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


| and arrested"
But moment ago you denied the reality of
the crime"
:" only say one thing, NJ. lie Comte: that
there is no donbt 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 we'll; did not know
it, said the count, as he left the room.
While they were conversing together, the
baron made several vain efforts to rise. He
experienced the supreme anguish of man
who, while still in the possession of-his cacul-
ties, feels they are leaving hm-of man who
hes 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
so early, and, when alone with her husband
asked anxiously:
"What can be the matter with yong"
And You too, you too" he replied pushing
her from him. as he raised his blood shot eyes.
We 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 the life Of NJ.
le Baron, of any fact that may have left dis
agreeable remembrance"
doctor, do you mean guilty remem-
brance |"
".No, madame; something terrifying"
The baroness thought long time.
"No," said she, mot one. Our life has
always passed most TRANQUILITY. You know
how neonle Of the world Iva wall on live
and have always lived. My husband is quiet
man, who has never had quarrel in his life
with any one, and has never done an ipjury
that know Of"
"You have never seen in the baron any anx
ety of conscience 7"
"Any anxiety of consciencef IIei Why
should he have anyH He has never in his life
done anything to reproach himself with"
The baron" replied the doctor, " has tho
reputation of being benevolent and kind
hearted. don't think he is naturally very
imaginative; do you, madame T"
" Not at all, doctor. l 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''
" 1t was one day when nothing strange had
happened. Some one had been speaking of a
young sculptor, who is now very famous.
friend told us that he owed his success to
rich banker, who had discovered his talents by
some happy accident, and had aided him with
his fortune aud influence. When our guests
had left, and we were alone, thought he would
kill himself, now, without the slightest
| reason"
" In his daily life does he show any eccen-
tricity of which 1 am yet ignorantf"
Not precisely eccentricity," said Nine. de
Brienne. His tastes have changed very
much, but that cannot be called eccentricity.
He formerly spent quite II fortune in purchasing
pictures, of which he has a very fine collection,
that he admired extravagantly now he never
looks at them But he has always been
rather tickle"
Does he talk in his seep!7
No; but one morning (now that You make
mo think of iD he awoke terribly frightened
Mt dream. 'Ah what dream l have had
he said TO me. His face looked worn and hag-
gard, and. as l begged him to relate it, he
turned away his eyes, and refused perempto-
ri'y. ! insisted, but lac kept silent, and have
never been able to make him relate it."
The doctor reelected
90 Perhaps that is the whole secret" said he
- But if we were to ask him about it now
probably Tomorrow would be obliged to
| coniine him."
"Conhne him y cried the baroness. " Do
| you think him seriously affected3 ?"
g Very seriously, madame, and moro SO as he
| is perfectly sane in relation to other affairs.
| His mania is confined to ono point, and is what
We call ballucination. My duty compels me to
tell You, madame, that it is a where sci
| ence up to the present time has been very nm
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 prided
| himself on never having done foolish thing
he only bought pictures of known 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.
| remember once he even refused-..."
Nevertheless" interrupted the DOCTOR "the
| case is very serious"
The baron was alone in his room. His wife