The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-09-04
AN UNS0LYEO MYSTERY.


The circumstances attending the sud-
den death OF M. Delessert, Inspector Of
the police dc surete. seem 70 have
made such an impression upon the
Pariasian authorities that they were
recorded in unusual detail. Omitting
ALI particulars except what are necessary
70 explain matters, we reproduce here
the undoubtedly strange history,
In the fall of 1861 there came to Paris
man who called himself Vic De Lasa,
and was 80 inscribed upon his passports.
He came from Vienna, and said he was
q Hungarian, who owned estates on the
borders of the Banat, not far from
Zenta He was q small man, aged
thirty five, with a pale and mysterious
face, long blonde hair, a vague, wander
ing blue eye, and a mouth of singular
firmness. He dressed carelessIy and
1neHectively, and spoke and talked with
ont much eDspressnaent. His compan-
ion, presumably his wife, on the other
hand, ten years younger than him, was
dark, rich, velvety, luscious, pure Hun
garian type which is so nigh akin to the
gypsy blood. At the theaters, ON the
Bois, at the cafes, on the boulevards,
and everywhere that idle Paris disports
itself, Madame Aimee de Lasa attracted
great attention and made q sensation,
They lodged in luxurious apartments
on the Rue Richelieu, frequented the
best places, received good company,
entertained handsomely, and acted in
every way as if possessed of considerable
wealth. Laso had always q good bal
ance chez Schneider, Ruter, ct cie., the
Austrian bankers in Rue Rivoli, and
Madame wore diamonds of conspicuous
luster.
How did it happen, then, that the
project OF police saw fit to suspect Mon
sieur and Madame de Laea, and detailed
Paul Delessert, one of the most rmse
inspectors OF the force, to "pipe" him
The fact is, the insignificant man with
the splendid wife was a very mysterious
parsonage, and it is the habit of the
police to imagine that mystery always
hides either the conspirator, the adven-
turer or the charlatan. The conclusion
to which the project had come in regard
to M de Lasa was that he was an adven-
turer and charlatan too. Certainly
successful one, then, for he was singu-
larry unobtrusive, and had in no way
trumpeted the wonders which il was his
mission to perform. Yet in q few
weeks after he had established himself
in paris the ealon of NJ. de Lasa was the
rage, and the number of persons who
paid the fee of 100 francs for a-Gngle
peep into his magic crystal, and single
message by his spiritual telegraph, was
really astonishing. The secret of this
was that NJ. de Lasa was q conjurer aud
dlvlner whose pretensions were omnis-
clent and whose predictions always came
true.
Delessert did not find it very difficult
TO get an introduction and admission to
De Lasa's salon. The receptions &C.
the forenoon, three hours in the even
ing. Il was evening when Inspector
Deleesert called, in his assumed charac-
ter OF N. Flebry, virtuoso in Jewels and
convert to spiritualism. He found the
handsome parlors brilliantly lighted,
and charming asssmblage gathered Of
well-dressed guests, who did not at all
seem to have come to learn their for
tunes and fates. while contributing to
the income Of their host, but rather to
be there out of complaisauce to his vir-
tues and gifts. Nine. de Lasa per-
formed on the piano or convt rsed from
group to group in . way that seemed to
be delightful, while NJ. de Lasa walked
about or sat in his Insignificant, uncon-
cerned way, saying q word now and
that was conspicuous. Servants handed
about refreshments, ices, cordials. wines.
etc, and Deleesert could have faucied
himself dropped in upon a quite modest
, evening entertainment, altogether en-
reggie, but for one or two noticeable cir
cumstances which his observant ewes
quickly took in.
Except when their host or hostess was
within hearing the guests conversed to-
gether In low tones, rather mysteriously,
and with not quite so much laughter as
Ii usual on such occasions. At intervals
very tall and dignified footman would
come to guest, and, with q profound
bow, present him a card on a silver
shaver. The guest would then go out,
preceded by the solemn servant, and
when he or she returned to the ealon
some did not return at an-they inva-
were confused, astonished, frightened.
or amused. ALI this was so unmistak-
ably genuine, and De Lasa and his wife
seemed 80 uuconcerned amidst it all,
not to say distinct from it all, that
Delessert could not avoid being forcibly
struck and considerably puzzled.
Two or three little incidents, which
came under Delessertis own immediate
observation, will suffice to make plain
the character of the impressions made
upon those present. A couple of gen.
tlemen, both young, both Of good social
condition, and evidently very good
friends, were co1versing together and
tutoying one another at a great rate,
when the dignifed footman summoned
Alphonse. He laughed gayly. 'eTarry
q moment, cher Auguste," said he,
"and thou shalt know all the particu-
lars Of this wonderful fortune T" En-. |
bie,s" responded Auguste "may the |
oracle's mood be propitious !" A min |
ute had scarcely elaps ed when Alphonse |
returned to the salon. His face was |
white and bore an appearance of con-
centrated rage that was frightful to wit |
ness. He came straight to Auguste :
his eyes flashing, and bending his face |
towards his friend, who changed color |
and recoiled, he hIssed out: '.Monsieur |
Lefebure, Uous etes ua lache!" every |
well, Monsieur Meunier," responded |
in the same low tone, ''to-mor-
row morning at six o'clocki" "It is /
settled, false friend, execrable traitor |
a la mort" rejoined Alphonse, walking
OF. "CetG VA sans dire" muttered
Auguste, going towards the hat-room. |
A diplomatist of distinction, repre-
sentative at Paris of q neighboring
aplomb and most commanding appear
oDce, was summoned to the oracle by
The bowling footmau. After being absent
about five minutes he returned and i'm
made his way through the
press TO NJ. de Lasa. who was standing
not far from the e-place, with his
aknds in his pockets, and look of the
utmost indifference upon his face De-
eesert, standing near, watched the in
;erview with eager interest. 81 am ex-
,eedingly sorry" said Gen. Won -,
g to have TO absent myself 30 soon from
Tour interesting saloo, M. de Lasa, but
he result OF my seanse conviIces me
hat my dispatches have been tempered
nth" +" am sorry" responded M. de
Iasa, with an air of languid but courte-
us interest, " +! hope You may be able