The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-02-08

!. French family of good position, that oI
}, Golonel the Baron Duplessis.
II But here M. Garnet broke in, archine
his eyebrows.
II ssEh, sh, the Baron DuplessiB?" said
he, dryly..;; 81 was mot aware thst to hif
eqaulettes of Colonel he added the
baronisl coronet. Well, Monsieur Baker
| Ilhsve dropped you hint, well inten-
toned, for de Osrnetl Watch more
strictly over your pupil, for the inti-
macy OF the Duplessis household is apt
to prove costly to neophyte. And"--
this more seriously should You require
help from the police to cut the knot of
this imbroglio, you have only to seek me
--me jules Garnet, at your service.
The address penciled, see, ON this caid,
Seven, Rue Joachim. fireplace, for the
next few nights, the commissary at that
| bureau."
! And with flourish and how, he was
gone.
Left alone, my reflections were very
bitter. Icpuld not doubt the truth or
the timeliness of the warning that had
been conveyed to me, and without loss of
time set for the Rue de Loches.
1t was very dark, and as crossed the
bridge fine chilly rain began to fall,
but I scarcely needed 1T, but pressed on.
I reached the Rue de Leches, and just
as ] had raised my hand to the bells
handle of No. 16, ] noticed that the gate
was, contrary to custom, slightly sjar.
Instinctively pushed it open, passed in,
and silently reclosed it behind me- No
one observed me as I crossed the grass.
grown courtyard, and, nncballenged,
entered the big old house, the windows
of which were now ablaze with light,
while strains of music reached my ears,
with the clink of glasses and
the murmur of conversation. The we'll
known staircase, however, was clear, and
I met with no impediment asI traversed
two small rooms, and, myssF screened
by heavy crimson curtain commanded
q view of the great gloomy saloon and
it's oeenpants.
More than forty persons, as judged, !
were present, and of this number,
besides the Osaonels wife and daughter,
put thsee were women. One of these, o
performer, 4 should say, was !
seated Mt the piano. The other two, 4
painted, and with elaborate ]
:hignons and waving fans, we've mere 6
living decorations, as it appeared to me, {
If the scene. AIS for the male guests, I
here was the usssal mixture of gRlls and
harpers-Sale latter element psedOmi-
be foand in such places. /
Jhoice viands, varied wines and ksuors 4
Vere grouped, amid flowers and silver, ! /
n buffet sijaeens, and two lynK-eyed
erving-men, with very evil csurteD- !
noes, and baggy blue hveries that might
ave been supplied by the custnmer o a
third-rate sfeater, were busy in nin-
Itering to the Opeaaars comforts of the
smpany. 4
Some games, lansqnenet or basearat, 6.
'as goirg On, and in it some =
ighteen or nineasen players. were 4
ogsged. Nearsthe head of the table, :
the. dealer, sat Cecil, his j
ice flushed, his~eyes sparkling, . cham
agne glass in his hand, and q great heap ;.
gold and nates lying on thesvslvss :
10Th before him. Most of tho other y
ices near him, including the BasOn !
,nplessis, expressed annoyance, dismsy, !;
+ savage ill4hnm0r, and saw ut once !
nat this was an instance of one,of Those |,
rrsns of luck whichssoxe-
mes enable tyro to conaHeD The
,ilest practitioners at the gamisg-table. .
gain and again the cards were dealt. y
nd still fckleeisxtune befriendsd Qscil. Y
he pile of gold before him swsllsd sind .
Welled, until ct last, with o.. mutAersd g
ath, the last stake of the hanE was
pushed towards nay pupil.
:" Broke the hank, by Jssee j said 9
d do it'll" oxisd the lad, with boyish =
xultation, - he held out his glass 10 be =
spleniahed. ~ E8E q
4 was in the very act of rushing from q
~ place of ,eOncealment tOrepasach my q
upil with his duplicity, and to fling his Q