Year: 1860




Being destined early for a mercantile
profession, was sent, when youth o
sixteen, to Bordeaux, in order to acquire
the knowledge requisite for my proposed
pursuits, in the counting house of on,
of the first establishments of that ancien,
city. The head of this firm which wa,
very wealthy one, was M. Durance, q
gentleman who, from an old friendship
for my father, took me into his own
house and was most kind to me.


NJ. Durance was well up in years, round
and ruddy in aspect, social in his habits
and possessed of one of the very best OF
hearts. He had one foible, however
which made the good soul almost intol
cradle to all mankind Notwithstanding
the great extent of the business he had
conducted, he had seldom been out OF
Bordeaux. He had only once been at
Paris but that once was enough.


On that occasion he had met with two
adventures. Tongue cannot tell, nor
brain conceive, the delight which the
worthy man took in narrating these Incl
dents.


How often have been compelled after
dinner to listen to these two eternal ad-
ventures!


Itwas not that they were uninterest-
ing in themselves. On the contrary,
they were Of very remarkable ORDER
Bnt who can listen to even a good thing
forever? Nevertheless, we shall repeat
them once more, with little more brew.
ity than it was the good mans habit to
use.


nj. Durance had occasion to 90 to
Paris upon business He had carriage
in which he proposed to travel, bnt at the
time when he found it convenient to set
out, this vehicle required slight repair,
and the merchant then young and active,
thought it better to ride slowly forward
on horseback for couple of stages,
leaving his servaut to bring the carriage
after him.


Accordingly, after giving full instruc-
tions to the servant, NJ. Durance set out,
respectfully mounted und well armed, for
he carried large sum in bills aud money.
To do him justice, he had stout heart
and fair share of courage. But not
much Of either was required to travel at
that period, owing to the admirable de.
gree of efficiency into which the famous
Fouche had brought the police Of the
country.


NJ. Durance's first days travel was un.
productive Of any wonderful event. He
stopped before nightfall at village inn,
rested comfortably, and the next day
pursued his route. While riding slowly
along the border Of large wood, in the
forenoon of the second day, he observed
party of men, also on horseback, a short
way before him. He continued his course,
and they did the same; but the merchant
was uncomfortably surprised in the end
to observe them frequently turning round
one by one to look at him.


ID. Durance thought of his pistols, and
began to feel uneasy. The road now
struck into the wood already mentioned,
and when in the middle of it, poor Du-
rance was shocked to see the men halt
and turn round to observe him, as il
simultaneously.


The merchant was at this time but q
short distance from them, and could not
help drawing up his horse also. While
he was in this situation, one of the men;
after an apparent consultation with the
others, left them, and advanced to our
friend.


snow is the time," thought Durance;
"here comes demand for my pursel--
What is to be donel' And the worthy
souls heart sank within him, as he
thought of the heavy sum which he
bore. i


When the man came up, however,
there was no demand of this kind made.
The strangers first words to Durance
were:


"What is your purpose here ?"


The merchant hesitated, aud at length
stsmmered out, II have come upon an
honest errand, hope, like yourself"


"Ah, / thought So" replied the stran.
gor; after moments pause, he contin-
ued, "Well, what will you take to 90
awayP Will you take one hundred louis?''


Mystified thoroughly, Dnrsnce bolted
out "no!" e4 ~


The man again spoke, and said, II
cannot offer You moro without speaking