St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-24
1T wish to see you on a serious af.

IT wish TO see you on serious af-
fair"
"Come in" said Bridoux.
Armand entered, and Bridoux offered
him chair.
"Sir," said Armand, II have heard
of you as being one Of the most erudite
autograph collectors in Paris, and l
wish to show you something very rare
an autograph Of the Empress Marie
Louise Z"
So saying, Armand unbuttoned his
coat carefully took out his lank pocket
book, and from it took the letter, which
he placed under the eyes Of the auto
graph collector.
Bridoux read it, unused and said:
ut is very short. You say that those
characters are from the hands Of the EN-
press Marie Louise. Her autographs are
very rare"
at is authentic. The empress adj
dressed it to the great Napoleon the day
after the battle of Lutzen."
But the emperor lived at the Tuile-
ries then.
Certainly, sir, and that observation
proves your intimate knowledge Of the
history of the time. But, if you will re-
member, during the absence of the Lit
tie Corporal, as he whirled from battle
field to battlefield, the empress was in
the habit of retiring to the Louvre"
Bridoux was evidently fattered at his
historical knowledge being praised, but
rubbing his nose rehectively he said:
GLOW did the letter fall into your
hands?"
ooh, in the most natural manner in
the world. got the letter from my
father, who got it from my grandfather.
My grandfather, soldier of the empire
and fanatic admirer Of Napoleon,
picked up this letter one day when it
had fallen from the pocket of the great
man and preserved it as precious relic.
Sir, nothing but the most urgent need
would force me to sell it. But / must
have 100 francs 1t is for me question
of life and death. Nevertheless | beg
you to believe l am patUotic, for if l
come to you it is because you are French
and because, if you purchase it, this
precious document will remain in my
country. | could have had ten times the
price | asked you. Just now an English
man tried to buy it on any terms. He
followed me, even dcqging my steps to
the door of this house. >
But Bridoux evidently did not appear
in hurry to bind the bargain.
"Iwould willingly buy it, but wish
to consult an expert first"
81 regret, SIR" replied Armand,
"that l cannot wait. He turned cold
inside as he said to himself, "This
affair is going to fall through if Jules
does not hurry up"
At this moment the doorbell rang
Bridoux went to open it. Jules entered
He was unrecognizable. His hat was on
the back of his head, his coat was but
toned to the chin, and he had on pair
of long red whiskers not unlike those
which adorn the English tourists who
travel around with those queer person
ally conducted" parties.
At the sight of this curious parsonage
the autograph collector stared in stupe-
faction
pardon me, "said the false English
man. II wish to speak to the gentleman
who just came into your house."
Bridoux was, about to reply when
Armand interrupted.
"How," said he, "you here again,
MANI
eyes. will give you 200 francs for
your letter."
"But 1 told you would not sell it. /"
81 will give you 500 francs"
81 tell you, sir, that l am already
making bargain with this gentleman. !"
81 will give you 1000 francs"
81 beg you, sir, to leave the room. ="
Every we'll, said the false English
man, 81 will wait for you outside the
door, but must have that autograph"
and he left.
"You see" said Armand to Bridoux,
"the price that Englishman attaches to
this precious document. Don't force me
to let it pass into his hands when I ask
you only 100 francs.
The autograph collector was at last
convinced. He took out Of his secretaire
a bank note for 100 francs and gave it
to Armand, who thanked him and with
drew.
Not long after that the two young
men made raise, and the first thing
they did was to put bank note of 100
francs into an envelope with this in
dorsement, Restitution and thanks, {"
and addressed it to Bridoux.
But Bridoux never knew what it
meant. He simply covered the 100
francs into his treasury, and for him the
note of the little saleswoman at the
Louvre lace counter is still an authentic
autograph of the Empress Marie Louise.
Adapted For the Argonaut From the
French.
Much Ado About-Nothing.
A certain prince of Orange was gen.
q t,,, 4 +hn Md Of