The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-28
THE MARQUIS IN PETTICOATS.

can never be invented. Fact Ii the iaek-o'-
lantern to more sober fable. Truth ia stranger
than fiction.
And have not much space to tell story
In: aud, long or short, 1t must have Begin
ming, and middle, and end. SO / INTRODUCES
you at once to the Marquis de Ia Dhctardie-
diplomatist who figured largely In the gay
age OF Louis xv-and the story Is but one OF
i the illuminated pages OF the dark book OF
diplomacy.
Charles de Ia Chetardie appeared Tor the
first time to the eyes Of the King at mas
querade ball given at Versailles under tue
auspices OF u belle Pompadour He was
dressed as young lady Of high rank making
her debut, and SO perfect was his acting, and
the deception altogether, that Louis became
enamored Of the disguised Marquis, and vio-
lently excited the jealousy OF madame by
Ibis atnorous attentions. An reimbursement,
OF course, took place, and the result was
great Partially for the Marquls's society, and
his subsequent employment, In and out OF
pottieoats, In many scheme Of State diplo-
macy and royal amusement.
DO Ghetardie was at this time, just eigh-
teen. He was very slight, and had remarkably
email hands and feet; and tho radiant fair
ness Of his skin, and the luxuriant softness of
his profuse chestnut curls. might justly have
been the envy Of the most delicate woman.
He was, at first, subjected To some ridicnle
Tor his effsminacy; but the merry conrtiers
were soon made aware that, under this velvet
fragilitv lay cOnGea ed the strength and fe-
Ioclty of the tiger. The grasp OF his small
hand was like all iron Vice; and his singular ac-
tvity, and the cool courage which afterwards
gave him a brilliant career on the battlefield,
established him ID very short time us the
must Formidable swordsman of The court. His
ferocity, however, lay deeply concealed In his
character: and, unpruyoked he was the gay
est and most brilliant of merry companions.
This was the age OF occult and treacherous
diplomacy; and the court Of Russia, where
Louis would faln have exercised an Influence
private as we'll ns political Id Its resi1lts was
guarded by an itnplaeahle Argus, in the per
con III the prime minister, BastucheH Aided
by Sir Hanbury Williams, the English ambas-
ssdors- ono VI the crattiest men Of that crafty
period-he had succeeded for some years In
defeating every attempt ut access to thu I'M
periai ear by the secret emiesaries of France.
The sudden appearance Of LA Chetardie, hs
cool sef-epmmand, and his successful per-
ElHesion of d female, suggested new hope to
the King, however, and, called to Versailles
NV royal mandate. the young Marquis
was taken Into cabinet confidence; aud
secret mission of 1T Petersburg In petit
coats prcposed TO him, and accepted.
With his Instructions and secret dispatches
Stitched into bis eofsets, and under the osten-
TO present him to the Caarine as q Mademoi-
Eelle do Beaumont, DESTROYS Of entering the
e@sarviee Of Elizabeth, the Marquis reached st.
Petersburg without cident or adventure
The young lady's guardian requested an
audience through Bestncheff, and, having de-
lfvcred the open letters recommending her
for her accomplishments to the imperial PRO
teetion, lie begged leave to continue on his
I6Bientitic tour to the central regions OF RUSSIA.
HbHge was Immediately granted, aud on the
.siissa,,p earance Of the adudnt. and before the
departure Of Bestncheff, the Gzarine threw of
oil ceremony, and pinehing the cheeks and
fmprinting kiss on the forehead OF the beau-
Giful stranger, appointed her. by one Of those
sudden whims Oh preferences against which
her ministers had 40 much trouble to guard,
Iectricc tntime et pdrticultcre-in short, conf
tho confused Marquis, who was unprepared
for SO alfsctionate reception, served rather
To heighten the disgutse and old Bestucheff
bowed bimsef out with y compliment to the
beauty Of Mile de Beaumont. velcd ID di-
uinmatic eongl atulation 70 her Imperial mis-
tress.
EIlsaheth was forty and o little passee. but
she had pretensions. and was particularly
fond OF beauty In her attendants, female as
we'll as male. Her iavurlte or her personal
suite, at the time Of the arrival Of the Mar.
uuis, was an exquisite little creature who had
been sent 70 her as . compliment to this par
tioular taste ny the Duchess OF Mecklenbsrg
Htreitz--a kind of German "Fenella" or
s.Mignon" by The name of Nadge Stein. Not
much below the middle size, Nadge was a
model of symmetrical proportion and Of very
extraordinary beauty. She had been care
fully educated for her present situation. and
Was highly accomplished-a fine reader and
sfnRufHrly sweet musician ana dancer Ihe
(zarine's passion for this lovely attendant
was exceesive and the arrival OF a new favor
fta Of the samesex was looked upon with some
pleasure by the eclipsed remainder Of the
palace idlers.
Mademoisele de Beaumont temporarily to
her charge: but the came mysterious mag
netism which had reached the heart OF Inc
Gharine, seemed to kindle quite as promptly
Che affections OF her attendant. Nadge was
NO sooner alone with her new friend, than she
jumped to her neck, smothered her with !
kiSses, called her by every endearinR epithet |
sind overwhelmed her with questions, min |
gled with the most child-like EXPLANATIONS Of |
wonder ut her own inexplicable love for |
stranger. Tn an hour she had shown to the |
new demoiselle all the contents OF the little |
loves and hates at the Russian court; OF her |
home in MecklenberK, and her present eitua- |
tton. IN short, poured out her heart with the |
naif abandon Of child. The young Marquis
had never seen 30 lovely creature, and
rpSpunsibly as he felt hts difficult aud deli
cate situation, he returned the affection 50
innoeeDtly lavished upon hin, and by the end |
0f this first fatal hour was irrecoverahy III |
love- And, gay as his life had been at the |
French court. 1t was the first, and suhse-
auently proved TO be the deepest passion Of
his life.
On the Czarines return to her private apart |
ment, she summoned her new favorite and |
Bnuerintended, with condescending s0lieltude |
the arrangements for her palace lodging |
Nadge inhabited a small tower adjoining the |
bedroom of her mistress, and above this was |
an unoeeupied room, which, at the present |
suggestion OF the fairy little attendant, was
allotted to the new conner. The stairca Q |
opened by one door into the private gardens
and by the opposite into the corridor leading |
immediately Tito the imperial chamber. The |
Maraus's delicacy would fain have made
someohjectlcn to this very intimate location;
hut he could hazard nothing against the in
teavets Of his sovereign. and he trusted To- q
arsfxsdy tarr.inatior 81 tis disCniSa With the