The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-02


there is no doubt about the name of the assas-
| SIM"
The master of the house took the count by
the arm led him to the recess of a window.
"Ah! very well, very well I did not know
it," said the count, as he left the room.
While they were converting together, the
baron made several vain efforts to rise. He
experienced the supreme anguish of
who, while still in the possession of his facul-
ties, feels they are leaving him-of man who
has not tainted, but who is about to faint, and
who feels on his brow the first drops of cold
sweat. ~%-
The baroness made her excuses for leaving
80 early, and, when alone with her husband
asked anxiously:
"What can be the matter with you ?"
"And you too, You too" he replied pushing
her from him. as he raised his blood shot eyes.
I'VE must" said the doctor, enter into his
mania, SO as to endeavor to discover the cause.
We must make him talk without questioning
him. Do you know, madame, in tho life of NJ.
10 Baron, of any fact that may have left dis
agreeable remembrance"
doctor, do you mean o guilty remem-
brancep
'''No, madame; something terrifying."
The baroness thought long time.
"No," said she, mot one. Our life has
always passed most TRANQUILITY. You know
how people Of the world live WELL SO we live
| and have always lived Ny husband is quiet
| man, who has never had quarrel in his life
with any one, and has never done an Injury
that know Of"
"You have never seen in the baron any anx
iety of conscencof"
"Any anxiety of consciencei Hei Why
| should he have any7 He has never in his life
done nything to reproach himself WITH
1.-THE baron" replied the doctor, al has the
reputation of being benevolent and kind
hearted. don't think he is naturally very
imaginative; do you, madame T"
" Not at all, doctor. i think he is Just the
contrary. l can even say he has very little
faith"
"But when and where did you first perceive
the commencement of this mania''
cit was one day when nothing strange had
happened. Some one had been speaking of q
young sculptor, who is now very famous. A
| friend told us that he owed his success to a
rich banker, who had discovered his talents by
| ooLho happy aCS'ocubJ stho hdu diucu hlm Will
his fortune aud influence. When our guests
had left, and we were alone, thought he would
kill himself, as now, without the slightest
| reason"
"In his daily life does he show any eccen-
tricity of which am yet ignorant ~
"Not precisely eccentricity," said Nine de
Brieune. His tastes have changed very
much, but that cannot be called eccentricity.
He formerly spent quite fortune in purchasing
pictures of which he has n very fine collection
that he admired eNtravagantly now he never
looks at them. But he has always been
rather tickle"
"Does he talk in his sleeps'
"No; but one morning (uow that you make
me think of i) he awoke terribly frightened
at n dream. 'Ah! what n dream l have had
he said to me- His face looked worn and hag
gard, and, as 1 begged him to relate it, he
turned away his eyes, and refused pcrempto-
rily. insisted, but lie kept silent, and have
never been able to make him relate it."
The doctor reflected.
Perhaps that is the whole secret" said he
Z" But if were to ask him about it now
probably tomorrow would be obliged to
couiiue him." F}
"Coniue him p cried the baroness. Do
yon think him so seriously affccted2"
Z" Very seriously, madame, and moro SO as he
is perfectly sane in relation to other affairs
His mania is confined to one point, and is villa
we call ballucination. My duty compels me to
tell You, madame, that it is a case where sci
ence up to the present time has been very I'M
successful
But, doctor, never was there a man less
crazy. AS FOR the pictures, which was the only
passion ever knew him to have, he prded
himself on never having done a foolish thing
he only bought pictures of KIN, wn value, with
the signatures of the artist fully guaranteed
l, for instance, who am speaking to you, would
have sometimes acted more unwiscly than he
l remember once he even refused."
Nevertheless" interrupted the DOCTOR 9TH,
case is very serious"
The baron was alone in his room. His wifi,
listened attentively at the door, and wntche,
him through the key hole. He raised the cur
, taius shook the cushions on tho sofa, searche,
q around, and, when convinced that he wa