation,
until we arrived at the third or fourth station,
where we received an addition to our party in the
person OF a passenger, as remarkable for the
nestness Of his equipment as the perfectly gen
tlemanly style of his general appearance. Every
thing about him exhibited the taste Of a man of
the upper ten thousand, who had plenty of money
at his command, and was accustomed to the best
society.
Up 10 the present time, as the conversation of
nv fellow.traveers had consisted of nothing
more interesting TO a stranger than the prospects
Of the harvest and the vintage, | half dOzed in
the corner Of the carriage, quietly enjoying my
cigar.
what splendid cigar that Is you are smoking
knew it to be an Havana, by the aroma the mo-
ment / entered the carriage. You cannot get
such thing now in France, at any price, unless
you import them yourself, and then you must get
a special order to do so from the government.
Nevertheless, fine as yours undoubtedly are,
think mine are equally good" said he, handing
me at the same time his cigar case 70 help myself
This led to q most animated conversation, and II
was struck by the diStiHgU6 appearance of the
stranger at first half an hours conversation
showed me that he was man of rare ability.
Like myself, be was also a great traveller; had
been all over Europe and great part of Asa aud
Northern Africa, spoke several OF the languages
Of Europe with great f1ency, as well as q little
Russian ard Turkish and, while comparing notes,
found he was as well acquainted with the man
ners and customs Of the various countries he had
visited as myself-a very unusual thing in French
men, who have nothing of the passion of the
English for travelling, and rarely speak any
foreign language sufficiently well to make them.
selves understood.
During the whole night we amused ourselves
with details of our adventures, and anecdotes
Of the strange characters we had met with dur
ing our travels; took refreshments together at
different Bullets along the line; treated each
other in the same friendly, conhding manner as
II we had known each other for years. Nothing
occurred to interrupt our harmony until arrived
at Marseilles, where, having secured place in
the steamer hound for Algiers, we sat down to
comfortable breakfast at our hotel | had, how
ever, scarcely taken the first mouthful when the
waiter entered, telling me there was a gentleman
waiting to me in the adjoining room.
glance was sufficient TO tell me that the person
who had sent for me was an agent of the police.
Monsieur est Angldis'" said he, rather
abruptly.
" Old monsieur
al thought so. You have come direct from
Paris, and you are on your way to Algiers you
took some refreshment at Lyons. and drank
bottle Of old Chambertin with your cOnlpdgROn
de UOyGge Of the railway carriage
Most accurately described" replied.
"Did you ever meet with the gentleman be-
fore?"
Never"
"Of course, then, you know nothing of his his.
tory or antecedents "
Absolutely nothing"
No doubt you find him very pleasant COM
panion.u
F" never met with one more agreeable or gen.
tlemanly."
so much the worse for those he selects as his
victims. Just look and see If you have lost any.
thing"
mo; here is my money all right in my pocket.
book, and there are my dispatches in the breast
pocket of my coat"
Marvellous most marvellous" cried my ir.
terrogator. "You will no doubt be astonshed
when / tell you that you have made the acquan-
lance of one OF the most accomplished cheUdliers
d'induSfrie at this moment in all Europe, who,
notwithstanding his disreputable calling, is q
noblemsn, and related to some Of the first families
in France. We have nothing against him at
present for the very best reason, that he has
only Just completed his term of Imprisonment !;
but he is such q wonderful actor, and his dis
guises are so numerous, and so true to nature,
that even the Argus eyes of the most vgilant
agent dc police is deceived Indeed it was only
by the slightest chance recognized him, and the
owe il entirely TO that strong bottle of Burgundy
he helped you to drink al Lyons but so it is. aud
has ever been, in nine cases out of ten, the cley
crest men in crime that have had to do with
lose their wits when they take glass too much.n
On saying this, he turned on his heel, aud
most unceremonously Quilted the room.
| was bewildered. | knew not what to
think. Might it not be a case of mistaken iden-
other. The more thought, the more considered
the matter, the more / believed had arrived at
the right conclusion. What, so perfect gentle.
man as that, TO be q common pilfereri-a CON-
mon pickpocket PreposterOus | had lost no.
thing; on the contrary, he had plenty Of money
at command, and throughout the journey paid
bis share of whatever we had in common, as every
otl er hiRh-spirited gentleman would have done.
| was lost in Gmszement and full of confidence in
the honorable character of my friend. | entered
the breakfast ROOM aud laughingy said, in the
of hand manner OF a man who disbeeves in toto
what he is about to say: do you know, mon
sieur, that have just had q visit from an agent
de police, who has told me that you are one Of
the greatest eScrOcs Of the day Zone of the most
accomplished cteralierS d'iaduStrie at this me.
ment in EurOpeW
Monsieur have you seen anything in my con-
duct during our short acquaintance 10 warrant
such q supposition?n he answered, drawing him
self up with all that Indignation of manner and
bearing that might be expected from a gentle.
man who felt himself injured by an unjust sus.
picion.
Nothing ~ exclaimed; con the contrary, in
al my travels, have never met with acompaniou
! liked so much, no one that was more amusing,
aud all regret is that did not kick the fellow
down staiTs.n
"Don't be so bssty. monsieur. Appearances
are ell IN my favor but, alas every word the
agent told you il too true. am sorry dog, for.
having lost all that had. and afterward what my
friends and relatives could spare, | have beea
compelled, for the last four or five years, to live
by my wits. Still, during all that time, l never
forgot that was gentleman. Ny quarries when
want money, are those that prey upon the weak
ness Of their fellow creaturesyour princes Of the
state and church, your rich inanciers. bank
efs, and stock jObbers; but never yet have
taken cent from poor gentleman. My scoits
at the Hotel des Princes, where you were staying,
put me on false scent. ] certainly did intend to
do little business on my own account, ct your
expense, when took my place with you in the
carTlaae. And ne If
the Dumberless opportunities l had of taking
every fsrthing you were possessed of, il / was so
inclined. But, no; | very soon saw you bad no
money to spare, and 70 spoil such as YOU mSn-
sieur, would be worse than sacFilege. Above all
you charmed me with your conversation aud ad-
ventures: you made me happy; was again a
gentleman, and you treated me a. one. II re
called to my remembrance the brighter period Of