Year: 1866

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bon. She had been married as widow
TO Baron de G., and was about % years
OF age, very pretty, of engaging manners,
and both she and her husband were known
far and wide for lavish hospitality.


Three weeks before the murder the
Baron set out for Russia, where it was said
he had inherited some property from a
relative. During her husbands absence,
the baroness kept very much at home, with
Erncstine Lamont, beautiful girl of the
most earnest and simple manners, who
had been educated and protected by her.
On &c night before the murder, the bar
oncss went TO the opera. Ernestine, who
w.s not very well, did not accompany her,
neither did she sit up for her, as the bar
oness had a private key, and did not wish
the young lady to be disturbed. 1t was
the custom when the baroness, on awak-
ing in the morning, rang her bell, Erncs-
tine went first to her bed room. When,
on the morning after the murder. no bell
was heard to ring, the servants wondered,
and at last one OF them went up to Ernes-
tines room to- ask the cause. 1t was
empty. Thinking she was gone, as usual,
to the baroness's bed room, the servant
went thithcr There the shutters were
still closed, and the nightlamp still burn,
ing on little table by the bed side. On
the. floor lay the lifelcss body of Erncstine.
The girl now screamed for help, the SER
wants hurried up stairs, and opening the
| et 4, l..
dead, evidently stransled with piece of
ribbon, which was at once recognized as
belonging to Ernestine, who was lying in
a swoon on the floor.


On coming to herself it was naturally
supposed that she would be able to throw
some light upon the matter, but to the
surprise of all, she showed nervous hesit-
alton hardly to lc reconcilcd with inno-
ccnce. On examination, it was found
that the sccretairc stood wide open, and
that quantity fpapers and other articles
were lying about in confusion. as if the
contents of each drawer had been hastily
turned inside out by this time the police
arrived. With scarcely moments hcsit-
alton they pronounced that one of the in
mates Of the house must either have COM
mtted the crime, or been an accompllce
to it. Evidently, alsc, there had been
robbery added to murder; and, therefore,
it was thought right to search the boxes
of each member Of the household. The
servants were all willing. hut when it
came to Ernesiines turn to deliver up her
keys the young lady showed strange I'M
willingness to do so. OF course the police
persisted, and in very little time discov-
cred large sum Of money and several
jewels belonging to the murdered lady
carefully secreted at the bottom of the box.


How does Mademoiselle account for
this money! was the first question put to
her.


do not tknow-I-cannot tell-pray
Ito not ask me-" was the hesitatinC re-
ply


The suspicious already attached to her
were considerably strengthened. and the
police only discharged their duty in ar
resting her. The case was tried and En-
nestine Lamont found guilty.


A yourg lawyer named Bernard, whose
knowledge Of Ernestinc's previous charac-
ter made it very hard for him to believe
her guilty, resolved to see her. After
some little difficulty, permission was grant
ed him to visit the condemned in prison
But it he went father with any faith in
her innocence, he left the prison without
doubt of her guilt.-Her answers TO his
questions were evasive and unsatisfactory.


On reaching home, late that evening,
he found note ling on the table. 1t was
from Ernestine, and ran az follows:


Mr DEAR FRIEND I'll feel that | owe
you at least some explanation for my
strange conduct, and will therefore put you
in possession Of the facts of the case. 1t
is only forestalling my intention. This
letter would have been delivered to you
after my death.


You are aware of the circumstances
which have made me regard the baroness
as a mother. You are aware, too, of her
husbands fatal propensity to the gaming
table, a passion which in the course of
time led TO an estrangement between them.
The baroness WAS very beautiful and still
young, and failing TO find that love and
affection which she had hoped her hus-
band would show her, formed an unfortun-
ate intrigue. l was horror struck when
she informed me of this, but it was not
fol me to blame her. As might be ex-
pected, no good could possibly result from
this attachment. Her lover proved un-
worthy of her confidence, and succeeded,
whether by threats or menaces, l know
not, in obtaining from her large sums Of
money. 1t was but few days before
her death that she confded this to me,
and at the sametime begged ME to take
care of her jewels and money in my box,
as she feared lest her sordid lover should
obtain possession Of them, The last time !
saw her alive was on the night she went
to the opera. At what hour she returned
| know not, for she always had private
key with her. The rest you know.


Hence, dear friend, you will understand
my reluctance TO have my boxes searched,
and my evasive answers as to the money
and jewels found in them.