The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-08-15

see to it that he speedily disappears"
An hour later the Minister of Police
returned to the Winter Palace, accom-
panied by Baron LoiIpt D'Estang.
The latter was a fine-loOking, pol
ished Frenchman. His face had rather
a good-na.ured expression. Only every
now and then sinister glance from
his black eyes indicated his true charac-
ter, which was that of an Internal
william. In fact his misdeeds were
much more numerous and horrible
than what was said about him in the
report of the Minister of Police.
He was ushered into the private cabi-
net of the Emperor Paul, who had
meanwhile risen from his bed and put
OH the uniform of Russian Field Mar
! shal.
D'Etang bowed with the ease of a
polished courtier. The Car motioned
to the Minister of Police to leave the
room. Then he said sternly to the
Frenchman:
81 know your antecedents, Baron
D'Estang. have notion to send you
to Siberia for the impudence you dis
played in coming to st. Petersburg"
The Frenchman turned deadly pale.
"YOur Majesty cannot be in earnest, "
he stammered.
81 am in dead earnest, monster" "
said Paul, with terrible scOwl. 81
have a notien to ring this bell and send
you forthwith to Irkutsk."
Mercy, mercy, Your Majesty"
cried the Frenchman, falling on his
knees.
Paul kept silence for several minutes.
Then he said in loud tone of voice:
"They say, Baron, that you are an
excellent swordsman."
81 am, Your Majesty"
care you sure you can kill any ad-
vcrsary that may be pitted againsty you|
Eyes, SIRE"
"Well, then, Baron" said the en-
peror Paul, 81 have in my regiment
Of Life Guards, an officer, Count Ere
shiHsky, who has done something for
which he deserves death, bnt | prefer
not to have him executed. Challenge
him, kill him, and you shall not be
sent to Siberia. You can see Count
Ereshinsky on parade to-day, in front
of the Winter Palace. You know now
what l want, Baron D'Etang?"
The latter bowed and
"In twenty-four hours Count Ere
shinsky shall be dead man." he muir
INJURED.
"Now leave me, Baron" said the
Gear; "but remember that my police
will dog your steps until you have f1l-
filled your promise"
The Frenchman saw Count Ereshin-
sky on parade and insulted him.
They exchanged cards and duel be-
tween them was arranged for the fol-
lowing morning.
AS usual, swords were chosen for the
occasion.
Count Ereshinsky did not know the
terrible skill of hiss INSCRIPTIONS an
tagonist.
A minute after the duel commenced
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 his son Stephen, whom a
former wife had borne to him, and who
was then a lad of sixteen.
And now occurred something really
strange in this sombre affair.
Baron D'Estang happened to see the
young widow of his victim, and at once
became deeply enamored with her. He
managed to gain access to her. She
did not repulse him, for she wanted to
elicit from him the true reason why
he had picked a quarrel with her hus-
band and had killed him
intoxicated with the smiles of the
charming creature, the Frenchman told
all about the Emperor Paul having
hired him to assassinate her husband.
Then she drove him with fearful i'm
precautions from her preseace, and wrote
the Car a scathing letter, in which she
upbraided him for his infamous con-
duct.
Paul, divining that the French bravo
had betrayed him, caused the latter to
be sent to Siberia, where he was placed
as private in a frontier regiment.
The Countess Ereshinsky withdrew
to her estates in Southern Russia,
where she thenceforth led a most Sc
cluled life.
Stephen Ereshinsky, after Paul had
been ass sslJsinated, entered the army,
and greatly distinguished himself.
In 1912 he was n colonel, and such
was also the rank of Baron Loirot
D'Estang, whom Paul's successor, AL
exander the First, who did not know
the true character of the man, had
rapidly promoted.
On the eve of the battle of Leipzig,
Count Ereshinsky and Loirot D'Estang
met accidenuy in front of the tent of
General Milordovltch.
When Ereshnsky heard the French
mans name, he said to him, "Are not
you the assassin of my father?"
He waited for no reply, but shot Loi-
rot ID 'Estang dead on the spot.
Alexander the First, on hearingofthe
affair, sent for Count Ereshinsky, who
told him everything.
The affair was hushed up.
/ II. A..n. La LIZ du