The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-14

notorious English pickpocket, who had
brought the Sergent ROkerre from Brux
elles, where he had lost sight of his man
to Spa, where he expected to find him
and it was precisely this Thompsonne thai
Bourbon described when he described
the individual he believed had robbed
him.
"I don't say he didn't commented
/ only say he didn't describe me-
Wait minute Monsieur Dard re-
turned. by means of this description you
were traced to the station; by means of il
it was ascertain ID you had taken a ticket
for Paris. The Sergeant Rokerre then
communicated BY telegraph with us, and
took other precautions in the event OF
your changing your mind with regard to
your destination. However, these proved
o'clock this evening. Monsieur Thomp-
some is too important parsonage for us
not to possess his signdlement. That tele-
graphed to us by the Sergeant Rokerre
from Spa agreed remarkably with the pen
portrait of the same which I OF course
consulted when the affair was placed in
my hands. So remarkably concluded
Monsieur Dard, that though the tele-
graph specified such things as that travel
ing dress you wear, as that purple and
black plaid, as that peculiarly fashioned
cap, had need of none of them to feel
certain you were the Thompsonne l
wanted the instant / came into the room
And you feel as certain of it still,
Monsieur Dard p
" Undoubtedly he said, smiling in
sufferably. Yet had reason to know the
Surete. could boast Of few abler agents
than this same Dard. l was curious to
hear why he was SO certain was his
ThompsOnne.
"' Before I prove to you am not, prove
to me am 1 asked him.
al will prove that to you in two words,
he declared calmly.
"He looked me in the eyes with cool
triumph in his own, as he leaned across
the table and said
"'The red portefeuille was distinctly
seen in your possession at the station la
6Gs at Spa
"'That is very probable returned.
"'Ahl You admit it? In effect, to
what good deny itY
al don't deny it the least in the world
"NoY Monsieur Dard replied, rising
with that confounded touch of melodrama
in his rising that taints all Frenchmen
more or less; no, you do not deny it, and
it would be useless if you did, because that
same red pOrtefeuille was again seen in
your possession at the station here in
Paris three-quarters of an hour ago.
admit it was in my possession there
too, Monsieur Dard.'
Because he went on, you have held
no communication with any one since, ex-
cept with me; because, therefore, and in
short, that red portefeuille and the forty
thousand-'
"'Excuse me, fifty thousand, I inter-
rupted, spitefully, spelling his peroration.
Because, he repeated, that red porte
feuille is-there = and he pointed with un-
hesitating forefnger straight at the inner
breast pocket of my travelling jacket,
where indeed my red morocco note-case
ought to have been.
al could scarcely well help grinning in
his sallow, blue shaven face, at the sell
and the swindle that was coming.
"The devil it isr I replied, turning so
as to expose that clean, artistic cut in my
garment. Il should be only too glad If
you were right about that, at all eventa
But what do you make of this, Monsieur
Dardr
"Monsieur Dard didn't seem to know
exactly what to make of it for minute or
two, / thought. Then he smiled that con-
founded smile of his, and wagged his head,
as it were admiringly.
1t is very clever he observed, won
derfully clever. But, my dear Monsieur
it will not do All no, it
will not do at all =
Eventually 1 gathered that Monsieur
Dard's opinion, belief, conviction, was
that had been operating on myself!
"And to make ones self out so far from
the robber as the robbed wouldn't have
been such bad move on the part of the
real Thompson, would it? Itwas notion,
though, which could only enter that in
dividuars head-or Monsieur Dard's; so
that, to Monsieur Dard, was simply more
positively the real Thompson than ever,
don't you see?
But that too clever little mans triumph
was of the briefest. The next moment
the door opened with q rush, and there
entered, perhaps more precipitately than
he had intended, an unmistakable subOrdi-
nate from the Rue de Jerusalem, whom
Monsieur Dard had prudently
put on guard outside, followed by some
one far more reassuring in the shape of
We're Lucingham.
"Some trouble to get at you, Dick,
said We're, when he perceived me. All |!
here is Monsieur Dard. Bon jour, Mon
sieur Dard'
Notwithstanding its natural impertur-
liability, the countenance of the agent OF
the Surete betrayed signs of exquisite dis
comfort at this salutatiOn; for Monsieur
Dard knew who We're was perfectly well.
He had taken certain instructions from the
Second Secretary in matter in which the
Embassy had Just employed him; and the
Second Secretary knew ne-Thompsonne
with the infinity of aliases, notorious
British pickpocket, and addressed me
familiarly as Dick
"Diablei diable diable 7 muttered dis
comfited Monsieur Dard in three different
keys. If this were the case, why The
inference was as obvious as it was un-
pleasant. was no more his Thempsonne
than he was himself
"At sign the subordinate withdrew.
We're seated himself, and looked from one
to the other of us.
"tPerhaps I'm de trop?' he inquired, as
if this idea had Just struck him. You've
business with Monsieur Dard, Dickg'
"No.' I returned, enjoying the specta-
Gle Monsieur Dard presented ineftably ;
its Monsieur Dard who has business
with me. Perhaps you can help him to
settle it.
"'All right. What's the rowF
"sMonsieur Dard has done me the
honor of arresting me- / explained.
"Ahl what fors'
"'Picking pockets at Spa
"Serve you right, you know
GAS being one ThOmpsonne, with an
infinity of aliases who picks pockets gen.
orally everywhere. Is it not 80, Monsieur
Dardr
"Eh, bien, oui ! that individual raped
out , for me, l confess, you are Thomp-
some. Unless And he glanced inter
negatively at We're. Which Jarcoar shook
his head obviously.
aSuch,' he said, is human depravity,
that. in spite of his ingenious counte-
nance, it's possible he may be Thomp-
some. On the neck of my conscience,
Dick. can't say you're not a swell mobs-
man, and have not been picking pockets
at Spa
at Allons doncr' muttered Monsieur
Dard impatiently.
"But, continued We're, i can say that,
except in the legitimate way Of whist and
billiards, you have never picked mine
And moreover, Monsieur Dard, though
YOU may be right, and society in general
wrong, I am bound to add that by society
in general, and by myself in particular,
this person has hitherto been held to be
one Richard Langley, and that, if moi
honest, he is at least written down honor
able in Debrett.'
"sDiable diable diable I in the three
different keys from Monsieur Dard again