Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-09-11
"she had not calculated the effect of

HeF sDeecu. An nour later the general
left the hotel and went to his chateau /,
at the end of week the family notary
informed the countess that her entire
personal fortune was at her disposal.
The separation was complete, and the
general lived alone on the fifteen thou
sand francs which constituted the rev.
enue he received from his own fortune.
"The son made ducks and brakes of
her fortune. At the end of six months
the countess was half ruined. and the
energy of the notary alone saved her from
her sons extravagances.
"All at once it became known that
the Vicomte Roland no longer belonged
to the kings household, and that he
had handed in his resignation as lieu
tenant in a cavalry regiment. That is
what was given out, but rumors of a diff
terent character were aHoat. The coun-
tess no longer appeared in public, but
confined herself to her hotel In few
weeks she seemed ten years older.
''The vi,omte, after voyage of some
weeks in Italy, returned to Paris, took
apartments in the Rue de la Chaussee
d'Antin, and lived the life of an idler on
the pension of thousand francs a month
allowed him by his mother. 1t would
be little day; but at that time it en-
abled man to make quite a figure in
the fashionable world. He passed his
time between love adventures, the
theatres, and the green table. Then
little by little his elegance and his
eccentricities began to be talked about.
Clubs were not as plentiful as they are
now, but the gilded youth and the
gamesters had few of them where lovers
of the green cloth could amuse them.
selves.
Zone evening when the Vicomte
Roland, after having won a considerable
sum from one of his friends, offered him
his revenge, his opponent rose, and,
pushing away the cards, looked at him
in a singular manner.
"'Well no, Roland, said he; what
with your luck with women and your
luck with cards, you have too much
luck for one man.
"Roland, though somewhat choleric,
demanded no explanation, and contented
himself with laughing.
"Some days after, the prefect OF
police announced himself to the general
at his chateau. What passed between
them / do not know. All that is known
of the affair is that they returned together
to Paris. s..--...
cat II o'clock of the evening following
that interview; the vicomte was seated at
table playing ecarte. He had just won
ten successive games from an English
man, who, passing through Paris on his
way home, had been introduced at the
club by one of the members. Roland
had a considerable sum before him. The
loser had just risen, and before leaving
the table had bowed thrice, when an ell
derly gentleman approached the table.
"'Will the Vicomte Roland permit me
to take the gentleman's revenoeH
"The young man paled. 1t was his
father.
GAS you are a bold player, offer you
bold game. 1t will be useless for you
to say that it is too high. Read And
the general handed him note folded
twice.
"The vicomte glanced over it and
shudderel visibly.
"'Do you acceptY
"He bowed. The general seated him
self opposite his son, cut a king, and
dealt the cards. He won the first hand.
When it was the vicomte's deal, he
trembled slightly and strange light
shone in his eyes; nevertheless he played
on. The general won again.
"The vicomte rose, pale as a ghost,
and in a smothered voice said:
"In an hour, sir, shall have acquit-
ted myself.
."He left the room without another
word.
"On the following morning the guar
dians of the Bois dc Boulogne brought
in the body of the Vicomte Roland. His
head was blown to pieces, his hand still
grasping the pistol. In portfolio was
found an unsigned scrap of paper, on
which were the words: