The herald., 1895-11-10
A FLORENTINE TALE

Towards the middle Of the fourteenth
century there suddenly appeared in
Florence, Italy. parsonage calling
himself DR.. Attrapeccinl. Whence he
came no one knew. His name indicated
an Italian origin. but from his accent in
speaking one would have supposed him
to be German, while his long beard,
grave expression and majestic bearing
Sc med suggestive of the orient. Certain
manuscripts indeed, declare HIM to have
been a native of Gascony, hut the au-
been proved. Whatever might be his
nationality, however, the doctor had no
sooner arrived in Floernce than he caused
to be announced with grand flourish of
trum pets, cornet and drum, that on Tues
day the FIRST of May. at precisely E
o'clock in the morning, he would repair
to the city's cemetery and there restore
to life five persons of his own choosing.
The commotion excited by this news may
easily be imagined nothing was talked OF
in all Florence but the lllustirous stran-
ger. Some persons believed him to be a
magician; others. quack, and all pro-
displayed some degree OF boldness in
promising to resuscitate hive corpsas. At
last the excitement grew 40 intense that
the pedestal, or oaief magistrate of Flor
ence, resolved to senu for DR.. Attrapec-
cini and demand an expla n alton. A man
who was able to restore five lead persons
to life could have no difficulty in guess
ing what was passing in the mind of a
pedestal, and accordingly, the magis.
trate was just about to strike his gong to
summon an usher, when the doctor him
self was announced.
''You come just in time, DOCTOR" said
the magistrate, IL was about TO send for
you.
81 knew it, my lord, and wished to
anticipate your ORDERS" was the reply,
uttered in calm tone that filled the
podestat with amazement.
He recovered himsslf. however, and
was going to iuterrOgate the newcomer,
when the latter exclaimed:
understand, my lord, that some OF
your people here have doubts OF my sci
ence and even my honesty--in short, that
am suspected Of coming to Florence for
the purpose Of making dupes."
Something of that kind has been init
mated" replied the magistrate.
They say, moreover continued DR..
Attrapeccini, "that l intend to aecamp D.
u day or two before the first of May
''That also has been said," assented
the podesta.
"You can understand" said the
stranger, slowly that l owe it to myself
to put an end to these reports. have
come to request of you that guard Of
j ten, twenty, thirty or moro men BIZ sta.
toned aorund my house, SO as to make
It impossible for mo to leave Florence be.
! fore releasing from their tombs five per.
sons, as 1 have promised. You cannot say
that my request Is an unreasonable one
since you mad determined, before seeing
m .. to have me- watched
The magistrates surprise was increased
| by these words. for he saw that the mar
before him was an extraordinary being
| reading minds as one would an opsr
book. Partly out of curiosity, and partly
| M matter If official duty. the magistrate
had made up mis- mind to put the mystic
rious doctor under police surveillance
bus az he hid not acquainted any one
! (not even his wife) with his resolution,
| he had cause for being assonished a
finding that Attrapeccini was alreday
| aware of 1t.
"Your request is granted" he said