Evening star., 1895-06-15


There were a couple of grenaders at the
staircase, and their eyes started out from
under their fur caps, I promise you, when
they saw a young lieutenant. of hussars
going up to the emperor's room at mid
night. l stood by the door, as 1 had done in
the afternoon, while he sung himself down
In an armchair, and remained silent SO
long that 1t seemed to me hat he had for
gotten all about me. 1 ven.ured at last
upon slight cough 10 remind him.
All, Monsieur Gerard" said he. You
are very curious, no doubt. as to the mean
ing of all this?'
Il am quite content sire, if 1t is your
pleasure not to tell ME, l answered
Ia, ia, ta," said he, imps tiently. These
are only words. The moment that you We're
outside that door you would begin making
inquiries about what it all means. In two
days your brother officers would know
about it, in three days it would be all over
Fontainebleau, and it would be in Paris on
the fourth. Now, if 1 tell you enough to
appease your curiosity, there is some rea-
sonable hope that you may be able to keep
the matter to yourself"
He did not understand me, this emperor,
and yet l could only bow and be silent.
"A few words will make Ii clear to YOU"
said he, speaking very swiftly, and pacing
Up and down the room. They were Cor
sicans, these two men. 1 had known them
in my youth. We had belonged to the same
society-Brothers of Ajaccio, as we called
ourselves. 1t was founded in the old Paoli
days, you understand, and we had some
strict rules of our own, which were not in
fringed with impunity." A very grim look
came over his face as he spoke, and it
seemed to me- that all that was French had
gone out of him, and that it was the pure
Corsican, the man of strong passions and
of strange revenges, who stood before me.
His memory had gone back to those early
Gays of his, and for five minutes, wrapped
in thought, he paced up and down the room
with his quick little tiger steps Then, with
n he
back to his palace and to me.
THE rules Of such society,"" he con-
tinued, are all very well for private
citizen. In the old days there was no more
loyal brother than 1. But circumstances
change, and it would be neither for my well
fare nor for that of France that 1 should
now submit myself to them. They wanted
to hold me to it. and SO brought their fate
upon their own heads.
These We're the two chiefs of the order,
and they had come from Corsica to sum-
mon me to meet them at the spot which
they Iamed. l knew what such a sum-
mons meant. No man had ever returned
from obeying one. On the other hand, If
did not go, / was sure that disaster would
follow. 1 am a brother myself. you remem-
ber, and know their ways" Again there
came that hardening of his mouth aud
cold glitter of his eyes.
You perceive my dilemma. Monsieur
Gerard" said he. How would you have
acted yourself under such circumstance?
Given the word to the tenth hussars,
sire, Crleu. TdtroiS collQ nave swept
the woods from end to end, and brought
these two rascals to your feet"
He smile d, but he shook his head.
Il had very excellent reasons why I did
not wish them taken alive" said he. You
can understand that an assassin's tongue
might be as dangerous a weapon as an as
sassin's dagger. l will not disguise from
you that l wished to avoid scandal at all
cost. That was why I ordered you to take
no pistols with you. That also is why my
Mamelukes will remove all traces of the
affair, and nothing more will be heard about
IT thought of all possible plans, and 1 am
convinced that selected the best one. Had
l sent more than one guard with De Gondin
not have appeared. They would not change
their plans or miss their chance for the
sake of a single man. 1t was Col. Lasalle's
accidental presence at the moment when
received the summons which led to my
choosing one of his hussars for the mis-
sion. l selected you. Monsieur Gerard, be-
cause wanted a man who could handle q
sword, and who would not pry more deeply
into the affair than desired / trust that
In this respect you will crafty my choice
rs well as you have done in your bravery
and skill"
Sire" 1 answered. ''you may rely upon
it."
"As long as I live," said he, you will
never open your lips upon this subject?"
Il dismiss 1t entirely from my mind, sire.
l will efface it from my recollection as IL
II had never been. / will promise you to
go out of your cabinet at this moment ex-
actly as l was when I entered it at
o'clock"
you cannot do that" said the emperor,
smiling: You were a lieutenant at that
time. You will permit me, captain, to wish
you very good night"