St. Landry democrat., 1881-09-10

that this Muller, whose manners an
nounced that he was more than a coach
man. was a spy, whom the hope OF a
great reward had induced to play this
role. But as things were, there was no
probability in this supposition, and it
was more reasonable to suppose thai
the coachman, who concealed himself
with so much care, had formerly served
the general officer whom he had recog
nized, and in whose house he had been
guilty of some action the revelation OF
which alarmed him. Although the
General had every reason to be content
with the service of Muller, he wished to
know if this was not case OF one or
those old, hypocritical servants who
wait entire years to obtain the conf
dence of their masters in order at last
to be able to abuse it in a manner more
profitable to themselves.
The dinner ended, the General
sought everywhere for the Austrian
officer that he might question him, but
the officer had disappeared from the
salon, as the coachman had from the
dining hall, and neither of them put in
an appearance during the whole even
ing. When night came, the General,
whom this double disappearance had
annoyed, inquired of the other servants
what had become of Muller; he learned
that Immediately after his accident at
the table he flew to the stable in ex-
IRENE agitation. The General also
learned that after the dinner the Aus
trian officer had inquired for Muller,
and that, after hearing where he was,
he had hurried to Join him. and that tor
long time they had been closeted
| together; that one of the other servants
had heard between them spirited con-
versation. and that at last they had
both let the hotel, continuing their
conversation. The next day the Cen
eral sent down for an explanation of
this mystery. Then he learned that
Muller had reappeared at the stable and
was taking care of his horses with his
ordinary impassiblity. The General,
whose curiosity was greatly excited,
went Immediately to the stable, think
ing to surprise Muller and question him
unexpectedly; but as soon as the latter
perceived him he respectfully APP
preached his master and presented
him a letter almost exactly iii these
| terms:
ION my honor. I answer for the fidelity and
good conduct OF the coachman, Muller, and |
| will be very much lged to the Count C
| if he will not seek to know the secret of the
existence of this man. THE COUNT W
"And if wished to know it?' said
the General to his coachman.
Il would be forced to quit your serv-
/ hn IS do N
! great regret, because | esteem myself
happy to live with you; but | would do
it immediately"
The good conduct of this man, and
the Recommendation of the Austrian
officer, decided the General not to push
his inquiries any further. Muller re-
manned in his stable, and in a few
months this event was completely for
gotten. Probably it had been entirely
etfaced from the Generals memory,
when terrible accident again called it
to his mind.
One morning when Muller was lead
ing his horses to the watering place he
was upset by one of them, and carried
to the hotel with his skull fractured d,
and in such condition as to leave NO
hope of his recovery. In fact, he died
the same day, without having recovered
consciousness.
The next day, when they were pro.
ceeding with the burial, the General
charged one of his aides-de-camp to ex-
anime Muller's chamber and to take
note of everything he found there.
Muller was careful and economics
man, and probably had accumulated
some savings; he possessed, besides, 8
gold snuff-box and tine gold watch OF
great value, and the General desired all
these objects to be collected that they
might be delivered to his family in case
they discovered who he was. The aide
de-camp proceeded to Muller chamber
to execute the orders of the General
but his surprise was great when, or
opening the coachmau's trunk, the hrs'
thing he found was an Austrian uni
form, Coloners epaulettes, commits
sion for that rank and diplomas fol
other orders The regalia for these
orders, many of them ornamented witt
diamonds, were inclosed in this trunk
with the uniform. The aide-de-camp
who was not aware of the adventure o.
the dinner table, suspected at once thai
these objects were the product OF nu
merous petty thefts on the part of Null
Ter: but when he gave an account O
what he had discovered to the General
the latter recalled the event we have
recorded above, and wished to see fol
himself the objects found in the cham
Der of the coachman. He hoped to fine
there some papers which would explain
this mystery; but he found no other in
formation than what was contained il
the commission spoken of, and which
were all issued in the name OF thu
Count de V. Outside of these there
was no correspondence or previous ac
Of the coachman which betrayed wha
there was in common between the