River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-05-28

departure fir o m
Paris to take up his residence
in Switzerland Be it understood
that M. Claude in thus speaking
did not express himself abhorrent
OF the singular character of the noble
man in question. On the contrary the
noted chief of police spoke in accents
that almost approached admiration.
AS a scientist in criminology he re-
fused to discuss dark deeds wrought
by unprinciped people from a moral
standpoint, his criticisms being coldly
dispassionate Therefore his descrip-
ton of the duke must be taken strict
ly as tribute to that gentleman S
internal ingenuity.
Had he been asked to state his
opinion of the duke on other grounds
it is possible that he would merely
have smiled his inscrutable, official
smile and declined to be interviewed
further But there were many other
people living under the flag of the
second empire who would have been
perfectly willing to burst into fervid
eloquence on the subject. For the
eccentric ways Of his grace formed
a fruitful topic of conversation among
all classes of Partisan society.
1t must be confessed that the re-
marks of the majority of his critics
were the reverse of complimentary,
and with good reason. This man, in
whose veins ran the royal blood of
~. ,r-f,
tions and dark mysterious mode of
living, completely severed all bonds of
sympathy between him and the hui
man race The members of his own
great family did not look upon him
with less scorn than did those whom
chance brought into contact with his
sepulsive personality.
That the duke was perfectly aware
If the emotions which he excited in
the breasts of his fellow creatures is
not a fact to cause surprise, for few
people cared to disguise their feelings
in regard to him. Impervious to in
suit and seeming to court rather than
avoid criticism, he took an insane de
light in gloating over the sinister
reputation he had established. and Sc
cure in the prestige and power con-
ferred by his wealth permitted no
chance of adding fresh infamy to his
name to escape him.
The house in which he dwelt was
no mean index of the perverse nature
early sixties, in a secluded corner of
the old Beaujon quarter, painted from
caves to foundation in bright broad
stripes of varied hues.
Tbs building Of odd design and pc
cCIiar shape, nestled in an angle of
neglected gardens surrounded by high
walls An air Of CHASTITY gloom en-
veloped the whole estate. an air that
was in perfect keeping with the mys,
terious inhabitant, who came and went
secretly by a small door in the ives.
tern wing, the main entrance, guarded
by large. rusty iron gates, always
remaining closed and offering an in
surmountable obstacle to the curious
neighbocs.
The treasure contained in this man.
sion consisted of 100000 francs
worth of diamonds, and indeed the
house might have been described as
a species of gigantic strong box where
in a cunning fiend kept watch and
ward over the precious contents Fol
the duke was a miser of the most
pronounced kind, a miser who in
point of righteousness has seldom, il
ever, been equaled. 1t was for this
reason that his pursuit of pleasure
frequently led him to the lowest Sums
or Paris where his name had grown
TO be a by-word among the denizens
of the underworld AS mean as the