The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-08-25

| ne! he gave me money 10 the value OF u1ty
norins, and promised me a hundred more
when the job was done He brought him
| riding where could see him, that l might
know him again. The Count cursed me be-
cause | could not get at him sooner. Well,
and now that it is done, he does not know
me. Good! We shall see if he will not. /
denounce him as my accomplice. Take him
too. Chop his head of, and am willing
you do the same to me-"
The police listened to this frenzied denun-
citation, but did not Immediately arrest the
Count. They contented themselves with es-
tablishing upon him such an espionage as
would render it impossible to leave Paris, or
to do aught more than think without their
knowledge. Then they waited for some
thing to give color to this startling accusa-
ton. ...
The news of the assassination of Mr.. Rem
wick flew like lightning over Paris. but only
reached the Countess Fornelli in the after
noon, when she was visiting the house of
friend. She drove at once to the police Of
tfce, where his body still lay, awaiting remo-
val by his friends to his late residence, and
being admitted to view the corpse, threw
herself upon it uttering the widest express
sions of endearment and grief, regardless of
the presence of those about her.
The Lieutenant of Police exhibited to her
the knife found in the dead mans back.
at is my husbands |" she exclaimed. 81
recognize it. have often seen it in his
possession. It's he who has slain my Georgel
He, the cowardly assassin denounce him
as the murderer !"
Then, falling again upon the breast of her
dead lover she wept bitterly, and raved.
at is II, who loved thee so well-who
have murdered thee My love was fatal to
thee, oh my best beloved Forgive me |!
Thou knowest / would have died to save
thee r'
4 She spoke in Italian, and seemed half in
sane in her grief
| That night, Count Fornelli no doubt hav-
ing learned of this second denunciation, at
tempted to escape in disguise from Paris,
whereupon he was seized and lodged in pris-
on But upon the preliminary examination
he established beyond doubt that however
he might have been connected in instigating
either or both of the assassinations, be had
not. with his own hand at least, perpetrated
either, for three witnesses of unquestionable
honor swore that all that night they spent
with him over the card table.
One of these witnesses-Baron Gierstall
a German--also testified that fortnight
| uly ba boI aJ 10
his loss of valued dagger, which he describ-
ed, and his description Tailed accurately
with both the weapons with which that
nights murders were committed.
This fact gave strength to Count Fornellis
reservations, and threw some doubt upon
the accusations of Anselmo Vitucci, whom
the police were now rather disposed to re-
gard as a brigand who had marked the rich
young Englishman, Renwick, for his prey,
/ and who had killed the commercial traveller
, by mistake. They could not doubt after
| the scene with the Countess, that her hus-
, band had reasons for jealousy, and deemed
it probable that his yengeful southern blood
, would have prompted him to procure the
young mans assassination, but of his having
done so there was as yet no proof Who
then, and for what motive, had killed Mr.
Renwick ?ssand how was the mystery of the
duplicate daggers to be explained? The
, Countess was shadowed day and night by
keen detectives, so that scarcely single mo-
, | meut was she free from their surveillance
and almost every word she uttered wa
4 known to them, for through her, they right
ly judged, the final elucdation would be at
. tanned, if at all.
- On the third day after the Counts arrest
o the Countess, who had meantime remained
. in strict seclusion, sent a servant with not
to an obscure room in the Quarter Latin
The servant slipped the note under the doc
of the apartment and returned to her mis-
tress. Now the detectives had another poin
to watch. The room, they found, was occu
q pied by an Italian student named Ricard
i Pocolini. The note, which was procure,
i and read by special agent of the polio
!, within twenty minutes after it had been left
- simply contained the words:
'To-night. Wait in your room for me
. Be alone"
1t was re-sealed and left upon the floor.
Before the student re-entered his room tn
detectives had taken possession of the ad
% joining apartment, and so pierced the wal
that not only was everything audible, bu
i even visible, which transpired on Pocolni'
% side of it, yet their proximity could not hav
been suspected.
II At seven o'clock the student entered hi
room, picked up the note, read it, and utter
ed cry of joy. Then he busted himsel
ii preparing for his visitor. He.ran out, an
NJ brought back neat little supper and som
10 champagne, which he placed upon his tabl,
y He built up a good fire and trimmed hi
lie lamp. Then he paced the floor impatient
+ ly
~ At o'clock woman tapped at his dool
IS She was dressed as grisette, excepting thu
III she wore veil, with which grisettes, in thos
days at least, were seldom known to hid
," their pretty faces.
When she revealed her features, she WI
ne Countess Fornelli
I'd The student sprang toward her with a
a exclamation of affection, and was about I
a. take her in his arms. but she repulse
ut him.
m Stop" she said; l must first know
r. there is blood upon thy hand?"
y The student stopped, changed color, an
1u replied evasively;
''Ihou knowest, angel of my lite, that IL
of Count still lives, but it is not my fault tn,
he he does Thou hast not yet done thy pa t.
"Where is the knife gave your"
,st "lt-it-is locked up-hidden away.
70 left it"
ad an the young Englishman's heart" e,
rs, claimed the Countess, impetuously, inte
r. rupting him. "Do not deny it. read a.
ii L e