The evening times., 1899-09-22
TRAVELLING WITH DREYFUs.
Correspondent Describes the Cap
tafn,6- Trim to Carpentras.

TRAVELLING WITH DREYFUS.
Correspondent Describes the Cap
tafn,S- Trip to Carpentras.
PARIS. Sept. R2.-The Figaro givoC
the following account of the journey to
Carpentras from its special correspondent
|straveling with Captain Dreyfus:
/ "AVIGNON, Thursday do not know
where to begin the story of emotioH which
have Just Hved through, SO much has the
food oyeriowed my mind and my heart.
1T has been given me to share for twen-
ty-four hours-all that is best in ne-in
the most terrible suffering that it is possi-
Bile to imagine in the destiny of human
being with whose fate the elite of the civ
ilized world has united itself for two
years. and against whom all the ignorance
and malice Off men have been Ieagued
This being, who one would say was ac-
cursed. is my brother, whom my saddened
thoughts went out to join and compassion
ate across the seas-he is there in the
presence Of my real, deep sympathy. Ev-
cry precaution had been taken for Dreyfus
to leave Rennes without Inconvenience.
Advised in. the evening, he had passed
his time-being unable to sleep-in pack
ing his trunk At half-past 2 in the morn
ing M. Vignie; directeur de la surete gen.
erale, accompanied by one of his control
eurs. came'to fetch him in carriage at the
gate of the Manutention, and they went to
the stationyof Verne, situated ten kilome-
tres from Rennes.
Nothing suspicious had been seen in the
neighborhood of the prison, but after a
few hundred yards had been trayersed, NJ.
Vignie, leaning out of the window OF the
landau noticed a red lantern following,
evidently that of a journalist. How was he
to throw the intruder of the scent? The
driver whipped up his horses, which broke
into gallop. They thus came to within
four hundred metres of the station OF Vern,
and it was perceived they had big start
of the man who was following. The car
riage stopped at the corner OF the road.
The passengers got out quickly and hid
themselves behind house by the roadside.
and the carriage which now contained only
the chef de cabinet Of the project OF lie
ct Vilaine, rolled on into the darkness.
This strategem escaped the notice of the
man following. His carriage soon passed
by the invisible group, and followed the
other landau at full speed. Then they
walked quickly to Vern station, and got
into the SO a. m. train from Rennes to
Chateaubriand. The latter place was reach
ed at 6:14 a. N. The travellers changed
| carriages and arrived at Nantes at seven
teen minutes past eight O'Clock. l was on
the platform at the arrival of the train.
1t would take too long to relate how l was
able to foresee this itinerary. Neverthe-
less l was not without uneasiness as to the
success OF my plan.
THE platform was deserted. Had
| made a mistake? l soon saw two mer
| dressed in black approaching, and l Inn
mediately recognized them They were
| Matthew Dreyfus and his nephew, Pau
| Valbriguet. My tips were good. My mind
was relieved, Should | go up to Matthew
! Dreyfus, whom | knew well, or should !
| hide TO follow him at leisure? l hesitated
between these two alternatives and watch
| ed the two men. They looked to right and
left, as though they were afraid Of being
| recognized.
Il made up my mind at once and ap-
preached. What was the stupiflcation may
| almost say the distress, CT Matthew Drey-
fus, when | approached him. l quickly un-
derstood his fears and quieted them. l as
sured him that the train that was about
to carry his brother away would have only
one more passenger, and that no indiscre-
| tion on my part would interfere with tht
success of their journey. He begged me-
to keep my VOW and | have kept it.
! .'At this moment Captain Dreyfus is hid.
den in the midst OF his own people. / may
now relate this touching Odyssey, all tbs
details of which will remain forever fixel
in my memory.
Captain Dreyfus enters the sleeping car
compartment with N. Matthew Dreyfus. n
Paul Valbriguet, his nephew. and myself
| NJ Yignie has just made his last sugges-
| fnr ha oil nd
NJ Matthew Dreyfus congratulate him Oh
| the skill and prudence he has displayed
since their departure from Rennes, and
the common wish is expressed that the rest
OF the journey may pass off equally well.
THE train moves at two minutes OF nine
am seated facing Captain Dreyfus.
| never remove my eyes from him for ar
| instant. l am surprised at the effect ne
! produces on me. | expected, whatever my
sentiments might be as 10 his case, TO find
myself confronted by a being who awak-
ened no sympathy. He had been described
as a naughty and disagreeable being, witt
| harsh voice and wandering eyes. / haG
imagined him as hard, mistrusted, gloomy
If not bearing hate, at least bitter. and
own that l was ready to forgive all those
things.
u find before me being with fine. reg.
ular features, with a calm and mid ex-
preston. He is pink of face which would
give him an expression of extreme youth
if the top of his head were not absolutely
bald and if the hair on each side wee no
quite gray.
This being is enfeebled by anaemia, ant
what blood there is left in him flows to,
ward the head, the last refuge OF his pro
digious vitality. His neck is thin, hi:
hands are long and the knees are po;nte-
like nails through the blue cloth of hi:
trousers His chest is followed, his entire
body is that of a vanquishel being, BIT
for the energy of the mouth, the squar;
jaw, and the will expressed in the lool
of his eyes