The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-10-27

= @oS~ 1A1NOA "Ao poO
other players the banker counted all
the money before him, and then, turn
ing to me, said:
The play is dear-5.4OO francs
Ellis count vas correct, I took out
my pocketbook, which 1 found, to my
dismay, contained only 1000 francs, I
searched my Iocket. It was impossi-
BILE to make up the sum in the bank.
The friends who were with me had no
money left.
Seeing my discontinue, and believ-
ing me to be an honest man, the bank
er ended my embarrassment by saying,
in a most courteous manner, that he
would credit me with the 1,4OO francs.
"'We meet often he added with q
smile.
"I will pay you Tomorrow I re-
piled, as I took my hat and a
Il took my loss lightly. 1t amount
ed to 10000 francs, but that was not
much of a tax on my patrimony. Be-
sides, 1 had ready money-the 10000
francs deposited with my lawyer, and
intended for my wedding expenses
with which to discharge my debt of
honor. After having refreshed my
self with several hours sleep I hast
ened to my lawyer, who received me
with smiles, as he said: i know you
bovo onro for tho ra1ouS
II obtained the money, and that
same evening, true to my word, I re-
turned to the gaming-house. The
doors were closed. That morning the
police had made a descent on the place,
captured the gaming implements, and
dispersed the employees of the estab-
lishment. There was no one to whom
I could pay the amount of my debt,
and I had to depart without paying it.
"The time fixed for my marriage ap-
preached, and my future uncle, the
minister, increased his niece's dover
in the form Of a substantial wedding
present to make me deputy prosecut-
lug attorney at versailles.
"Ah, imperial nepotisml' said laugh
ingly n of Calabasta's auditors.
TOO much nepotism, indeed" added
Calabasta, "for I was intrusted with
nearly all the celebrated cases. Ten
months after entering upon my duties
Ct was then married) I was assigned
to take charge of the prosecution in a
case involving a fr:ghtful murder. in
which an old woman. after having
been robbed, had been cut to pieces"
1.-THE crime of the Rue Mouffstard,"
exclaimed one of the listeners.
Precisely. The sentence condemn
ing the accused to death, pronounced
by the court at Paris, was reversed,
and the cas- was transferred for new
trial to the Court of Assizes at Yer
sailles. The task was a trying one for
a person of my limited experience, and
many an anxious night I passed pre-
vious to the trial. Often, half asleep,
I respectfully dotted my nightcap. say
ing: Judges and gentlemen of the
jury often rising with a start would
I raise my voice and beat the coverlet
with my clenched hand, and often my
poor Adelaide (heaven rest her soul y
asked If I vera mad"
A knowing smile was exchanged by
those who heard the recital.
"At length the great day arrived"
continued Calabasta, quitting his seat.
"All Versailles was in the courtroom.
After a crushing examination, to
which the accused responded only in
monosyllables, the presiding judge sig
niied to me that I might begin my ad-
dress. I rose, and making a tragical
gesture with my right hand toward
the assassin, exclaimed: Jean Bern
arp, lift up your head and look me in
the face ! At the sound Of my voice
the accused turned toward me his
face, which assumed a strange look.
A hoarse cry escaped my lips. 1t was
not the first time those two eyes had
been fixed on mine. In a second the
memory Of that unfortunate night in
the gambling-h house came back to me,
and I fell senseless into the arms of
my clerk. The man upon whom 1
was about to ask the court to pro-
nounce sentence Of death, the assassin
Of the Rue Mouffetard, was no other