The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
rRIuINALITY As A PROFESSION.
Adopted by Younger Sons or Noble FAINT.
lies In XyIII. Century France.

facilities OF communication ana sClentlHCHIy
accurate personal description, there IL no place
on earth where he can secure immunity from
arrest. In the eighteenth and earlier oen-
turtles the clever rogue was free from these
Interruptions to professional activity. he
was assured OF long and prosperous career
before tho clumsy police machinery OF the
Period was able TO curtnil IT, This opened
wide field Of enterprise to younger sons OF
noble families who when they did not enter
the army or Church in many cases adopted
a career of felonious adventure. When taken.
If the authority Of relatives could command
IT, instead OF dying on the gallows or being
broken on the wheel, they were shipped to the
colonies. where. usually. they became later the
founders OF families proud OF their ancestry,
and many OF whose members subsequently
STAINED to great distinction In commercial
and other affairs.
These well born criminals Of polished
manners we're finished lingulsts. men OF
society and OF the world. always on the move
from one European State to another. and as
well informed az Saint Simon In domestic
secrets and genealogical records. These
requirements enabled them to pose with as
surance as members Of such noble families
as they might select to represent, and to
concoct at leisure and with certainty plots
for their devastation.
An instance In point Is that Of the young
Count de Moncadc" His real name was
never KNOWN, nor WAS he ever CHpVuTtu. no
had all Of the talents-a masterful for ger. re-
narkabe linguist. and was capable Of assum-
INK any role his interests might dictate. The
story OF one exploit am about to relate Is
convincing as to his atility Although the
scene is laid in Holland II comes legitimately
within the province of the police OF Paris,
through papers sent them by the Dutch au-
thorities in the hope of procuring his arrest
In France. where it was supposed he had gone.
The then Northumberland Of Police was
moved to such admiration Of the complete
ness and cleverness Of the scheme OF the
young Count de Moncade" that he retained
the records of the case in the archives of his
police, instead Of returning them TO the source
from which they had come
In the early years of the eighteenth century
the Marquis de Saint GILES was Spanish AM
bassador at The Hague. In his youth he had
been an intimate friend Of the Count de Mon
cade, a grandee Of Spain and one OF its richest
mobiles. Through the itineraries of the dip
omatc service of one Of the two friends they
had not met for twenty or more years. A
few months after his arrival at The Hague.
the Marquis received n letter from the Count.
who. in recalling their former association,
asked him, in these words, a great service.
"You knew" he wrote, the distress it had
caused me not to be able to perpetuate the
name of Moncade; but thanks to heaven.
year or more after you had gone abroad my
prayers were answered.. tlit idtHtl
of a son, who as he grew to manhood sho wed
himself worthy OF his birth Unfortunately
he fell in love with the most famous actress
of the theatre Of Toledo. closed my eyes
to this incn alton my son had previously
conducted himself to my entire satisfaction.
But, learning that passion had led him to give
promise OF marriage in writing 10 the donna.
asked the King to imprison him My son,
informed Of this intention. anticipated the
order OF arrest. He eloped with the woman.
For the past six months have lost all trace
OF him: but have reason to believe he is at
The Hague. l beg. my dear Marquis. that you
will exhaust every effort to learn II this sur
mise be correct. and il so ask you tn leave
no stone unturned TO return him to me. II
in but lust that his colnpanio ion shall be- lib
orally Unidentified provided she be willing to
surrender the written promise OF marriage.
give you full authority 70 pay her any amount
b Sa re ay HAHN OF the CONTRACT
You will also equip my son amply IN money money,
and effects necessary TO his prompt return
TO Spain" This letter contained nm accurate
description Of the son and his mistress
The MARQUIS had no sooner read this com.
munication than he sent CONFIDENTLY agents
to every inn in Amste, am. Rotterdam and
The Hague in the hope of getting trace OF the
fueitives; but no clue was obtained ne haa
commenced to despair of success when II oc-
CURED to him that bright young French
page in his service might solve the mysteIy,
He sent him daily to every place OF puonc
resort at The Hague. and at ight TO the thea
tire. promising large reward in case OF sue
One evening at the theatre ne saw in box
q young couple who answered exactly the
description of the lovers. His close SCRUTINY
hurried to the rear Of the loge. as II to es-
The H ss tnSsv as;
he kept close, watch upon them, and a. the
close of the play stationed himself at the en-
trance Of the corridor Leading III tne tben
until he saw them enter an mn called lie
vicomte de Turenne." He then hurried to
inform the Marquis de Saint GILES oil MS
The Ambassador. aocomranied by the
page and two servants hssttned 10 ,mf me H.
landlord and asked him where was located
tho room of young couple descripnlhhg men
lord refused to give the information unless
the visitors could furnish the names OF the
nssnsd h hnt hs Msrs hs S 1&
landlord that he was addressing the spanish
AMBASSADOR whose anthG;rity IT w sSd tbat
the two Young people had forbidden him TO
allow any one e visit then but % Cut OF eo be
would disregard this order and conduct him |
situated alma se Of Ss n% M sSGen
the visitors had reached i they Knocked !
repeatedly at the door without obtaining IN;
NJ eht of the waiting group an athteWpt was
uade to recose it, but not before the MARQUIS ,
mad forced hrs way in' leaving Ills uoi'''"''
He was confronted by the young man. who
answered most accurately the description |
of the son of his friend. Behind him was a !
Young woman, beautiful and well formcd.
who in color Of hair and features was the
counterpart as described. of the Toledo
actress. The young man complained OF the
violence used in intruding upon his privacy !
in a country where every one was assured OF
personal liberty The Marquis replied that
he came az n friend: the representative
II AN afrertionate father. He implored the
vounu man to accept his GOOD ot1'ces ana no
longer TO attempt to conceal his identity. Al
dressing him ne Count he protested that he !
Ind no intention to do harm to him or to his
Interesting companion, The young man re-
pudiated the title OF Count and said that ne
was nothing more than the son OF CadlZ
merchant, travelling for pleasure with his
wife The Marquis. casting his eyes about the
squa, lily furnished room and observing the
slender luggage of the occupants, was moved
TO te s. He asked the young man II he con.
sidercd his present abode suited to SOL, Of
tn. Count dc Moncade. He persisted In this
strain. until the youth rs II suddenly moved
10 repentance and remorse, threw himself
at the feet Of the Marquis and in acknowledge
ing that he was the son OF the Count de Mon
cade, said he would never return to Spain
II it involved abandonment OF his adorable
The Young woman, who had remained In
the background sobtinR bitterly. now came
forward and claspns the Marauiss hand,
said with noble sincerity that notwithstand-