The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-18

planation given.
But, of course, an explanation was to
be demanded; F.; and as soon as the din
ner was over, the Baron sought, and OBJ
tanned a tete-a-tete in a corner of the
SALES des Danes. We all had the de-
cency toread G0lig1aani, rplay bezique,
or otherwise to throw veil over our
curiosity, as we anxious1y watched the
development of the plot, and tried to
hedge our bets before it was too late.
Suddenly the Baron started to his
feet, and uttered a loud execrative ex-
clamation, which decline to translate
His soul now most clearly betrayed his
passionateness, but there was rather more
light than sweetness in his eyes as he
glared round the room in search of the
hapless American.
We all sprang to our feet, too the
ladies near the door rapidly retreated,
and the men looked at one another,
half-amused, half-angrily.
eff I knew who had poisoned the
the mind of madame, I would dilaniate
him-tear him in pieces" shrieked the
Baron. ''That viper of an Ameri-
can -
"It was not the American" an
swered the Count, coming quietly out
of recess 1 told madame what he had
discovered"
The Baron SO far forgot the perfect
ness of his manners and evident desire
to please as with his open palm to slap
the Count on the face. But in another
second he found himself in that phys1c-
al checkmate known as chancery
got his head under his rivals left arm,
who was holding it down to convenient
level for the right hand to bob his nose
and there, before the Princess, in the
SaI1 I1ai = n
from the British ring chairs and tables
going everywhere, as the quadrupedal
monster performed its erratic revolu-
tions, amid the screams of women, the
shouts of men, the groans of the maitre,
and the indescrihable cries of astonish-
ment uttered by the whole staff of the
hotel, which had been gathered to-
gether at the door by the first exclama-
tions of the Baron.
The Anglo-Saxon nationality having,
in spite of the principle of non-inter-
vention, separated the Latin and the
Teuton, the defeated combatant was
assisted to his room, and lookedto byan
English doctor who happened to be at
the hotel, and who reported that, with
the exception of couple of broken
teeth, nothing of consequence was to
be apprehended beyond a further
requis.tion of his services at a rencon-
tire of different character, which. how
ever, would not be possible for some
little time, owing to difficulty the pa
tient had in seeing. And the next
morning we found that the maitre had
given the Baron notice to quit the Bon
Vivant forthwith and SO we saw no
more of the Baron -Monteggiana-T -Tayer-
nellie.
In ten days or so, the Count received
a letter from him, dated at Florence.
In it the Baron demanded satisfaction,
and required that the Count should meet
him at Florence, or, if more convenient,
at Rome. In reply, the latter expressed
his readiness for an interview, but posi-
lively declined to fatigue himself with
on unnecessary journey. The affair
could very well be settled in the place
where it began. The letter was care
fully and fully directed, registered and
posted by the Count himself.
In the ordinary course of events, an
answer was due in four or five days at
the farthest; but fortnight passed
the following, dated from Rome
"SIR: 1 beg to acknowledge the
honor which you have done me by ad-
dressing letter to me at my house in
Florence and must apologize for my
inability to understand it. Your name
IS strange to me was never in the
place from which you write; / have
not been in Florence for several months );
and must conclude there is some mis-
take. 1t is possible that my name has
been assumed by rascally valet who
robbed me last year of several private
papers and a considerable sum of
money, but whom [ could not con-
veniently prosecute. -
Tbou foIIOra1 Al,
Tailed exactly with the appearance of
our Baron. It seems that the letter,
being registered, had been sent on to
the real Baron, at his residence in Rome,
instead of being delivered to the false
one at the address given him at Flor
ence.
The Princess was, no doubt, over
whelmed with shame at finding that
she had been encouraging a valet in
stead Of his master for she at once adj
mitted the Count to the privilege of
paying her more attentions than ever. I
think, too, she really liked him. Any
how, he had proved himself substan-
TALLY able to protect herr and the scuffie
with his rival had in no degree lessened
him in her esteem.
OF course, we were not behind the
scenes; and could only Judge of the
probable course of events by such little
evidences as chance might throw in our
way but it was rumored that the mar
riage was to take place from our hotel
before Lent.
The sooner the BETTER" said my
wife eff another man comes forward
with better prospects, she'll throw
over the Count, just as she did the
Baron"
But you see he wasn't a Baron, my
DEAR" I demonstrated "not real
one, mean, as the children say
Well, and perhaps this is not a real
Count.
"Dear me what joke it would be
if he turned out to be somebody's but
ler! wish some Yankee would come
and ask him q little about his
place. We want little life here just
now.
That day we had another fresh face at
the table d'hote this time, an English
mans. He was very taciturn, but liked
to look at the company and to listen to
the conversation, and was much struck
with the Count. It occurred to me,
too that the Count rotinQd him a OO01