The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-02-07


our watches we found it was, IL 80
being a full hour later than any of u
had supposed. -,.-
! A walk of ten minutes had brough
las to the Toison dor, at that time on,
of the most excellent saloons in Paris
1t was in the second story of the build
ing, the floor above being occupied as s
fencing gallery.
Once inside no time was lost in idle
preparation; but, selecting six contigu
Gus tables, we began to play at once
Delavigne, who knew that | was nc
match for him, insisted upon giving me
odds; but as resolutely refused to ac-
cept of any, he was per force obliged to
play me even.
| was in that state of nervous excite
ment which, so far from diminishing
my skill, actually assisted it, and | ex-
ceeded myself; while Maurice, although
to all appearance playing with great
care, counted very slowly. The con-
sequence was that, much to my surprise,
| won the game.
For his second trial he paired off with
Laroque, who was even worse player
than myself; and yet, strange to say,
Delavigne was again beaten. He ex-
perienced similar fate at the hands of
each of his antagonists, and finally was
left alone to play the last game of the
series with the "odd man, which unen-
| enviable position had been selected from
choice by the younger stranger whom
Lemoyne had introduced as the Count
de Vautrin.
The chances had narrowed down to
two men. 1t was to be either the stran-
ger or my friend and a strong forebod-
ing as to the result took possession of
me, when the Count, having taken off
his coat and selected cue, advanced to
the head of the table and spoke thus:
"Monsieur Delavigne, L have mar
rowly observed your play, and feel con-
WINGED that to equalize the contests be-
tween us you should have the odds of at
least one-half the game, which beg you
will allow me to give you"
He ceased, and there was a murmur
of appreciation among the students at
his generosity-the more commendable
when the awful stake which depended
upon the issue of the game was taken
into consideration. -.
Maurice bowed, and replied "Sir, |
thank you for your courtesy, but | can
not accept of any odds; and notwith-
standing your estimate of my play, |
think you will find thatI need none"
Not word more was spoken, but the
balls were placed in position and the
game began. 1t did not require halt.
dozen shots for me to perceive that the
Count was one of the finest amateurs
had ever seen. His conception and exc
cution were both excellent, and would
have reflected no discredit upon the
first professional in France.
But what positively astonished me
was, that in every respect Delavi9ne
seemed to be his equal. His play was
magnificent, and in few moments the
table was completely surrounded by
spectators, attracted by the extra
ordinary skill displayed on both sides
AS the contest progressed, it was i'm
possible to decide which had the advan-
tage; first one was ahead and then the
other; and finally, as the termination
drew near, so evenly were they matched, |
that when the Count needed but one to
complete his score, Maurice only wanted
three.
1t was the crisis of the game, and the
excitement was terrible That of the |
other spectators seemed hardly less in
tense, although we alone knew of the ter
rible duty devolving upon the final loser.
1t was plain to me that Dslavigne-the |
generous fellow-had purposely allowed |
us to beat him, in order to take the whole |
1, II. IL,
| blamed myself deeply for not hay |
ing discovered it in time for remonstra- |
ton, which was now too late, and so .
held my peace. 1t was the Count de |
Yautrin's play; and as the balls were |
rather awkwardly placed he did not at /
tempt to add to his scores, but played |
for what is technically known as g safe
ty," and left them in q position from
which it was almost impossible to effect /
a count. Maurice looked anxious, but .
after a long and careful survey of the .
table, seized his cue firmly, and by one |
of the most brilliant shots | had ever |
seen, made a carom on the two reds, |
and SO won the game.
The Count laid his cue upon the Ia
BILE, and smilingly said: " Monsieur, / |
must congratulate you. | considered /
myself the first amateur player in Paris, |
but find that have at least one SUI
perior."
His opponent bowed, and attributed |
his success more to good fortune than /
any superiority of skill. A -
1t was getting late, and the frequent /
ers had mostly departed, so that num-
Der scarcely greater than that of our
own party was all that remained IN the |
entire saloon. -l- .arf3.v
De Vautrin replaced his coat, and hav-
ing lit cigar, strayed leisurely round I
the room, and eventually halted in /
front of a huge cavalry major, who sat |
doing in an armchair with an express !
ion of somniferous bliss upon his |
bronzed features ypositiFely-teuehing.
g Siri''said the Count-and he shook |
him violently by the shoulder.
The warrior opened his bloodshot !
eyes and glared fiercely upon his inter-
rogator.
d trust you will pardon me, sir,n
resumed Count de Nautrin, &C for this
unseemly interruption; but the fact of
the matter is, am under the necessity
of fighting somebody, and attracted by
the singular beauty of your features"
(the Major was frightfully ugly), Z"
have made bold to disturb you in order
that you may become my opponent"
Sir" responded the incensed cav
alryman, "yOu are fool"
"Oh, | understand; you wish a rea-
son." retorted the Count, iE the most
courteous of tones. =" You shall have
And, without more ado, he reached
forth his hand, and selling the son of
Mars by his nose, which was very prom
inent, gave it so vigorous tweak that
for a moment verify believed he must
have pulled a portion of it from his face
He Immediately leaped to the further
side of a billiard table; and it was well
he did so, for the now thoroughly
aroused soldier sprang to his feet, and
had not some half-dozen of us inter