The Southern herald., 1888-03-10
A SHREWD TRICK.
How Detective Was Duped by q
Clever Spaniard.

ever, did not always come off with hy-
ing coIors, as the following anecdote
will show. He had been intimately
acquainted in his younger days with
wealthy Spanish nobleman, the Count
de Moncade, but had lost sight of him
for many years, his fliend having. for
family reasons, given up his establish
ment in Paris, and retired to his state
in the nelghborhood of Seville. Lenoir
was, therefore, surprised in receiving
a letter from the Count, requesting
him, as special favor, to endeavor by
every means in his power to ascertain
If the son Of his correspondent, who
had secretly left Spain, accompanied
by an actress Of the Toledo Theater.
was sojourning in France. Il have
reasons to believe" wrote the Count
'that the silly youth has gone so far
as to give the girl written promise
of marriage, and as it would
be only right to make some
provision for her if she con-
senls to abandon her preposterous
claim, l leave you to conclude what
pecuniary arrangements you may
think proper with her, and also to fur
nish my son with the necessary funds
to return home" The letter ended
with an exact description of the two
fugitives.
Among the Lieutenant's subordi-
mates was certain Pitrot, in whose
skill for unraveling a mystery he had
the greatest confidence, and who had
often proved an invaluable auxiliary
where more than ordinary tact and
acuteness was required. To him
Lenoir confided the task of inspecting
the registers of new arrivals kept by
the various innkeepers and owners Of
lodging-houses, as the best means Of
tracing the fugltives in the possible
event of their having taken refuge in
the Capital, communicating at the
same time for his guidance the descrip
ton of their persons forwarded by thu
Count Two days passed without any
favorable report from the agent, but
on the third evening he appeared witt
the tidings that he had succeeded il
his quest.
II followed them unobserved tt
their lodging in wrctched inn called
rHotel de Toulouse, which l ha(
omitted to visit and there, sir, yol
will find them whenever it pleases yol
to judge for yourself as to their iden
tity. "
Immediately on the receipt of thi
intelligence Lenoir, accompanied onl'
by Pitrot repaired to the hotel il
question, and, summoning the pro
prietor of the establishment desire,
to be shown the room occupied by
young couple recently arrived in Paris
The landlord at first demurred, saying
that his guests received no visitors
and had expressly forbidden him t
disturb them on any pretext whatever
On learning, however, in whose pres
ence he stood, he at once changed hi
tone, and preceding them up nal
row staircase to the top floor of tn
house, pointed TO a garret opposite
and submissively retired. At
sign from his chief Pitrot knocke
repeatedly at the door, which
after some delay. was opened
and Lenoir, leaving the ager
outside. entered miserably-furn ishe
room, and found himself face to fac
with the individuals of whom he wa
in search. There was no mistakin
their identity both correspondent
exactly with the description given; tn
Lieutenant therefore did not hesitat
to address the son of his old friend b
his family name, and at the sam
time briefly explaining the motive c
his coming.
To his astonishment however, tn
young man, who evidently resente
this intrusion on his privacy, curtl
replied that he was not Moncade, bt
Juan Gutierrez, merchant of Cadil
travelling with his wife for the
pleasure, and that he had done notl
ing to justify any interference on Il
part Of the police. You forget,
said Lenoir, that your assumption
false name is sufficient cause fl
suspicion, and as / have certal
proofs that you are not the perso
you pretend to be, any further a
tempt at disguise is perfect
useless" At the words, spoke
/, / sternlY and deliberately the sci