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

nAIeu 10 ASghSNInatS n Russian
NObiemau-A Young WIfe'a Ruse-
On the Eve of the Hattie of Leip
zig.
1t was late in the evening of the
4th of September, 1899, that the
Emperor Paul of Russia was ex-
citedly pacing his plainly furnished
bedroom.
Every now and then he stood
still, and glanced at a letter which
he held in his hand.
"She cannot come, she writes"
he exclaimed. "Holy Ivan, she
must come. | am too deeply en-
amored of her. The pretext for
her refusal is her husbands ieal-
ousy."
He burst into scornful laughter
Jealousy" he cried, stamping
his foot angrily. "What do care
for the Jealousy of such an old cur
mudgeon as the Count Ereshlnsky,
who is married to the most charm.
ing young wife, in the world? She
can not possibly love him. He is
too old and ugly for that. Mine
she must and shall become, and |
am sure from what she has given
me to understand that she would
not be very averse TO become my
mistress, if she could safely'do so.
But how shall l arrange this? |
cannot send Count Ereshinsky, who
has served my mother and me so
faithfully, to Siberia, nor can /
carry off his wife by main force"
The emperor's brutal face as
sumcd an expression of the most
violent rage.
He stamped his foot angrily and
gave vent to the most shocking
blasphemy.
Then he threw himself upon his
couch, and, as was his habit, speedi-
ly fell asleep.
Next morning he awoke in very
bad humor.
When his valet entered the bed
room in order to dress him, the
czar cursed him fearfully, flung a
glass of water at the terrified ser.
want, and then ordered him to send
for the minister of police.
That functionary, who had to
make every morning an oral report
TO the Emperor Paul, was already
waiting in the ante-rooms of the
Winter Palace, when he was sum-
moned to the bed.chamber Of his
imperial master.
"Well," Z" shouted the car to him,
in his coarse way, "what do you re-
port to-day, Baron Couberg?"
every little, your majesty" was
the minister's humble reply; "only
one rather remarkable man arrived
yesterday at st. Petersburg"
"Who is he?"
"Baron Loirot D'Estang, a
French refugee" +"
"What is there remarkable about
him?" asked the emperor.
The minister replied in an under
tone: =" Your majesty, cannot say
whether what l have heard about
this Frenchman is true or not, but
Duruy@
"That miserable French spy of
yours?"
"Yes, sire. Duruy tells me that
Baron Loirot D'Estang is a great
scoundrel."
"Pshaw!" interrupted the czar.
"Most of the French refugees here
in st. Petersburg are"
"Very true, your majesty; but
Duruy told me that M. D'Estang
is very peculiar sort of scoundrel.
He is an aristocratic bravo, a pro-
tession2l duelist, who, for certain
sum of money, will challenge the
person that has become obnoxious
to TIE man that has hired him. He
is matchless swordsman, and in
yariably kills his adversaries."
The czar had become very
thonghtful.
"Tell me more about this dan
gerous fellow" he said, after a
pause.
The minister of police took a
sheet of paper from his portfolio,
aud read as follows:
"Victor Edmond Baron Loirot
D'Estang is about forty-fve years
old. lie was in his youth a cadet
in the French army, but cashiered
for theft. Being an excellent
swordsman, the Duke dc Montmor-
ency hired him to challenge and
kill the Marquis Vontoad9. Loirot
D'Estang did so, and received ten
Thousand francs for
This PREMEDITATED MURDER.
The Prince de Rohan employed
him FOR a similar purpose; but
D'Estang had to flee from France.
lie went to Tariu, where the Duke
.of Aosla hired hin to challeng)