Sharp County record., 1879-01-09

GLITTER of the modern Paris. The Rue
de Loches was the name Of the street,
and the Colonel's house, number SIX
teen, was on the shady side OF it--a big
dingv mansion, with grass-grown
courtyard, walled garden, and wlo--
dows into which the sun never seemed
to shine. The ghostly pictures on the
wall, and the heavy furniture were III
keeping with this dismal dwelling. The
Colonel's family consisted merely OF his
wife and daughter; the former haggard
and nervous, the latter plain and stupid,
with frightened look, | thought, in
her dull eyes. Madame la Barrone
spoke little, and Mademoiselle, like most
well brought up French girls, was as
mute as a fish.
The only attraction in number sixteen,
Rue de Loches, was the gay good hui
mour, tempered by the dignitied shrewd-
ness of an experienced man OF the
world, of its master NJ. Duplessis,
even to me, seemed singularly agreea-
BILE, and gained a still larger share of
Cecil's regard. 1t so happened that
my pupil had turn for military sub
iccts-less, perhaps, for dress and drill
than for the scientific side of a soldiers
life-and his boyish curiosity appeared
to please the Colonel, who himself was,
as he said jestingly, merely a worn-out
war-horse turned out to grass, but ready
to respond to the first twang OF the
trumpet. So it came about that Cecil
and the Baron made frequent eXcur-
sions, now to be present at the trial of
a rihed cannon, now to 90 over tortitica-
tions, see a review; or ramble through
the arsenal, without my being OF the
party.
1t often happened, too, after the ex-
hibitions | have described, that Cecil
Manvers went to drink tea a alAnglaise,
and pass the evening at the Baron's
house. felt, on this head, no misgiv-
ings, such as would have beset Inc had
| allowed my charge to 60 out alone
into gayer company. To theater and
opera, or to those balls and evening re-
ceptions of the Partisan great world to
which Lord Hunsdon's letters procured
us easy access, l always accompanied
Cecil. But | was not sorry when he
seemed to grow indifferent to dance and
drama, and to prefer spending his hours
in the quiet Rue de Loches. Why not?
/ was thankful for the opportunity of
finishing my versified translation OF
Horace, a work from which hoped to
derive fame and fortune. And then,
TOO, had such complete confidence in
Cecil and in his military mentor. What
harm, in such company, could accrue
to him? Mademoiselle's eyes were not
bright enough to win his young affec-
tions, and the barrone's weak tea, and
trictrac at four sous points, would not
be likely to derange his nerves or empty
his pockets.
ga monsieur" limited the concierge
one day, thrusting his bald head into
the room whefe | sat, @wishes much to
see monsieur. The stranger was not
far off, as the janitor of our furnished
hotel thus spoke, and perhaps was ac-
customed to the process of self-intro-
duction. At any rate, soon found my
self looking up from the oblong piece of
pasteboard, on which were Autographed
the words: "Jules Garnet, Sous-chef: &:
Brigade de Surete," at the own
er of name and card, who
stood bowing there before me, a
glossy hat OF the bell-crown pattern,
affected by loyal followers of the new
emperor, in his gloved hand. There
was nothing very notable about my vis-
itor-a plump, middle-aged Frenchman,
with tight coat, well waXed mustaches
and the imperialist n-tuft-nothing,
except the feline quickness and keen
ness of his eyes, which felt to be read
ing me as easily as if carried my char
acter, in large print, outside my waist
coat.
81 gather from this card" said |,
somewhat bashfully, that you belong,
M. Garnet, to the"
"To the police!" rejoined my new
acquaintance; "yes, monsieur, have
the honor to belong to the police. 1t is
now my duty, in compliance with in
structions from headquarters, to ap-
prise you that your pupil-Sir Manvers
is deceiving you"
"That Cecil Manvers-my pupils
deceiving meP" repeated, in utter in
credulity. The sub-chief of the French
detective department lifted his high
shoulders in shrug that Brasseur on
the stage might have envied.
cit is my painful, my distressing du-
ty," he said, in thick whisper, "to
disturb, monsieur, your beautiful conf
dence in your youthful friend. What
will you, sir? Young men will beyoung
men. 1t is part OF the herculean task
of our superior police to drop word
of warning to parents and guardians
who are hoodwinked. l do, now. Sir
Manvers-that youth so discreet-he
spends his evenings in a private gam
bling house, full of the worst company,
Rive Goucbp Rue de LOches. number