, 1881-03-25
4 CLEVER COUNTESS.

tN lAt tLA uuS ol OtAobvI. I'-''-i z
love To be particular i'll dates-a coach
and six drew mp before the shop Of the
well-known ieweler, NJ, Rue St. Honore.
The equipage was covered with profu-
sion of gliding and Aeraldic devices, and
the hveries of the footmen indicated
high rank III the pOssessOr. The steps |
being adjusted. lady, splendldly
dressed. descended, and entered the |
shop. where all the attendants, and even
II. himself. were profuse i'll their atten-
tions, anticipating every look and step, /
and displaying before her the most costly .
diamonds and picrreries.
The lady, with the most lofty moncha- !
lance, selected Jewels TO the amount of |
about $4,000, which were Immediately /
placed in II casket by the Obsequious at !
tendants, when, handing her purse TO !
the jeWeler, he found 1t contained sum /
somewhat exceeding E3OOO, and short of /
the requisite amount. The lady, with !
many graceful apologies, and Il mOmen-
tary flush of vexation, begged pardon for
the mistake-desired NJ, to lay the par
eel hv until she should call again with
the money, and giving her pame as the
Countesse de l., departed with all the
ceremony and Splendor that marked her
first appearance.
The coach passed up the Rue st. Hon
ore III the direction of the Barriere Neu-
lily, turned by the Place de Louis
QuirZe, and finally stopped at the house
of a celebrated physician in the splendid
Rue de Rivoli. The lady aligh.ed here,
and was shown into the presence of the
well-known DIR. N, who arising from his
seat at table covered with anatomical
preparations, saluted her with his usual
courtesy, and begged to know why he
was honored with this unexpected visit.
The lady, assuming an air of settled
melancholy. replied;
al can hardly command my feelings to
tell you the cause of my unhappiness.
Ny dear husband, the COmte de L.. dur
ing the early years of our marriage, was
all that fond wife could desire; my
slightest word, hint or sign, was suf1i-
cient inducement for him to obtain any
object of my wishes; but, latterly, the
scene is changed" there her voice be-
came nearly inarticulate through grief;
che has become moody, silent and re-
served; ut times breaking forth into viO-
lent fits of rage without any apparent
cause, thus making my life a perpetual
scene of misery-in short, dear Doctor,
moro than suspect he is touched with
insanity, and it is on his account that l
which 1 consider of more weight than
that of any other member of the profess
sion" there the Doctor, much tlattered,
made a low, disclaiming bow Especially
as the dreadful secret has been concealed
from all his family not even his brothers
and sisters having the slightest intlma-
tion of it.
''The following circumstance, Doctor.
has especially influenced my present
visit. My dear husband, the COmte,
wishing TO support the honor of his
house, sent me last spring. to the noted
jeweler NJ, Rue st Honore, with carte
blanche to select ornaments TO wear at
the approaching festival. 1 at first hest
tated, but finally urged by his earnest
protestations, went to-day and chose a
few, to tritfling amount, more to please
him than myself, as he delights, the dear
Comte, there the lady sobbed) in seeing
me splendidly dressed and supporting my
rank. But from the many similar in
stances / have observed, / have not the
least doubt that, on being reminded of
the fact, he will pretend utter incredul-
ity, and on being assured of the truth,
burst into these terrible proxysms which
but too clearly indicate the cause of his
disorder. Therefore, dear Doctor, favor
me with your best, kindest advice, and
Here the lady applied her handkerchief
to her face and was silent.
The Doctor, crossing his legs and sup
porting his chin upon his gold-headed
cane, began to cogitate, with his eyes
half closed and his body inclining for
ward at an angle of forty.five degrees.
"Hum-madame, confine him-indeed
we must-a clear case, madame-the hu-
mors, which, had they been pituitaI or
salivery, would have been expectorated,
having become sanguineous and melan-
cholic, having retrograded upon the cer-
ebellum-hem-n-but excuse me, mad
anne, while i make the necessary prepa-
rations."
So saying, the Doctor arose, rung
bell, and directed his valet to see his
chariot at the door, and to order Jean le
porteur and Francois lie cocher to attend
him Immediately, land hark ye," sand he
in an undertone, tell them to bring all
my apparatus Ges lunatics, depechez,
and let them follow in my chariot. l
will avail myself of the carriage of the
Comtesse' (the lady made a bow of CRATE
full acknowledgement, land be careful to
remain IN the ante-rOom till call
aloud"
The servant retired, and in few min
utes announced everything ready. The
tesse; his own chariot followed at Il
short distance behind. During the ride
hs used every argument to assuage the
grief of the lady, which would burst
forth at times with increased vehemence,
until the honest medicln himself. hard
ened as he was to the details of his pro-
fession, became affected by sympathy. 1t
seemed as if every tranquil moment only
added to the violence of the succeeding
paroxysm.
Passing down the Rue ST. Honore,
they reached the jeweler NJ, before
mentioned, when the lady pulled the
string of the coach and alighted. Upon
entering the shop she desired NJ. to take
the packet of jewels, and accompany her
in the coach, assuring him of his pay as
soon as he reached the hotel of the
Comte, adding, with a fascinating smile,
that he cOuld have no apprehensions,
since the jewels were still in his keep
ing. The jeweler, with smile of fiat
tered vanity, took the parcel into his
hands. insisted upon handing Madame
La Comtesse into the coach, sprang IN
himself, and the coachman, swapping his
whip, the equipage rolled magnIticently
down the Rue st. Honore.
After 81 drive of n mile and n half and