The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15

COacnman and groom IN grand livery, and
drove up to the door. informing the con-
cierge that 1 desired TO rent the beletage
which was at the time offered at 1000
francs year.
1.-The janitor was fun of business and de-
votion when 1 declared my intention and
fortified what said by paying 100 francs
on account. That done, cried: I forgot TO
ask you whether this house is not owned
by one Of the creatures of Napoleon? L
would prefer TO live in hovel owned by an
honest man to dwelling in a palace and
paying rent to the Corsican tyrant or his
friends The stupid fellow jumped into the
trap with both feet. Addressing me as
marquis-I had intimated that | was Mons
lie Comte de Chaltes-he assured me that
he hated Napoleon like poison and to win
my confidence completely he conducted me
to room having a secret door that led TO
passage with a window overlooking the
street. 1t could not be reached save by
secret door, as the original entrance had
been walled up.
Here my friend struck a light, and l
found what 1 expected to find In one form
or another-a hell machine, constructed of
five gun barrels, pointing toward the cor
ner which the Emperors carriage used to
pass. You can guess the rest" said Girls
CELL, drawing his right arm cross his
throat.
A POLITICAL PLOT.
Napoleon likewise employed Griscelli to
run down political plotters. One day, tow
ards the end of 1856. he was called post
haste into the Emperor's cabinet and the
following note was laid before him:
MY Dear Morny: beg of you to at once
denounce as false the report that you are
going to marry a young lady Of the st.
Petersburg court. If you fail to obey me L
will be forced to make public use of your
letters respecting the coup d'etat. 1 have
them all, and they might sadly compro-
mise you and others"
The message was. signed Countess de
LebOn." This lady, at one time, had been
the mistress of Napoleon; when his Ma
jesty tired of her De Morny had been her
friend. De Morny occupied the post of am
bassador at st. Petersburg after the close
OF the war of the Crimea. He sent the
blackmail letter to Napoleon Immediately
after receiving it, and the Emperor was
wild with rage when Griscelli saw him.
PAY what you will for these documents
but get them at any price," ordered Ma
poleon.
II went at once to the Countess's house,
told her ladyship that the Emperor desired
to see her son, and took him with me to
my office in the palace of the president of
police. Arriving there, L ordered him, in the
young mans presence, to surround the
Countess De Lebon's house with detec-
tives and permit nobody to enter or leave.
except at my express orders.
what does this mean? asked the
young man.
lit MEANS" said Griscelli, that your
mother is accused of having sold De
Mornys letters to the Orleans.
Count De Lebon vehemently denied the
charge. L held the letters in my hand this
very morning. he said. They are in my
mothers bedroom He then sat down and
wrote a letter asking his mother to deliver
the epistles to his messenger An hour later
strong box containing the documents
stood on the Emperor's desk, who called In
a locksmith to open it. That done, the
young count was allowed to depart, and a
few days later the official newspaper an
nounced his decoration with the cross of
the Legion of Honor and his appointment
to the presidency of the General Council in
Ain. And he was only nineteen years old.
Griscelli received 10000 francs and De
Morny married his Russian bride without
interference from anybody.
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES.
81 had an object in view when L told this
last story" continued Grisceli. Il desired
to show that extraordinary emergencies
call for extraordinary measures. If We had
| invoked the law against these blackmailers.
our very purpose would have been defeated.
1t would have been impossible to avoid the
publicity we feared, and the plotters could
have rejoiced at discomfort without
danger to themselves. A regicide standing
outside the pale of the law should be de-
stroyed without moments thought by the
quickest means at hand. If ceremonious ar
rest may possibly intensity the peril to the
head of the state, shoot, stab or poison the
Anarchist, what does 1t matter? Anything
Is fair in dealing with mad dog.
These, sir, are the practical views of a
man who made assassin-hunting his bus-
ness for thirty years and longer. And re-
member, all the great men l was deputized
to guard and protect died peacefully in
their beds: Napoleon. Cavour. Antonelli
and Francis III, while Emperor Francis
Joseph is alive to-day to bear me out in
what / have said to you