The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-06

 tions of the great Corsican always ex- ercised a great fascination over the imag- ination of Dumas, and the story of the great Cheuhon chief, George Cadudal, seems also strongly to appeal to him. It is a stirring era-one filled with the TO- nance of history-in which the scene of "The Companions of Jehu' Is laid. Dumas boasted that he had taught more history to the French through the medium of is schupulously exact in his historical And, in fact, in most of his writings he is scrupulously exast in his historical facts. The attempt to restore the ex- fled house of Bourbon, which was In full swing-with a very considerable prospect of success when Napoleon returned from Egypt to place his strong hand upon the helm of the ship of state-is ii the gen eral reader one of the least known in- cidents of the period following the French Revolution. In '"rhe Companions of Jehu' will be found not only fascinating story but valuable contribution to the his- tory of France.
 NN the sth of October, in the year | 17ss. one of those beautiful south O ern autumn mornings which at the two extremites of Provence ripen the oranges of Hyeres and the grapes of St. Peray, an open carraige drawn by three port horses crossed at full speed the bridge over the Durance between Gavailham and Chateau Renald. It was going fin the di- rection of Avignon, that ancient Papal city which had eight years before been united to the territory of France. At the chief hotel in Avignon the carriage stop ped and the two travellers alighted. They were both young men-the elder of the two was only 30. He wore his hair long and parted In the middle, and around his neck was black neckcloth such as was worn by soldiers He had thin lips and an aquiline nose; his complexion was of a cast which showed that he had been travelling in warm countries. Also he companion was, on the contrary. of a blond and rosy complexion, clear blue eyes, a firm chin and a straight nose.
 Traveling was not very safe in France at that time, for the Royalists were abroad, waylaying stage coaches and seizing all money belonging to the gov ernment upon which they could lay hands. In La Vendee and Brittany there was an actual counter revolution. led by Georges ! money collected by those young Royalists who called themselves The Companions of Jehu. But the elder of our two travellers had only asked on his way from the sea coast: Which is the shortest way?' He was, evidently impatient to be in Paris. Ii was Napoleon, returning from Egypt to begin that series of exploits in Europe which shook the thrones of the Old World and changed forever the complexion of European politics. The younger man was his aid Roland Montrevelle. As the two entered the hotel they noticed a travelling carriage drawn up at the door. It was the travelling carriage of Sir John Tanlay sn Englishman, who under the safeguard Of Fouche, Minister of Police, was travel ing in France. The company at the table d'hote was much excited when the travel CTS entered. And no wonder-the diligence by which they had arrived had been stopped by the companions of Jehu and a large sum of money belonging to the gov ernment taken from it. Also a consider able sum belonging to a wine merchant who was now making his plaintive plea.
 The two travellers took their places at the further end of the table, separating themselves from the rest of the company "a mark of aristocratic reserve which was not lost upon the other guests. Bona parte listened to the conversation until he said with a sheer. "So you were seven men, not counting the driver, and you al- lowed yourself to be held up by four men. Accept my compliments, gentle men'' "Ah, but we knew with whom we lad to do.' Who were they?" "The Champions of Jehu.'' And what does that mean? l have been long in the east and am curious to know the condition of things in France. Who is this Jehu?" "Citizen,' said one of the company. If you were better versed than you appear to be in Holy Writ you woudl know that something like two thousand six hundred years have passed since Jehu died and that consequently he Is not in position to stop diligences"
 "Ah, Monster TAbbe," replied Napo- leon who at once recognized the ec- clesiast, "and if this Jehu has been dead 50 long, who are now his companons?" "Jehu," returned the churchman in sharp tone. was a king of Israel consecrated by Elisha upon condition that he punish the crimes of the house of Ahab. Jehu of today is His Majesty Louis XVIII, con secrated upon condition of punishing the crimes of the revolution Bold words, M. fAbbe.' ''I think there is no great risk in my uttering them here" And the clergyman was right-that hotel was a very hotbed of the royalist cause a rem dezvous for the Companions of Jehu. The priest himself was the celebrated Father de Rains, who so long held the Banner of the Lilies in Vendee, and who finally made peace with Napoleon.
 The wine merchant was still making his moan over the money The Companions of Jchu had taken from him. "I tell you, ,'' said a young man seated at the table, that there was some mistake about ,it; as sure as my name is Alfred de Bslrjois that money will be returned to you some day" At that moment, as if the declara- tion had brought him forth, tall, we'll built man wearing a mask over. his face appeared on the threshold of the room- There was 9 profound silence. Every one Of the diligence travellers recognized the leader of The Companions of Jehu who had robbed the coach. By a mistake,'' ,'' Said the masked man, some money was taken from the diligence. which money, we md, belonged not to the government but 10 one Jules Picot. Is Jules Picot here ?'' The trembling wine merchant bowed The ma ho