The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-10-08

ten by the world ?" asked she.
An earnest matter, madame" an
swered Nj. Pietri, without any ceremony.
a" You have written this letter to Count
Morny; you will comprehend that the
emperor cannot allow the carrying out
of your threats; and / request you to
Immediately deliver To me the papers of
which you have spoken,
The countess sneeriugly leaned back
in her easy chair.
"That liz peculiar demand, SIR" she
| said; "and to Justify HI peremptory II
tone, one must power than the emperor,
and more than your police. l could an
swer You, that possess no papersat all,
that this was u mystiiication, but you
would not believe me; therefore | tell
y ou that indeed am in p ossession Of
documents which are highly compromis-
ing to Count Morny, and to others, and
which would Mt any rate prevent his
Russian marriage, which is faithlcss and
pcrfidious."
cit is not for me 10 NEEDLE with
Count Morny's conscience, madame"
answered Nj. Pietri, coldly: "and il you
refuse to deliver up these papers, which
] ask Of you in the name of the emper-
or, | must tor the present make you II
prisoner in your house; although, NJ II
matter of couse, as long as it liz possible,
you will he treated with MI that regard
which your position may require
"Those papers, sir, are i'll the hands
of sure friends" replied the Countess
Lehon, with m expression of naughty
security. "As forthc rest, do what you
can, and can account for.
NJ. Pietri opened the door and gave
sign. One of the gentlemen who had
followed him into the hotel came in.
"You will, said the police project,
"not quit the room of the countess; and
/ take care that she neither removes nor
speaks with anybody except in your
| presence"
The police officer bowed.
The countess, as she looked Mt thetwO,
mockingly played with the tips of her
slender fingers.
81 shall appear again after three
| hours" said Nj. Pietri, Gin order To ask
whether you have changed your mind,
madame, and whether you have anything
! to say to me. If So, you can tell il to
this gentleman, and hcwill communicate
1t to me.
He courteously bowed, as if IN net of
politeness had been spoken of, and went
away. Out of doors he gave the rest of
the officers the order to allow nobody to
enter the hotel or to leave it. Then he
asked after the young Count Charles
Lehon. His raiet dc chamb.e- who
had come, anxiously into the ante-cham-
Der of the countess-led him to the
apartments inhabited by the count, who,
however, already in the corridor, was
Fastening toward him, full of trouble
and excitement.
Count Lehon-who, as we remarked,
might ut that time have been about five
or six and twenty years oll-showed in
his elegant, plant figure, and in his
! features, M unmistakable likeness to
Count Morny. A certain childlike
timidity was still visible in his face, and
the glance of his eyes was gentle,
thoughtful and dreamy; his nature was
just rs delicate, sensitive and suscepti-
bic us the counts was cold, sharp and
impenetrable.
"For Gods sake, sir!' exclaimed he,
"what is going on here? You occupy
the hotel, what has happened? What
have you against us? Does the emperor
not know how much | am devoted to
him, how>much am prepared to do for
| him-for him who has freed France from
the revolution and made her again great
in Europe?"
"The emperor knows your senti-
ments, said Pietri, earnestly; "and Just
for that reason, count, he has given me
the order to lead you Immediately to
him. He himself will impart to you
what is the point in question, and You
can be convinced that he will do every
thing to settle this painful aflair-which
indeed seems very intricatc-as kindly
as possible, and will do everything to
keep, us much rs he is able, at least from
you, the consequences of your mothers
behavior"
But what has happened? What is
the mattcr?' cried the young count.
Accompany Inc, said Pietri, "and
You will learn all"
The young man tremblingly followed
the project into his carriage, and WIS
driven to the palace of the emperor,
where both were admitted into the cabi-
net.
Napoleon looked up, surprised, when
he saw the pale and excited young man
enter his room with Pietri.
| 'pii', SOtlub
hon is greatly moved Mt the measures
have been Obliged to take against his
mother, and he wishes to assure your
majesty Of his devotion. did not con-
slider myself free, till here III your ma
jcsty's presence, to impart to him that
the countess has delivered documents of
importance, relating to state Affairs. into
the hands of the banisiied prince of Or
leans-that is, to the enemies of your
majesty and France"
"Oh, my Godw exclaimed the young
Count LehOn, "whnt misfortlneT
He covered his face with his hands and
leaned against the door.
"Then il is really true?" asked the
emperor, with establishment and alarm.
" 1t il true, said Pietri, while mt the
same time, with a light shake of the
head, he gave the emperor sharp
glance, "and your majesty can conceive
how painful this serious affair must be
for Count Lehon, who is such II good
Frenchman, and such an admirer of your
majesty"
at il high treason" said the emper-
or, over whose lips fugitive smile pass
ed, (Which cannot occur without severe
punishment"
Count Lehon sighed deeply, and pain
fully; then suddenly he rose and stepped
before the emperor with, joyful mein.
"NO, sire, no." said he, cit is not
true-it is fal Sc accusation. 1t cannot
be true, for, until this morning, those
papers were in our house. have seen
them myself, and since then my mother
could not possibly have had time to send
them to London"
"The papers were there? You have
seen them yourself? ?" asked the emperor,
after listening with attention, while joyful
triumph lighted up Pictri's features.
eyes, yes" exclaimed Count Lehon.
"They were there. / have seen them.
l came into my mothers room; she had
opened the secret drawer in which she
keeps the letters of Count Morny, and 1
saw her read attentively in the papers"
eff that be the case" said the en-
peror, "the accusations which is made
against your mother must be false. But
why was she not told it? Why did she
not show these papers? That would
have been the best proof TINT they were
not in London"
"The Countess Lehon," said Pietri,
"does not know what is here the point
in question. / have not thought it
necessary to communicate anything to
!. her, but have, first of all, only made
sure Of her person in the most discreet
way"
"Oh," cried Count Lehon, zone must
, | InnL aftar fba,o Won, will ha cnnyinoal