New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03
IN THE RUE DU POT-DE-FER
a TRUE STORY, TOLD FROM THE LETTERS
OF MADEMOISELLE AISSE.
PART 1.-THE INVALID IN WHITE
BY +. BAYFURD HARRISON.


retired to his apartments after professional
round. and had hardly begun to eat the dinner
which his old servant Manette served to him,
when q note was brought TO him. lie inquired
who had brought it, but the concierge had not
noticed the messenger. 1t one afternoon
early in April, 1921; the place was Paris; and
Jsez was the most fashionable doctor of his day,
and much in request among the fine ladies and
gentlemen of France.
The note, sheet Of white paper written on
in pale ink, and in q very small. unchancteristic
handwriting contained these words:
m. the surgeon j. +. Iscz is prayed to be-
take himself this afternoon at o'clock, to the
Rue du Pot-de-fer the Luxembourg.
There was no signature.
NJ Isez threw on him his cloak with the velvet
collar. called q sedan chair. and hurried away
to his unknown patient
By the time that lsez arrived at the Rue du
Pot-de-fer it was quite dark. The oil lamps
swinging here and there. gave but little light.
On one eide Of the street were the doors Of old
fashioned houses on the other few shops and
cabarets, succeeded by long, high blank wall.
As Isezs charmen picked their stumbling steps
over the cobbles. they sounded loud in the silent
street, and they saw no living creature save a
few dogs and cats prowing about and shifting at
the heaps of refuse thrown in the road.
But when they had proceeded about half the
length of the wall, they became aware of a man
figure, standing motionless. This man. as soon
as he saw Isezs chair. approached and said Do
/ speak to NJ Isez?"
"Yes, am he," replied the surgeon.
"You are late. 1t is long past o'clock"
IL have only just received the note. l came
at once l did not even wait to finish my
dinner"
Dinner" the man repeated. in tone Of in
finite contempt Follow me"
The stranger led the way. lie was plainly
clothed in black. and lsez could judge nothing
from his manner as to the meaning of this ad-
venture.
They went few steps along the street. and
then the stranger opened. by some secret means, a
narrow door in the wall and mOtioned to Sez
to enter The surgeon did so the door closed
behind him, shutting out the man who had acted
as his guide.
He found himself in a small courtyard. and
facing him was the entrance of house; porch
with row of pillars. showing white through
A porter appeared. and usllered Isez into wide
hall paved with marble. from which fire stair
case led to the upper stories. There was nothing
remarkable about the porter. and lsez believed
himself 10 be In the hotel OF some noble or wealthy
y Monsieur is expected on the first floor. if he
will give himself the trouble to mount said
tine porter, indicating the staircase
Isez went up. Facing him was door, half
open. through which light shone he passed by
it into an ante-chambef hung with white. 1t
was singular. even startling.
The walls were covered with white velvet;
chairs and sefas Of the same material the
carpet Of plain thick white wool. and every
step which Isez made left a deep depression; A
small table of white wood supported white china
lamp, which burnt but feebly. OF other furni-
ture there was none,
1,oG In, In coll
and handsome. clothed entirely in white-c0at,
waistcoat. breeches. stockings. shoes all in dead
white material; bis hair was thickly powdered
and carefully curled. and tied with white silk
bow; white lace rutnes at his neck and wrists;
his skin was OF peculiar white tint. which
struck the professional eye of scz as being morbid
M. Isez," be said, coming to meet the surgeon
be 50 good as TO wipe your shoes" And he
handed him linen duster which lay beside the
lamp.
1T is not necessary" answered Isez: II have
only Just got cut OF my chair. and my shoes are
Nevertheless returned rhe Aacley, 1T
must be done as a precaution. Everything in
this house Is Of extreme cleanliness. and you must
be 80 good a as to wipe your ssoes ana ,o,o,
rubbed his shoes with the duster. and showed
the man that hardly speck of dust came of Oh
the cloth.
The servant bowed gravey This way"
said he. moving down the narrow room. toward
door opposite TO that by which the surgeon
Through this door Isez passed into larger
apartment. hung with white silk IL contained
handsome furniture Of white wood upholstered
in white silk. The carpet was Of roughly woven
silk There were several marble tables: china
vases. lace curtains. alabaster candlesticks and
various other ornamental articles decorated the
all was Of the same uniform Shade of white, yet
all was in the highest degree handsome and ex-
pensive.
A second lackey approached. also good
was
powdered and CT led. and clothed in white; but
whereas the first servapt had worn cloth. this
this time lsez wos growing some what accustomed
to the dazzling white tones all around him. and
also to the air Of mystery which pervaded
the house. lie was not surprised, therefore. when
the hickey handed him a second linen cloth and
bade him wipe lis shoes a second time He did
1t in silence, and found not even a suspicion of
This ceremony ended the servant opened an
other door and ushered lsez into third room.
white. The walls were hung with fufed satin;
the SOFAS and chairs were covered with broche
satin; the carpet was Of satin on which was a
with heavy satin curtains and thick quilt stood
at one side Of the room. a dressing table was in
M as sEoasS BY FROM To %na seS Ssas of S
Sunshine or breeze, but always lighted up b.
The inhabiant Of tbis chamber was q strange
figure which sat In q fauteuil beside the fireplace
Of white tiles, on which burnt an open fire Of coal
and wood-the only touch Of color and bright
ness which Isez had seen in the ghostly hoise
A tall. stout person this appeared 10 be, wearing
white satin night-cap aud white satin dressing
gown Lined with white fur; white mask coz
cred his face, Of which only two pale-bluo eyes
could be seen.
As soon - tsi!s extraordinary. fantastic figure
saw Isex enter. he said in monotonous. hoarsc
voice: The devil Is inside my body
Ises waited 10 hear more, but not another word
followed. He remained standing for some time
bat nothing was said by the patient who did not
Az we'll as Isez could Judge, rhree-ouarters Of an
hour passed without single remark either
side.
A table stood beside the invalid. On IL lay
2 heap Of gloves; He took up q white silk glove,