Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-08-13
Prince Karinval's Wager

Sc lens.
Very blond. pale, tall and slender, i'm.
peIturbabiy phlegmatic temperament
touching Zero-with the aid of his
enormous fortune he amused society by
his freaks and fancies, even condescend.
ing occasionally to astound the pop.
ulace.
One evening he gave grand dinner
at his own mansion; the cheer was ex
quisite, and desert was served in a whirl
of gayety.
Every well; let MS wager" cried the
prince suddenly, replying , a challenge
from the opposite end of the table,
"that without having stolen, murdered,
injured my fellow beings in any way,
without having committed any sort OF
crime, broken any law or regulation,
get myself arrested when l please and
dragged to a station like a vagabond, a
thief, an assassin
He spoke in the icy tone from which
be never departed, even when making
the ost extraord nary statements OF
propositions, and his words cut clearly
through the laughter and conversation.
Every one turned toward him in sur,
prise. During the silence which fol-
lowed he added
81 wager two thousand louis-who
will take 1t upI'
There were wealthy men around the
board, well used to heavy stakes; hut
the magnitude OF the sum startled them.
Before taking up the wager they wished
to determine the conditions clearly.
There is no double meaning2-no
play on words, Or anything like that?"
gueried the fat Duke de Morvella.
mot in the least" replied the prince !;
II give you my word as a gentleman.
But" suggested another, "you will
probably proceed to do one of those &C
lions which, without being classed as
offences, yet arouse the police. As, for
example, you will show yourself in pub
lie in such an extravagant or remarkable
costume that you will be followed by a
crowd of ieeriug urchins, and, to put a
stop to the disorder, an officer will be
obliged to conduct you to a station,
where he will lend YOU less conspicuous
attire"
"Iou are quite wrong" replied dc
Karinval; "for if | should get myself
taken up for wearing some extraordlu-
airy costume, the officer would know
very we'll thUt he had only to deal with
an eccentric character, an oddity other
wise inofensive. No, tell you they
will grasp ire By the collar and drag me
to the station, believing they are con-
Quoting malcfactor, while | shall be
perfectly innocent of any fault or mis-.
demeauor, transgressiDg no enactment. )"
"Well, then, how will you go about
it2' exclaimed Gastambide, the banker,
who was very nervous and cxcitablc.
"Ah, that's my secret! You can
understand that if told you that tefore-
hG@1-"
"Of coursew interrupted Gastambide;
"but l have it now You will tap q
policeman on the shoulder, saying, "Old
fellow, I'm your man. have killed all
my family in moment of frenzy. Re.
morse is choking me. Take me up, old
fellow, let the law do its worst"
They shouted with laughter. This
idea OF the Prince dc Karinval tapping a
policeman on the shoulder, calling him
"old fellow aud begging relief for his
remorse awoke the widest merriment.
The prince alone preserved his cool
gravity. He explained quietly to the
impctuous banker that his intention was
not only to abstain from evil-doing, but
even to avoid any words or actions capa-
be of provoking his arrest. And he
repeated;
WHO takes up the two thousand
LOUISE"
81 do cried Gastambide with an
exubcrant gesture.
The next Gay, about seven o'clock IN
the evening, when the bouIeuards
swarmed with people and the restau-
rants began to fill up, a shabby wretch
mode his way throu II the crowd with
bent head an watchful gaze, picking
up, here and there, The cigar ends that
Others threw away.
The man was still young, and had
evidently fallen from higher rank, to
judge from the distinction of his pale,
refined face, his patricIan hands, his gen
cral bearing. Very tall aud thin, he
must once have been an elegant figure IN
society Now ne was reduced-by what
vice or misfortune2-to old shoes with
broken classics, down at the heel aud
patched on the toe, to trousers down at
the knees, and frayed around the hens;
to a wretched coat, faded and worn,
which was buttoned to the thr "a
to conceal the lack of linen. An oh
felt hat, which looked as if !