Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-10-29

| poleon had assembled his fleets and
transports at Brest, with the oslensiblo,
and AS is generally believed the real,
view OF making descent on England.
Tne greatest precautions were observed
bY the English government in regard 10
correspondence from France, AID an
amount OF espionage was pracIiccd u. the
% - Nj q which lelt Sir James Gl sham's
prrIormauc in that line far behind. =
The national excitement was intense.
and the po i'ic>l department WAS admin
istered with iron sway.
My uncle, Sir George Trevor, was. as
the world knew. high in the admiralty !;
and as it was from him that heard this
snecdote, its verscity may be depended
upon.
The dispatches to and from the admir-
atty were the subject Of the greatest Wig
lance and the most stringent regulations.
The clerks were not permitted to receive
OF send letters which were not submitted
10 The chief clerk, and il was believed
that letters which were addressed even
to their private residences were frequent
ly opened st the post-otiice.
Al the time | speak OF, the chief clerk
was an elderly man OF the name of
Parkor-a wizoned, wiry. dapper indi-
vidual. so imbued with the official linclure
of Whitehall, tha, it had become a second
usturo 10 him. lie was a genial and
kindly soul, keen and energetic In the
affairs OF his office, and IN all others n
mere child.
He had engaged rs his private Secro.
tary young fellow of the nsme of Beau
mont. who was one OF the most promis-
ing su5ordi1stos in the establishment.
iie was modest, unassumiug man. very
good looking, with a couuteuauce and air
suggestive Of depression and melancholy.
lie was eviteuIly OF good education. and
probably weli-born also, for his manners
wofo cN.y. sud indicated good breeding.
TIC vas native ol Jersey, and had been
introduced 10 lho notice Of the admiralty
authorities o. somo influential member
o! parliament. Ho was much liked in
The office. and discharged his duties to
perfection.
One morning Parker presented himself
before my uncle with a yisage pale with
woe and trembling with excitement
Why, wha. i, the matter. Parker
Has Boraparle Gomez
"Ho may have. lor uush, that know"
said Parker. Things aro all wrong. Sir
George
"Whal is wroug2'
The letters are wrong. There is
SPY among US. have known i. Tor long;
uo@ | am quite sure; ou! canno; find
him out"
Parker went on to explain that he had
ior some time suspected that some one in
the Office communicated priysle iniorma-
ton and dispatches outside; bat, more
than ever confirmed 10 his suspicious, be
was entirely baiilcd in his cudcavors to
detect the culpEit.
But, Parker" saidimy uncle, "how
10 YOU come to be So sure that Jour &C.
crets have tTAnspirod?"
by tho luads, Sir George They an
-wer to The news ss surely as the bell
down stairs does 10 the beu-rope ind
them going up and down as if they were
sitting IL the office" said Parker, per-
souityiug tho stock exchange for the mo
ment.
Have all the letters tc the clerks been
examined st,ic,lyP"
"Yes, read them AL myself"
Find nothing in them ?"
Mighty little. Some ars from home,
some from friends, aud somo of them
irom s~eeihesrts. said Parker. twisting
his face into grim smile, aud rum
things they eay in them"
"And the young mems letters. Are
they rum, too?"
They are more careful like. you know
| s1 10 see them; bat Lord save you,
sir, they are all stuff; not hs'porlh of
harm in them"
This matter must be seen to " said my
uncle; Il have had my own misgivings
on tho same subject Bling mo all the
letters which come to, and are sent by,
the clerks for the next week. There is
no reason Why you should have all the
rum things to YOURSELF
So my uncle bad tho letters for a
week, and found them very much such as
Parker had described them. The sus-
picious symptoms had increased, the
Stock Exchange responded moro sensi-
lively than ever; but not the slightest
ground Tor suspecting any one lranspired.
My uncle was bewildered, and Parker
was rapidly verging to insanity.
at is certainly not the clerks" said my
uncle. There is no treason there" said
he pushing back the letters of the day.
"BY The way, how does young Parker
get on? She seems nice creatue, that
sister OF his. to Judge by her letters"
''He is the best hand in the cfiice. by a
long sight; and his sister is very sweet,
lad like creature. They are orphans,