Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-17

account TOT rne pscuuaruIes or his abode l noticed, too, the same incon- gruity about the lady's dress that had observed in the furniture of the draw ing room. Her costume was composed of cheap and showy materials, such an affair as can be purchased for fifteen or twenty dol lars in one of the great dry goods shops of Paris at the close of the season But at her throat she wore, in the guise of a brooch, an exceedingly beautiful antique miniature set in pearls, and at one side of her waist hung suspended chatelaine and watch, enameled with a design of roses and cupids in the best style of the reign of Louis XV; and on the not very shapely hand that she extended to me in greeting sparkled a curious and valu- able ring, an engraved emerald in setting of gold leaves and pearls that was altogether unique and admirable
 She was very cordial and gracious in her manner to me, insisting upon my staying to lunch with her and the viscount This invi- tation, however, l declined, limiting my claims on the hospitality of my new friend by requesting him to lend me an umbrella, which, by the way, sent back to him by the parcels post the very next day. The viscount insisted on my coming into the dining room to look at some rare old china that had, he said, belonged to his greatgrsndfather, and whilst in that apartment 1 was once more struck with the singular incongruity that reigned among his household possessions. The table was laid for lunch, and could not refrain from noticing that while the glass was ot the commonest and the table linen of the coarsest description, the esilverware-that is to say, the salt cellars and the forks-was of antique and artistic make, and extremely 2 beautiful
 After had admired my hosts ceramic treasures to the full l took my departure The rain had ceased, and when the front door was opened noisy group of chickens came hastening up the steps expecting to be fed.
 "Ah, the troublesome creatures" cried the viscountess My husband pets them so much that they are utterly spoiled; and he is so tender hearted that he cannot bear to give mo permission to have one of them killed"
 "You must come back to see us in the spring." chimed in her husband ''I am in treaty for quantity of eastern curios that 1 expect to secure by that time, and I shall be pleased to show them to you"
 So went off in search of the bric-a-brac shop that had been the original cause of my vist to Compiegne I found it without diffi- culty, made some purchases, and returned to Paris. 4 few days later Mrs Gray and I
 
 which lasted till late in the following spring.
 am never a great hand at reading foreign papers, contenting myself usually with those that are forwarded from America, with a glance at Galignani's Messenger from time to time, so l was quite behindhand with French news when we got back to Paris. I had Ficked up some curious things and some gen uine antiquities, to add to my collection, in Venice, Rome and Naples, and after I had made the tour of the second hands shops on the Rue de Provence it occurred to me that I might well go down to Compiegne, to see if the old dealer whose acquaintance I had made in the autumn had anything new. I carried out my project, and after had con- cluded my inspection and my purchases I found that there was still an hour to elapse before the departure of the express train for Paris. How should 1 kill time in the mean whiles am of a rather impatient disposi- tion, and cannot endure to lounge idly about railway station waiting for the arrival or the starting of the cars. Suddenly bright thought struck me- 1 would go to see my friend the viscount, and so dispose pleasantly of the superfuous time.
 1 reached the house very speedily. as it was not very far away, but it was shut up and seemed totally deserted Even the fowls that the viscount could not bear to have killed had disappeared from the garden. But what struck me as very curious was that groups of gaZers came and went contin- ually, to stare at the outside of that very commonplace abode, murmuring and whis- pering among themselves as they looked at it. was just about to take my departure, when l was joined by an alert looking young man, note book and pencil ill hand, who in- troduced himself to me American, and the Paris correspondent of The Western World of Chicago.
 "An American like myself, sir, see," quoth my young fellow countryman ''I have come down to take look at the house. Curious looking place-very homely and quiet to have been the scene of such murder ous plots and machinations-don't you think | sol"
 ill surprise
 "Is it possible that you do not know that this is the house where Marchandon livedg'
 And who was Marchaudon?'
 "He murdered Mme Cornet, the wife of the wealthy old East Indian trader that lived on the Rue de Seze. He was the good look | ing young thief and assassin who used to hire himself out a valet to wealthy old gentle men or ladies in Paris, and then plunder the house at the first opportunity. He always managed to get off without detection, as he hVed down nere ana passed himself oH as q viscount Stayl I think that I have the name here that he used to go by" and he consulted his notebook. "Yes-here it is the Viscount de ChantauZy"
 "I have never even heard of Marchandon, ,' I answered, feeling very ill indeed.
 "That is strange. You cannot have read the papers very carefully of late. It is the most romantic murder case on record-the double life of this young, handsome man, who was a servant in Paris and a nobleman at Compiegne; who gained funds for the latter phase of his career by robbing his en- ployers in the former, and who chose in preference as his victims those persons who were collectors of antique knickknacks, hay ing himself a taste for such things. 1 am told that this house was perfect museum of all sorts of curious and beautiful and artistic rarities when he inhabited it. This queer dual existence had gone on for some years and might have lasted still longer had not poor Mime. Cornet chanced to wake up in the middle of the night, to see her trusted, ele gant valet in the act of searching in he1 wardrobe for her jewels. She screamed fo1 help, and Marchandon, to silence her, killed