Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-11-18

AilO llldt Ill leulld----
" Vienna, a charming city! l am con-
tident that you will like itr'
II will see NJ. de Metternich---"
"An excellent fellow, though perhaps
a little ceremonious. Welded very joy
Gus life together. That reminds me of
an adventure"
ALLOW me to observe, M. lie Prince,
that we are talking of my mission"
"Wellp'
"What am to say to NJ. de Meter
nich?"
What are you to say to him?"
Yes"
81 really do not know
"What! you do not know"
g | had not reflected when told you
that. You will say to him"
"Well"
"Only one word"
And that is-""
PeccddiAef"
Peccadille?'
eyes"
"Permit me to take my leave of you,
NJ lie Prince" said the Marshal, perfectly
beside himself, taking up his hat and
going toward the door as he spoke.
II wish you pleasant journey. Above
all, do not forget to say Peccadille' to
Mc,ternich, and to say it from me-"
The Marshal departed in a tremendous
rage, and Prince Talleyrand returned to
his library, rubbing his hands gayly.
Arrived in the Austrian capital, the
French envoy was extremely well re-
ceived he was loaded with all sorts of at
tentions, and entertainments without end
were given to him, but of any interview
with the Minister there was not the
slightest question. More than once
already he had solicited an audience, and
his request had always beerrefused under
one preteXt or another.
The old Marshal cursed diplomacy, and
loaded it with all the insulting epithets of
which he had made rich collection in
the course of his military career. Driven
out of all patience by these delays, he so
licited an audience in such pressing
manner that 1t was at last accorded to
him. The day was fixed as well as the
hour.
''At last" thought the Marshal, 81
shall be able to explain myself"
At the moment he entered the Minister'S
cabinet Prince Metternich was in the act
of crushing a dispatch between his fingers.
On seeing the Marshal enter he glanced at
the clock and said:
+" Marshal, l regret deeply that | am
able to give you but very little time. His
Majesty the Emperor has sent me an order
which summons me to him in few mo-
'ments; can only devote half an hour to
YOU to-day. Another time may be more
fortunate"
o A great many things can be said in
I, +l,, .ba Morahn1
A great many things may be sad in
half an hour, it is true, and, above all, a
great many things foreign to the subject
under discussion. Talleyrand had already
proved that to the Marshal, and Meter
mich proved it to him anew. 1t was i'm
possible for him to introduce a single
word of politics during the thirty minutes
that the interview lasted.
Il am obliged to leave you, sir" said
the Minister; the halfhour is past
"The die is cast" thought the Marshal.
:" have nothing more to do but TO return
to France"
Suddenly thought struck him. NJ. de
Metternlch was on the point of leaving
the room.
Il have message for you from NJ. de
Talleyrand."
What is it,"
The Marshal hesitated.
4" What is ity" repeated the Minister
Peccadille," said the Marshal, in des-
peration.
Al these words II de Metternich let GO
the door-knob, which he had already
grasped, and quickly retraced his steps.
Peccadille, did you say?'
- Yes, NJ lie Prince, from NJ. de Tai
leyrand.'
q Oh, then, that is very different. Why
did you not say so before: To-day 1t Is
impossible for me TO remain with you, be
cause, as ! have already told you, the En-.
peror is waiting for me, but tomorrow
will receive you, and we will converse
long and seriously; and believe me, sir,
will do all that is in my power to aid the
success of your negotiation"
The Marshal remained utterly bewlld-
cred by the mysterious effect OF he name
he had pronounced.
That evening there was bah at the
court. NJ de Metternich approached the
Marshal, humming as he did so an Old
opera air:
Peccadille
ST geutille, etc.
He seemed in a high goOd-humor, and
COnversed for "A long time with the Frcnch
envoy. The next day the promised inter
view took place. Shortly afterWard the
Marshal returned to France, having ac-
compiished his mission in the most satls
factory manner possible.
1t now only remains to Us to solve this
riddle, which is what We are about to DO