The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-03-25
THE FRENCH Police.
Revelations OF a Stranger in the
SJreot5 OF Paris.
Authentic Narrative of an English Noble
man to american Friend, showing
How His s-i-c E.as Preserved by IA
secret Agent oi the Police.

Many wears ago, I arrived in Paris a
perfect stranger. and took lodging tt
AI.urlc,--s famous English hotel. Ilar-
ing been shown to my apartments ANA
made some change in nv toilet, i-wcnt
ont Tor short stroll ia that great and
magnificent city-thut heart. as IL were.
of the world I had some letter Of in
PRODUCTION. but. as ! had not vet pre-
scented them. / believed myself wholly
unknown - q living soul in shat Eac-
trupol.-. except. II might be. 10 the .-.I-
cors Who read Iay passport at the gates
and the clerk who had seen me Register
my name. and that either shoU'. l0gr
fixed that name in their recollection
was something that my mod--ty haa
not We. permitted me 10 take into con
Sideration.
Judge of my surprise, therefore.
when / had gone but a few steps from
Ncuricn'~ - Rue dc Eiyoi toward the
beautiful Palace--ardcn nearly op-
po~itc. to hear myself addressed a.
follows:
-Eu Mon -ieur Henry Neville have
the 3lind-eas 10 answer me 4 few i'm
portaut gucalons?"
turned TO tAc speaker, and saw at
glance hc was a total stranger - ue
that / bad never. 70 my knowledge,
looked upon his face before. lLa vas q
miadIc-agcd man, Of rather proposes
ing appearance, with gray uaIr. eye
brow- and mustache, and was dressed
as q plain. substantial citizen.
Il viii do myself the pleasure To
obligc you l replied, in a polite ana
courteous tone. Permit me iirat 10
remark, however, that You have "a
little the advantage OF me, IN that You
already know my name.
Monsieur viii please i,now me as
Eugene St. Ncdard.'
Did we ever meet before?"
1t Is monsieur that has now be
come the qUcstioner, rcjoined the
Frenchman, with a peculiar smile and
kind of formal bow. haif di-uiis..
half polite a. if he would have said
the questions were only TO come from
his side.
somehow l felt just trifie vexed
and ucttlcd at the look and tone, and
remarked, little coldly:
Il take il for granted one has the
same right TO int-rroEGts as tn. other
The features of the stranger -rss.
grave. as one who feels little annoyed
and his reply was impressive. without
being exactly stern.
IF monsieur viii b. kind enough to
waive his right in this instance 60 he
said, 1t may save Us both some time
ami trouble
/ scarcely knew why-p"ThapS some
thing Il thc look, tone and manner
but the idea now Suddenly occurred to
me that / WAS speaking 10 "a man ia
authoritv-aud l said. respectfully:
Proceed, Monsieur st NcGard.'
Thank YOU, monsieur. Nou are an
Engli>Eaau?"
Il am.
..You are distantly related to the
earl OF Maivern?'
50 di.,aat,g that his lordship could
never get aser enough 10 know our
family / replied. pleasantly. not a
little surprised that a French stranger
should know - much about Tne, ard
wondering all che while 70 what result
MS questions might bc tending.
You vvere-aa only chiid?"
Yes
Your parents are dead?~
You were left small Inheritance,
which you have lately converted into
money and brought with you, thinking
it not unlikely YOU might take a fancy
to settle on the Continent"
Al. true. monsieur: but vour lzuowl-
/ edge OF me and my private affairs as
! touishes me-.
! Let that pass. The family of his
| lord hip. the earl Of Malvern, has been
unfortunate: no near of kin remain to
/ him"
Two proGiEate sons Of a deceased
/ sister are the nearest, | believe"
They are both dead monsieur
/ One died of heart-diSea>c in Ger
many. the other was stabbed TO death
! in Rome"
Dead exclaimed I, with start
( for this was news to me.
/ ''Are you sure?"
Certainly. monsieur"
/ Both OF them! This astonishes me
/ still more. ! had not heard OF this
- know it"
1t seems to me you know every
J thing said |. with a stare of wonder.
Monsieur st. Medard smiled and con-
( tinued:
You are now the heir presumptive,
monsieur
If what you tell me is true. / ann
! exclaimed l, almost startled at the
thought Of being so near 70 an earldom
for the then lord was old and feeble
and might drop off at any minute.
DO you know who Is next of kin
after yourself. monsieur" inquired my
strange interrogation.
Il think have heard it is one VIII
liam Bycr.y."
Right 30 you know him?"
Something by report"
''Pcrsonaliy?"
No"
Did report speak favorably Of him?''
Il am sorry to say ii did not.
From what YOU heard, do you con-
slider him an honest man?'
Il do not
''As you alone now stand between
him and an earldom. after the death of
the present lord, would you consider
your life safe in his hands?"
Before ! answer this question. will
you permit me to ask some two or
three" said /.
! Proceed, monsieur
Are you William Byerly?"
NO
Are you related to him2"
No
Are you friend of his?''
NO"
do you intend TO use my reply in a
legal way?"
No"
rs your object in these questions
friendly to me?"
Yes"
Then 1 venture to say that l shoul,
not like, under present circumstances
to trust my life in the hands of WI
liam Byerly, provided there were
single chance of his escaping detection
in case of willful murder"
Very we'll May | now proceed?"
s.NeS monsieur