The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-12-06

gayer company. To theater and opera
or to those balls aud evening reception:
of the Partisan great world to which
Lord Hunsdon's letters procured US easy
access, ! always accompanied Cecil. But
1 was not sorry when he seemed to grow
Indifferent to dance and drama, and tc
prefer spending his hours il the quiet
Rue de Loaehes Why not? 7 wa.
thankful for the opportunity OF finishing
NV versifed translation of Horace, 6
work from which hoped to deIiv fame
and fortune. And then. too, had such
complete confidence in Cecil and ia hi:
military mentor. What harm, in such
company, could accrus to aim
MademoiseIIe' eyes were not bright
enough to win his young affections, aad
the barrone's week tea, and trictrac g.
four SOUS points, would not be likely K
derange his nerves or empty his pickets
ga monsieur hinted the conciergs
one day, thrusting his bald head into the
room where l sat, wishes much to see
monsieur" The stranger was not far of
the ianitor of our furnished hotel thus
spoke, and perhaps WAS accustomed &c
the process of self-introductiOn. At any
rate, I soon found myself looking up
from the oblong piece of pastbosrd, on
which were litogrspbed the words
Jules Garnet, Sous-chef: Brigade de
Sureto," at the ownerof name and card,
who stood bowing there before pie, 4
glossy hat of the bell-crown pattern,
affected by loyal followers of the new
emperor, in mis- gloved hand. There
was nothing very notable about my
visitors plump middle-aged French
man, tight coat, weIl-waxed mustaches
and the imperislist chin-tuff-nothing,
except the feline quickness and keenness
OF his eyes, which / felt to be reading me
as easily IS if l carried my character, in
large print, outside my waistcost.
81 gather from this card, " said 1 sons
what bashfully, "that you belong, NJ.
Garnet, to the"
"To the police r. rejoined my new
acquaintance; Eyes, monsieur, have the
honor ts belong to the police. It IS now
my duty in compliance with instructions
from headquarters. te apprise you that
your pupil-SG Manvers--is deceiving
you"
That Cecil Manvers--my pupil--is
deceiving me ?" I repeated, in utter ia
credulity. The sub-chief of the French
detective department lifted his high
shoulders in shrug that Brasaeur on
the stage might have envied.
'Is is my painful, my distressing
duty he said, in thick whisper, "to
disturb. monsieur, your beautiful con-
6denee in your youthful friend. What
will You, sir? Young men will be
young men. 1t is part of the hoTculean
task of our superior police to drop a word
of warning to parents and guardiaas who
are hoodwinked. do, now. Sir Nan
vers--that youth 60 discreet ne spends
his evenings in private eambling-house,
full oi the worst company, Rive Gauche,
Rue de Loaches, rambler sixteen." ."
On me thu extraordinary assertion
produced very much the effect Of q sud
den plunge into cold water. 1t fairly
took away my breath, and sat gasping
and staring in blank amazement. Then
l rallied my wits sufficiently 70 reply.
There had, 1 said, been some preposter-
Gus mistake. Mr. Cecil Manvers passed
his evenings in the society of a quiet
French family of good position, that OF
Colonel the Baron Duplessis.
But here NJ. Garnet broke in, arching
his eyebrows:
"Eh, eh, the Baron Duplessis % said
he, dryly''; ~ was not aware that to his
eoaulettes OF Colonel he added the
baroniaI coronet. Well, Monsieur Bsker
have dropped you hint, well inten-
toned, for de Garnet Watch more
strictly over your pupil, for the inti-
macy of the Duplessis household IS apt
to prove costly to a neophyte. And -
this more seriously should you require
help frem the police to cut the knot Of
this smbroglio, you have only to seek me
--me Jules Garnet, at your service.
The address I penciled, see, on this cald,
Seven, Rue joschim. I replace, for the
next few nights, the eommissary at that
bureau"
And with flourish and bow, no was
gone.
Left alone, my reflections were very
bitter. could not doubt the truth or
the timeliness of the warning that had
been conveyed 10 me, and without loss OF
time set tor the Rue de Loches.
1t was very dark, and as crossed the
bridge fine chilly rain began to fsii,
but scarcely needed it, but pressed on.
/ reached the Rue de Leches, and just
as / had rsised my hand to the bell
handle of No. 16, noticed that the gate
was, contrary to custom, slightly sjar.
Instinctively pushed it open, parsed in
and silently reclosed it behind me. Nc
one observed me as / crossed the grass
grown courtyard, and, uncballeDged,
entered the big old house, the windows
OF which were now abla7e with light,
while strains of music reached my ears,
mingling with the clink of glasses and
the murmur of conversation. The we'll
known staircase, however, was clear, and
| met with no impediment asI trayersed
two small rooms, and, myself screened
by heavy crimson curtain commsnded
a view OF the great gloomy saloon end
its occupants.
More than forty persons, as I judged,
were present, and of this number,
besides the Coloners wife and daughter,
but three were women. One OF theee, a
professional performer, should say, was
seated at the piano. The other two,
bejeweled, painted, and with elaborate
chignons and waving fans, were mere
living decorations, as it appeared to me,
OF the scene. As for the male guests.
there was the usual mixture of Qulls and
shsrpers-the latter element predomi-
nating-to be found in such places.
Choice viands, varied wines and LIQUORS
were grouped, amid flowers and silver
on buffet adjacent, and two Iynx>eyed
serving-men, with very evil counten.
anees, and baggy blue lIyeries that miybt
have heen suDnlied hv The c,,s+,,..-...