Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-17
A FRENCH POLICE MINISTER.
A Way they Have or Doing Things that
Astonish Partisan Visitors.

A merchant of high Gespectability in
Bordeaux had occasion 70 visit Paris
upon commercial business. carrying with
him bills and money TO a very large
amount On his arrival at the gates of
opened the door of the carriage and adj
dressed him to this effect:
''Sir, have been waiting for you for
some time. According to my notes you
are to arrive at this hour, and your per-
son, your carriage, and your portmanteau
exactly answering the description hold
in my hand, you will permit me to have
the honor of conducting you to Monsieur
de Sartine."
The gentleman, astonished and alarmed
at this interruption, and still more at
hearing the name of the lieutenant of
the police mentioned, demanded to know
what NJ de Sartine wanted with him,
adding that he had never committed
any offense against the laws, and that
the police could have no right to detain
him. The messenger declared himself
ignorant of the cause of the detention,
and said that when he had conducted
him to NJ de Sartine, he should have ex-
ecuted his orders. After some further
explanations, the gentleman permitted
the officer to conduct him to the police
official.
NJ de Sartine received him with great
politeness, and after requesting him to
be seated, to his establishment described
his portmanteau, and told him the exact
amount in bills and cash which he had
brought with him to Paris, where he
was to lodge, his usual time of going to
bed, and a number of other circum-
stances, which he had conceived were
known only to himself. Having thus
excited his attention, M. de Sartine
asked him:
Sir, are you a man of courage 7"
The gentleman, still more astonished
at the singularity of this interrogatory,
demanded the reason why such a ques-
tion was put, adding that no man had
ever doubted his courage.
NJ de Sartine replied, "Sir, you are
to be robbed and murdered this night.
If you are man of courage, you must go
to your hotel, and retire to rest at the
usual hour But be careful not to fall
| asleep; neither will it be proper for you
to look under your bed, or into the closet
which is in your chamber. You must
place your portmantcau in its usual sit
uation near your bed, and betray no sus-
picion. Leave what remains to me. If
you do not feel your courage sufficient
to bear you out, will procure some one
who will personate you, and go to bed In
your stead.
The merchant being convinced that
M. de Sartine's intelligence was accurate
in every particular, refused to be per-
sonated, and resolved to follow literally
the directions he had received. He ac-
cordingly drove to the hotel, and went
to bed at his usual hour, eleven o'clock.
AT half-past twelve-the time mentioned
| by NJ de Sartine-thc door of his bed
chamber burst open, and three men en-
tered with dark lantern, daggers, and
| pistols. The merchant perceived one of
| them to be his own servant. They rifled
| his portmanteau undisturbed, and settled
the plan of putting him to death. Hear
| ing all this, and not knowing by what
means he was to be rescued, it may be
supposed he was under great perturba-
ton of mind during such an interval of
suspense. When at the moment the vii
lalns were preparing to take the mer-
chants life, four police officers, who
were concealed under the bed and in the
closet rushed out, and seized the Offend
ers, with the property in their possession.
The consequence was that the perpetra-
ton of the murder was prevented, and
sufficient evidence obtained to convict
the offenders. NJ de Sartine's intelli-
gence thus enabled him to prevent many
cases of murder and robbery.