The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-09-06

terVlew, but positively declined 70 fatigue
himself with an unnecessary journey. The
letter was carefully and fully directed, reg
istered and posted by the Count himself
In the ordinary coarse of events, an an
swer was due in four or FIVE days at the
fartherest but fortnight passed without
any, and at length he received the following
dated from Rome:
"SIR 81 beg to acknowledge the honor
which you have done me by addressing a
letter to me at my house in Florence, and
must apologize for my inability to under
stand it. Your name is strange to me; l
was never in the place from which you
write; l have not been in Florence for sew
eral months and must conclude that there
is some mistake. It is possible that my
name has been assumed by rascally valet
who robbed me, last year, Of several pr
vate papers and considerable sum of
money, but whom could not conveniently
prosecute"
Then followed description which Tailed
exactly with the appearance of our Baron.
1t seems that the letter, being registered,
had been sent on to the real Baron at his
residence in Rome, instead Of being deliv-
cred to the false one at the address given by
him at Florence.
The Princess was no doubt overwhelmed
with shame at finding that she had been en- :
couraging q valet instead of his master; f or
she at once admitted the Count to the priv
lege Of paying her more attention than
ever. I think, too, she really liked him.
Anyhow, he had proved himself substanti
ally able to protect her and the scufle 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 rumor-
ed that the marriage was to take place from
| our hotel before Lent
1.-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 baron, my dear,
demonstrated; mot real one, mean, as
the children say"
"Well; and perhaps this is not real
count" u.
''Dear me! what joke it would be If he
| turned out to be somebody's butler. Iwish
some Yankee would come and ask him a lit
tie about his place. We want q little life
here just now"
That day we had another fresh face at the
| table d'hotel; this time an Englishman's.
He was very taciturn, but liked to look at
the company and listen to the conversation,
and was much struck. with the Count. 1t
| occurred to me, too, that the Count noticed
him . good deal, SO much so as to refuse
some Of the choicest dishes. But no one
conversed with the stranger, and after din
ner he retired to his room-the Baron's old
room-and we saw no more of him till the
next day dinner. There was the same curl
osiry on the part of the Count, who, by the
way, spoke German exclusively now; but
the stranger was absorbed in his dinner.
Afterward he strolled into the billiard room
to smoke q cigar.
| By and by the Count and l went in to
have quiet game, and there we found the
new arrival comfortably lolling in an ample
rock ing chair. ~
The Count played badly, missing the cas-
lest strokes You're off your play to-
| night, Count" l said; '.what,s the mat
| teri"
Don't mind ne, gentlemen" said the
stranger; II hope my being here don't
make the Count neryous'-he put very re-
| markable emphasis on the title-"I don't
play the sentimental way myself, though l
| do see good many queer games at odd
times Now, was you ever in Scarboro.
sir?" addressing the Count. "Nol Leeds?
No! Hull? where the steamers start for
| Bremen? No? Manchester, perhaps? No.
Not been to Manchester? Then'-he had
been sliding gradually nearer and nearer to
the door as he talked, and was now between
| it and the Count-.then suppose you and
hal hor IonH
son, on this warrant I've got against you,
Manchester for three thousand five hundred
pounds! Oh. yes; it's all right, and it's no
good making row. My names Inspector
Rawlings, of the detective police, and me
and my D an here have had pretty hunt
after you; he and the gensdormes are wait
| ing for you outside the door,
Poor Princess with the two strings to her
bow, and both of them rotten! Still my
wife would'n pity her yet.
But my dear. / expostulated, 1.-The poor
| thing will have to marry Russian now,
perhaps o Laplander. or one of those fellows
that drink train-oil with their dinner. And
! she such . monstrous fine woman, too, to
say nothing Of her rank!'
However, we had but little further call on
our sympathy, for the next day she left the
hotel.
$50 the Princess is off, said to the
maitre, the same day, while paying my
weekly bill.
Monster said
II said the Princess is off-gone, alice,
sortin, partie. you know"
s.Osi, osi; but then, the Princess; who
does monsieur wish to say. princess?"
"Why, Of course, the Princess of-wen,
the Russian princess that didn't marry the
Baron or the"
"Ah, bah, Who would call her prin-
cess!-
why, you made us believe she VA" l
Indignantly rejoined. ''by making believe
she ,casat.''
But monsieur remembers withou. doubt
that said she Was not princesse!"
$50 you did; but there's way Of saying
no and looking yes"
pardon, monsieur. The lady desired re-
pose and to be in particular: and l, l -
sisted that she should so be"
well, now she's gone, IN fact, rAot Is
shes-