The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-30
may give of this affair will be death blow to
you. Look ont for yourself my lord"


may give of this affair will be death blow t.
: you. Look ont for yourself, my lord"
The Duke went to the appointed place ut thu
hour named, and waited some time without
seeing any one. At length behind the desig
mated tree no saw young man. He passed
tunity of speaking to him, but the man wa,
silent. Tben the Duke asked him if he had
anything to say to him. The reply was, "No
lam am not acquainted with you" s. am the
| fou have something to say to me-" "No,
haven't" said the young man, whereupon the
great Duke took no for an answer and went
Within a couple of days he received another
letter couchcd in terms of gratitude for his
punctuality, but finding fault with the Dukes
with Displaying the Order of the Garter,
and putting on too much style" generally.
The writer then appoints meeting to take
place IN Westminster Church. in the west nave,
the following Sunday at ii o'clock.
He remarks that the Dukes natural sagacity
will enable him to divine whom to address.
He must ask the person for his name and
which information the DIXIE must send by
penny post" E200 or G300 sterling in bank
notes, and not to be too anxious to satisfy Lis
curiosity, the writer having some excellent
friends, who, however, will not bark until he
is bitten.
Upon this the good John Churchill, Duke of
Marlborough, trots OFF to the church at II
natural sagacity prompts him to speak to. But
behold soon appears the very identical young
man whom he had seen in the park, now ae-
companied by gentleman, who looked like a
well-to-do merchant. They shut the door as
they entered the church. Although he put
himself in their way they took no notice of
him; the merchant went into the choir and the
young man approached the Duke, who asked
him II he had anything to say to him. No,
my Lord, he answered. After walking up and
down the church few moments, one on one
left
few days after this second frnitless adven-
ture, he received another letter. 1t accused
him OF having placed spies in the church, an
" effect of weakness and human frailty," and
again threatening his life
The writer. then prophesies that the Duke
VIII discover his residence; that he must send
for him and he will come to the Dukes, but
warns him that their interview must be pri-
vate, that he must pledge his word of honor
that what transpires must be secret, and that
all his previous conditions must be complied
with-(the money y. He then launches forth
into the most terrible threats.
The vengeance of tho anonymous writer re-
manned in allegiance for two months, when the
Duke received another letter, which ran thus
Milford Duke-I have reason to believe that
the son of certain Bernard, architect, living
in the blind alley of Arlington, Westminster
way, knows certain secret thing which concern
the city. This fact will leave you more at
liberty to freely question him. 1t will be use-
less as well dangerous for me to give you
further information about this affair.
Your sincere friend, ANONYMOUS.
+. She often goes to the restaurant at
Story's Gate"
The Duke sent messenger to this restau-
rant. where he found Mr.. William Bernard, |
who inquired what the Duke of Marlborough |
wanted with him that he had SPOKEN to him |
twice, but that he would call at the Dukes
house. And he did, and he was the very same
young man that the Duke had seen in the park |
and in Westminster Cathedral! Now, this
was curious. Marlborough took him iuto q |
private room, where no put his former question |
to him, reeeiying the same reply.
The Duke told him about the letters, and
bernard answered that he knew nothing about !
the matter, thoHgh his name had been brought |
into it, and that at the time mentioned his /
father was, indeed, out of town. Then" said |
the Duke, lit is extraordinary that a man |
who was able to write correctly, without
the least fault in expression, could give himself
up to such base and shameful actions"
The quaint chronicler who tells this story
gives Chesterfield his authority for saying
that Marlborough was remarkably Ignorant
guage correctly. No wonder. then, at his sur
prise that u man could not turn his education |
to better use than Matchmaking attempts.
Bernard smiled and said that man might
be very well educated aud yet be in the OK
treme of misery. eff you are innocent" replied
the Duke, 1T is even more TO your interest
than mine to discover the author of these let
ters, for it is an atrocious crime to have black
ened your reputation since You gave no cause"
Bernard smiled again and took leave.
The letters Were put under the door of MARI
borough's office during the night. Shortly
after the interview the Duke had the young
man arrested and he was tried.
1t appeared on the trial that Marlborough,
the warrior, went to neither of the appointed
interviews without placing some three or four
people in hiding for his protection, to say moth
ing of being armed himself.
Witnesses for the prosecution concurred in
say ing that Bernard seemed surprised that the +
Duke should 90 ont of his way to notice him
but supposed he wanted to give him some
place! When asked what he had to say in
bis defence, he said, " Nothing. l leave to the
Court and jury the examination of the proofs
for and against me-"
For the defence was called John Bernard,
father of the accused.
He swore that he had told his son to go to
Rensington the very Sunday that the Duke
.ceosted him in Hyde Park; that Bernard,
Jr., was a good and careful young man, that
le had at that time no less than 200 guineas