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

MI III lSNSSt cthS - - ~
1t was late in the evening on the 4th
of September, 1899, that the Emperor
Paul of Russia was excitedly pacing
his plainly Furnished bedroom.
Every now and then he stood still,
and glanced at letter which he held
in his hand.
"She cannot come, she writes" he
exclaimed. "Holy Ivan, she must
come. / am too deeply enamored OF
her. The pretext for her refusal is her
husbands jealousy"
He burst into a scornful laugh.
Jealousy !" he cried, stamping his
foot angrily. "What do | care for the
jealousy of such an old curmudgeon as
the Count Ereschinsky, who is married
TO the most charming young wife in the
world! She cannot 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 un
derstand that she would not be very
averse to become my mistress, if she
could safely do so. But how shall /
arrange tEis? | cannot send Count
Ereshinsky. who served my mother
and me so faithfully, to Siberia, nor
can / carry off his wife by main force. "
The Emperor's brutal face assumed
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, speedily
fell asleep.
Next morning he awOke IN very
bad humor.
When his valet entered the bedroom
in order to dress him, the Car cursed
him fearfully, flung glass of water at
the terrified servant, 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 in waiting
in one of the ante-rooms of the Winter
Palace, when he was summoned to the
bed-chamber of his imperial master.
"Well," shouted the Car to him, in
his coarse way, "what do you report
to-day, Baron COubergY"
every little, your Majesty was
the Minister'S humble reply; "Only
one rather remarkable man arrived yes
terday at st, Petersburg.
"Who is he?"
Baron Loirot D'Estang, French
refugee"
"What is there remarkable about
him ?" asked the Emperor.
The Minister replied in an under
tone: "Your Majesty, | cannot say
whether what have heard about this
Frenchman is true or not, but Du-
ruy-"
"That miserable French spy of
yours?"
eyes, sire. Duruy tells me that
Baron Loirot D'Estang Ia great scoun-
drel."
"Pshaw !" interrupted the Gar.
"Most of the French refugees here in
st. Petersburg are"
every true, your Majesty; but Du-
ruy told me that NJ. D'Estang is a very
peculiar sort of a scoundrel. He is an
aristocratic bravo, professional duel
ist, who, for certain sum of money,
will challenge the person who has be-
come obnoxious to the man that has
hired him. He is a matchless swords
man, and invariably kills his adversar-
les"
The Car had become very thought
ful.
"Tell me more about this dangerous
fellow" he said, after pause.
The Minister of Police took sheet of
paper from his portfolio, and read as
follows:
"Victor Edmund Baron Loirot DIES
tang is, about forty-tive years old. He
was in his youth a cadet in the French
army, but was cashicred for theft. Be-
ing an excellent swordsman, the Duke
de Montmorency hired him to challenge
and kill the Marquis Yontoade. Loirot
D'Estang did so. and received ten thou
.Hhnd francs for this premeditated muir
der. The Prince de Rohan employed
him for similar purpose; but DIES
tang had to flee from France. He went
to Turin, where the Duke of Aosta
hired him to challenge and kill Count
Nicini, whose wife the Duke had Sc
duced. Next D'Estang turned up in
Vienna, where he earned great deal
of money in the same abominable man
ner."
"Send D'Estang to me at once" i'm
terrupted the Car. 81 will receive
him In private audience as soon as pos
sible. must see this monster of a duel
ist. Maybe will send him to Siberia
after the audience. Begone"
The Minister bowed submissively and
withdrew.
Paul laughed dlabolically as soon as
he was alone.
"That fellow, D'Estang, is just the