Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-11

where nc earned a great deal Of
money in the same abominable
manner"
"Send D'Estang to me ut oucel"
interrupted the czar. "I will re-
ceiye him in a private audience as
soon as possible. l must see this
monster of a duelist. Maybe I'll
send him to Siberia after the audi
ence. Begonep
The minister bowed submissive
ly, and withdrew.
Paul laughed diabolically as soon
as he was alone.
"That fellow, D'EStang, is Just
the man | want" he said to him.
self. "When he has done my bid
ding, l shall see to it that he speed.
lily disappears"
An hour later the minister of DO.
lice returned to the Winter Palace.
accompanied by Baron Loirot
D'BStang.
The latter was a fne-lookinp.
polished Frenchman. His face had
rather a good-natured expression.
Only every now and then q sinister
glance from his black eyes indi-
Gated his true character, which was
that of
AN INTERNAL VILLAIN.
In fact, his misdeeds were much
more numerous and horrible than
what was mentioned about him in
the report of the minister of police.
He was ushered into the private
cabinet of the Emperor Paul, who
had meanwhile risen from his bed
and put on the uniform of a Rus.
sian field marshal.
D'Estang bowed with the ease of
polished courtier. The czar mo-
toned to the minister of police to
leave the room. Then he said
sternly to the Frenchman:
81 know your antecedents, Baron
D'Estang. | have a notion to send
You to Siberia for the impudence
you displayed in coming to st. Pc
tersburg."
The Frenchman turned deadly
pale.
"Yo6r majesty cannot be in
earnest" he stammered.
81 am in dead earnest, mon
sieur," replied Paul, with terrible
scowl. 81 have notion to ring
this bell and send you forthwith to
Irkutsk."
Mercy, mercy, your majesty p
cried the baron, falling on his
knees.
Paul kept silence for several
minutes. Then he said, in low
tone of voice:
"They say, baron, that you are
AN EXCELLENT swoRDsMAN." ?
" | am, your majesty"
care you sure you can kill any
adversaries that may be pitted
against you?"
"Yes, SIRE"
Well, then, baron," said the
Emperor Paul, 81 have in my reg
iment of Life Guards an officer,
Count Ereshinsky, who has done
something for which he deserves
death, but / prefer not to have him
executed. Challenge him, kill him
and you shall not be sent to Sibe-
ria. You can see Count Ereshin-
sky on parade to-day in front of the
Winter Palace. You know now
what | want, Baron D'Estang:"
The latter bowed and said:
Gin twenty-four hours Count
Ereshinsky shall be a dead man."
he murmured.
"Now leave me, baron," said the
car, "but remember that my po-
lice will dog your steps until you
have fulfilled your promise"
The Frenchman saw Count Ere
shinsky on parade, and insulted
him.
They exchanged cards, and a
duel between them was arranged
for the following morning.
AS usual, swords were chosen for
the occasion.
Count Ereshinsky did not know
the terrible skill of his unscrupu-
louS antagonist.
A minute after the duel COM
menced he fell, pierced through the
left lung.
He was conveyed to his residence,
where he expired few hours after
amid the lamentations of his young
wife and of his son Stephen, whom
former wife had borne to him,
and who was then a lad of sixteen.
And now occurred something
really strange in this somber affair.
Baron D'Estang happened to see
the young widow of his victim, and
became deeply enamored of her.
He managed to gain access to her.
She did not rcpulse him, for she
wanted to elicit from him the true
reason why he had picked a quarrel
with her husband, and had killed
him.
Intoxicated by the smiles of the
charming creature, the Frenchman
told her all about the Emperor
Paul having hired him to assassi-
!