St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-06-13

Paris to take up his residence
in Switzerland. Be 1t 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 q scientist in crimlnoIogy ne re-
fused to discuss dark Geeis wrought
by unprincipled people from moral
standpoint, his criticisms being coldly
dispassionate. Therefore his descrip-
tlon Of the duke must be taken strict
" az a 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
neopIe living under the flag of the
second empire who would have been
perfectly willing to burst into fervid
elouuence on the subject. For the
eccentric ways of his grace formed
a fruitful topic of conversation among
all classes of Partisan society.
It 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
England, had by his monstrous &C
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 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 nc
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
of its proprietor. 1t stood, in the
early sixties, in a secluded corner OF
the old Beaujon quarter, painted from
caves to foundation in bright broad
stripes of varied hues.
The building of odd design and pc
culiar shape, nestled in an angle Of
neglected gardens surrounded by high
walls. An air of CHASTITY gloom en-
welcomed 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
neighbors.
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 miser of the most
pronounced kind, miser who IN
Doint of righteousness has seldom, II
ever. been equaled 1t was for this
reason that his pursuit of pleasure
frequently led him to the lowest slums
Of Paris where his name had grown
10 be a by-word among the denizens
cf the underworld. "As mean as the