Year: 1873




at Rue de Rivoli, Paris.


One morning I was smoking in the
colonnade when tall, elegantly dressed
gentleman asked permission to light his
cigar by mine. saw at once that he
was a Frenchman, although his "Eng-
lish" was nearly perfect.


Have You heard the news ?" he in
quired.


"No,"


"Is it possible' Why, all Paris is
alive with It at this moment"


"What has happened?"


"The COUNTESS lie Marville, the fair
est of the fair, was found murdered in
her bed last night, her bureau broken
open and ten thousand francs missing
from it. 1t was terrible The brute
who did the deed effected his entrance
through the window of her chamber,
near which, unfortunately, was tall
tree planted by the distinguished grand
father of the Counteos years ago. Lit
tie did he imagine what terrible use
would be made of it"


"This is bad news. How any man
could harm woman thus in cold blood
Is more than can imagine"


"Ah, mohsieup IL you had ever seen
the Countess you would wonder still
more. She was beautiful-beautiful as
an angel" he added, stroking his whis-
kers with an unmistakable air of vanity ;
~ knew her we'll.
Indeed"


ooh, yes. There are in Paris few
popular women unknown to me"


His manner was now decidedly con-
ceited, and I felt disguised. My cold
ness evidently repelled him, for he soon
left me.


Afterwards I heard from others ac-
counts of the late tragedy.


Among the details of the affair was
one which peculiarly impressed me
and which my first informant had not
spoken of--an oversight which sur
prised me, as the occurrence he had
not mentioned was of that kind which
would be most likely to strike the
fancy.


Upon the throat of the Countess the
murderer, in throttling her, had left a
mark from a ring he wore-the impress
sion of chariot wheel with star in
the centre.


"This," said my latest informant,
''may lead to the discovery of the muir
derer. Jean Mosqueau is already visit
ing the jewelers. shops to find out from
which and by. whom a ring with a
chariot-wheel device was purchased"


"Who is Jean Mesqueau ?"


"What, Mosqueau, our famous de
tective? Although his courage is well
known, you would not, to look at his
fair, delicate face and form, believe that
he could fight gnat /"


A week later I was aboard the steam
er, bound from Calais to Dover.


Among the passengers I beheld one
whose face looked familiar to me. 1
was not long in recognizing this person
as the same I had seen in front of the
Hotel Windsor, and who had first in
formed me of the murder of the Count
ess.


He was certainly a very handsome
man, although his conceited air was a
blot upon his good looks.


He moved languidly hither and
thither, turning his brown eyes admir-
ingly upon the pretty lady passengers,
while stroking his whiskers, with one
white hand, upon the middle finger OF
which was a superb diamond ring.


I am rather of suspicious nature,
which, combined with lively imagina-
ton, had often led me into singular
errors.


Now, strange impulse moved me to
advance and hold out my hand to the
man whom had involuntarily disliked
from the first, in order that I might
have a chance to glance at his ring.
Somehow, the idea possessed me that L
should discover q chariot-wheel device
upon the glittering bauble.


The stranger did not at first recog-
nize me. He soon did, however, and
frankly extended his left hand, which
was not the one containing the ring.


Ny brain fairly reeled the mans
behavior was a confirmation Of my sus-
picions.


"The other hand, if you please" [
said, in low stern veice.


Monsieur will please excuse me ;
my other arm in lame with the rheum-
atism."


He beheld me glance towards the
half-hidden ring, and 1 was sure I saw
him start and turn pale, at the same
time looking much surprised. He,
however, opened his right hand, as if
perfectly willing for me to shake it if 1
chose to.


Then I had q good look at the ring,
and felt ashamed of my suspicious.
The device was common heart, which
certainly bore no resemblance to a
chariot wheel.


After a general conversation to re-
cover my self-possession, I turned away,
resolved in the future to have better
opinion of my fellow-creatures.


The strangers good looks seemed to
attract the attention of good many Of
the ladies. One especially, q modest
looking little thing attired in black,
kept directing furtive glances at the
handsome passenger. Finally she
glided so close to him that in turning
lie brushed against her.


An apology, smilingly received by the
little lady, remark about the weather
on the part of the gentleman, and the
two were soon conversing with anima-
tion. Meanwhile the blushing cheek
and bright eyes of the fair one seemed
to betoken that she was well pleased
with her companion, whose air was
more conceited than ever.


"I am afraid we shall have storm, l"