Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-12

were valuable as we'll as queer. But there,
at least, was no other customer in sight Just
then, so Bobineau told me all the tale.
1t seemed there had been NJ. Funichon
-Auguste Funichon-no, not Breton, a
Partisan, true Partisan, who had come
and settled down in the commune OF
Plouigneau, over by the gare. This M.
Funichon was, for example, little-well,
little-a little exalted, let us say. 1t is
true that the country people said he was
stark mad. but BobIneau, for his part, said
no, no, no! 1t is not necessary, because
one is a little eccentric, that one is mad.
Here Robineau looked at me out of the
corner OF his eye. Are not the English, of
all people, the most eccentric. and yet is it
not known to all the world that they are
not, necessarily, stark mad? This NJ.
Funicbon was not rich, quite the contrary.
1t was little place he lived in-the merest
cottage, in fact. And in it ne lived alone.
and, according to. report, there was only
one thing he did all day and all night long,
and that was, play chess. 1t appears that
he was that rarest and most amiable of i'm
beetles. a chess maniac. Is there such q
word?
what lifep said NJ. Bobineau. Figure
it to yourself! To do nothing-nothing!-
but play chess! They say'-M- Bobineau
looked round him with an air of mystery
they say he starved himself to death. He
was so besotted by his miserable chess that
he forgot-absolutely forgot, this imbec1le-
to eat
That was what NJ. Bobineau said they
said. 1t required a vigorous effort Of the
Imagination to quite take 1t In. To what a
state OF forgetfulness must man arrive be-
fore he forgets to eatl But whether NJ.
90 nat vhnfh AA
didn't at least he died, and being dead
they sold his goods-why they sold them
was not quite clear, but at the sale NJ.
Bobineau was the chief purchaser. One of
the chief lots was the set of ivory chessmen
which had caught my eyes. They were the
dead mans iayorite set, and no wonder!
Bobineau was of opinion that if he had had
his way he would have had them buried
with him in his grave
1T is said,' he whispered, again with the
Glance OF mystery around. that they found
him dead, seated at the table, the chessmen
on the board, his hand on the white rock,
which was giving mate to the adversary s
king
Either what vivid Imagination had
Bobineau, or what odd things the people
said! One pictures the old man, seated all
alone, with his last breath finishing his
game.
Well, bought the set of ivory chessmen.
At this time of day 1 freely admit that
thev were cheap at two hundred and fifty
iraucs-dirt cheap, indeed; but hundred
was all 1 paid. L knew Bobineau SO we'll
dare say he bought them lor %. As bore
them iumphantly away my mind was oc-
cupied by thoughts OF their original posses
sor. 1 was filed by quite sentimental
tenderness as l meditated on the part they
had PLAYED, according to Bobineau, In that
last scene. But St. Servan drove all those
thoughts away. Philippe Henri de st.
Servan was rather a difficult person to get
on with. 1t was with him l shared at that
time my apartment on the place.
Let us seel' remarked when 1 got in,
what have / here?'
He was seated, his country pipe In his
mouth, at the open window, looking down
upon the river. The Havre boat was max
ing ready to start-at Morlaix the nautical
event of the week. There was quite hustle
on the quay. st. Servun just looked round,
and then looked back again. l sat down
and united my purchase.
7 think there have been criticisms
derogatory criticisms-passed by certain
person upon a certain set OF ehessmen.
Perhaps that person will explain what he
has to say to these
st. Servan marched up to the table. He
looked at them through his hali-closed
eyelids.
Toysl' was all he said.