Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-19

tire, | would tell him What could | say
to LIE Ministre, to that dear, good Min
istre? | would like to find some unusual
expression-to overstep, if possible, the
usual bounds of adulation. What if COM
pare him to Mirabeau? That would be
something; but it is not sufficient. / have
it IF | had the honor of addressing NJ.
lie Ministre, would say (declaiming), You
join the political genius of Cavour to the
oratorical power of Mirabeau!' Helm is
not that stunner?"
While Montastruc complacently repeats
this sentence, Jean, the office-boy, e:.ters
and hand him message.
Montastruc-"Jean, here is the first
sheet of my article; take it to the printer.
You will find the rest on my desk in a
quarter of an hour"
Jean takes the paper and departs.
Montastruc Opening the message)-
another dispatch from Champignolw
(Reading): "Hasten Not a minute to
lose. | await you under the porch of the
Odeon."
He puts the message in lis pocket and
proceeds to don his overcoat. In his haste
he turns it over and over, and his precious
vial drops unnoticed to the floor. He goes
out, betraying the most lively agitation.
He is no sooner gone than Agenor and
Cornelie, who have been keeping watch
the one behind the sliding door, and the
other behind the curtains of the portiere-
enter the Office simultaneously.
SCENE III.
Cornelie-"Did you see ?"
Agenor-"Yes, letter This time we
are on the track p with an exaggerated
accent of compassion): "Poor womanp'
He endeavors to embrace-Cornelie,w who
rudely repels him.
Cornelie-"One moment, Monsieur Age
nor There are yet only suppositions."
Agenor-"Yes, but they are crushing
ones"
Cornelie, perceiving the letter that
Montastruc had forgotten on the desk, ut
tiers piercing cry: "a letter %
She takes it up and reads:
"Strike while the iron is hot To
morrow Antoinette will be yours "
(Signed) Camille"
Agenor (hypocritically)-" Be strong,
Madame Courage, Cornelie-my Cor
neliep'
Cornelie (angrily)-"I will! Let us
fly, Agenorl Agenor with comical fierce
ness my Agenor
Agenor (hesitating)-"Fly? That is
perhaps somewhat hasty. Where shall
we go?"
Cornelie-"No matter where. To
Rome, Vienna, Constantinople-to Bougi-
val %
Agenor-" Bougival! that suits me
let us fly at once"
Cornelle-" Not before | have expressed
to my unworthy husband all the scorn and
horror / feel for himp'
Perceiving on the desk his writing ma
terials, she exclaims: "Ah a pen and
paper"
She writes upon sheet of editorial
paper the following words:
You are the lowest of scoundrels
Curses on your and lays the paper in a
conspicuous place ON the desk.
Agenor, picking up the vial that Montas-
true had dropped, exclaims: "What is
this? vialw
Cornelie snatches it from his hand and
reads the LABEL Genuine Borgia Poi
son; For Sale by All Prominent Drug
gists."
Poison, The coward intended to poi
son me! Quick my cloak and hat Go,
too, and get yours, Monsieur-you seem
very slow !"
Cornelie and Agenor retire to make
their preparations for departure. Mean
while the Office boy enters, seizes the paper
on which Cornelie had written, and with
draws, saying to himself: "IIardly one
paragraph 1t was not worth while to
make me return for this"
Some time after the boys departure
Cornelie and Agenor re-enter the edi-
torial room.
Cornelie-" Are you ready, Agenor ~
Bursting into sobs "Let US not remain
another instant under this accursed roof
Oh, the traitor! to deceive me for an An
toinettew
In her frenzy she seizes and dashes a
chair upon the floor, breaking it into splin.
ters-Bang. Then she breaks an arm.
chair-Bang. bang
Help me Agenorw she cries, desper-
ately, Ny Agenorr'
Assisted by Agenor, Cornelie finally sue
ceeds in upsetting the sofa.
At this moment Montastruc enters
stumbles over the overturned furniture,
and remains stupe6ed upon seeing the in
describable disorder of the apartment.
The explanation of the quid pro quo was
| exceedingly long. Montastruc had great
difficulty in proving his innocence For.
tunately he had preserved the seventy let.
tiers or kilograms from Champignol, which
gave Cornelie the key to the enigma
Antoinette" was simply the word which
the two friends, DESTROYS Of corresponding
mysteriously. had adopted TO designate the
cross of the Legion of Honor. The terri
BILE message: 'Strike while the iron is
hot. Tomorrow Antoinette will be yours =
| signiied: "Now is the time to publish the
sensational article; tomorrow you will be
decorated"
As to the "Borgia poison" Montastrut
having confessed his little deceit and the
honorable result which he expected to OBJ
| tain from its use, CorneIie fell into his
arms and covered with kisses his snowy
locks, Agenor disappearing meantime with
as little dignity as a frightened hare.
| While these scenes were being enacted
| the Eroiafioniste had made its customary
afternoon appearance on the streets. Sud.
denly the aforementioned exchange Of
mutual condolences were interrupted by
Jean, the Office boy, who rushed into the
| office pale and terrified. He bore copy
of the paper in his hand, and, holding il
up before Montastruc, declared that the
excited populace were attempting to in
wade the Office of the Northumberland
never, in the memory of man, had an arti-
Gle created such an effect.