LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1917, 16 April 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A COUNT'S ADVENTUKE WITH BRIGANDS. IST ALEX. DUMAS, PERE. [Translated from the Paris ' Figaro.'] {Continued.) ' My ver' dear vriend,' replied the count, again pushing aside with the same sangfroid the fire-arm that threatened him ; ' I understand ver' veil zat you take brecautions pafore you receive stranger?, and I sbou'd do ze same if I vere in your blace ; but I have, ein letter from ze Cardinal Morosini for ycnr general.' 1 ' For our captain?' replied, the man with the tire-arm. ' Oh! no, no ; for za ;_'eneral.' ' You are quite alono ?' ' Quite alone.' ' WMt a moment, and the door shall be opened.' * Ah 1 bu'; zat roast meat is goot,' said the German, dismounting from hiu mulo. ' Your Excellency,'asked the mule-driver, who during this time had taken down the count's baggage, ' You do not want ine any more?' ' You cannot stay,' replied the cou-it. •No.' said the mule-driver; 'with your permission, I should prefer to sleep elsewhere.' 'Ah, veil; you cau go,' answered the count. ' Must I some back to you?' * No ; ze general vill tat someone return viz me.' * Very well. Good bye your Excellency,' ' i >"oot pye.' At this moment the key hegan to turn in the lock. The guide leaped on one of the

mules, took the bridle off the other, and trotted away. He was already fifty paces away when the door opened. 'Zat smells goot!'said the German, sniffing the odour that came from the kitchen ; 'zat smella ver' goot.' ' Yon think—' aaked the strange porter. * Yes, yea,' said tho count, ' I think —' 'lt is chief's supper that is being taken to the table, and that we are awaiting.' ' Ah, zen I am come in goot time,' said the count, smiling. ' Doe 3 our chief know you ?' asked the porter. ' No, but I have ein letter for him.' l Ah ! That's another thing. Let us see it.' ' Hern it is.' Tho porter took the letl er and read, ' A reverendissimo generale dei Benedettini; a! covento di San Nioolo di Catania.' 'Ah, I understand,' said the porter. 'Ah! You do understand; is is ver' goot,'said the count, striking bira on the shoulder. 'ln zat case, my friend, if you do uoderatand, look after my paga?he, and tal:e barticular care of my bortimanteau. It is zare zat I keep my burae.' 'Ah ! your purse is there ! It's as wall to know,' said the porter, tsking the portmanteau eagerly. Then, having loaded himself with the remainder of the baggage: ' Proceed, proceed ; I see very wall that you are a friend.' The count did not require this command to be given twice, but at once followed his guide. The aspect of the interior of tho convoat was not L;ss strange than that of the exterior. There were ruins and broken casks in every direction : nowhere crucifixes or holy images. The count stopped an instant, for he was one of those talkers who stand still when they speak, and expressed to his guide his astonishment at seeing such a devastation. * What would you have ?' replied h*"s guide; 'we are somewhat isolated, as you may have seen ; and as the mountain is full of wicked people, who fear neither God cor t devil, we do not wish to see carried away tho little that we possess. Everything we have that is precious ia under lock and key in the cellars. Moreover, you know that we have another monastery in the plain, quite close to Catania V 'Mo, I did not know it. Ah, you have anozer monastery ! Veil, veil, veil!' ' And now examine your bsgerage for yourself, so that you can assure the chief that nothing has been kept back.' ' Oh, zat is ver' easy ; ein trunk; ein carbet pag; and ein borde-manteau, vich holds my burse.' 'So there are only three, are there not ? It's very little.' 'lt's enough.' ' Yes, I dink so.' ' You think so V ' Ab, well, wait a moment,' said the porter, showing the Count into a kind of cell; ' and I do not doubt that In a course of half an hour the chief will return.' And he prepared to go away. 'Tell me zen, tell me zen. Can you not let me go into ze kitchen vile you vsit vor him ? I vill give some goot advice to the cook.' 'Well,' said the porter, 'I see no objection. Wait here whilst I put your baggage in a safe place, and I will return and take you there. By the bye, how much is there in your purse ?' ' Tree tousand six hunderd tucats." ' Three thousand six hundred dncats! good !' said the porter. ' He seems to me to pe a vorthy fellow,' murmured the Count, looking after the brother who was taking away all his belongings. Ten minutes afterwards the guide returned. 'lf you would descend to the kitchen,' daid the Sicilian, 'you are at liberty 10 do so.' ' Certainly, I vculd like to. Vere is ze kitchen ? ' * Come with me.'

The Count again fol'owed his guide, who led him into the kitchens of the convent. There was meat on the spit, all the furnaces were alight, and saucepans were boiling everywhere. ■ Goot 1' said the German, stopping on the last step and taking in at a glance this delightful spectacle. ' Goot; it seems zat I am not deceived. Goot day, cook, good day.' The cook had been forewarned, and consequently received the Count with all the deference due to a gourmand. The Count profited by this kindly reception, and raised the covers of all the saucepan?, and tasted all the sauces. Suddenly he stopped as the ccok was about to put some salt in an omelette, and snatched from his hand the basin containing the eggs. ' Now zea ! now zen ! "Vat ia it zat you ara doing ? ' cried the Count. ' What is it I am doiag ?' asked the cook. ' Yes ; vat is it zat you do, I ask you ? ' ' I am putting salt in an omelette.' * But, f-tupid, you must not put salt in an omelette! You can put acme sugar and some gooseberry preserve, but not salt.' 'Oh, you get away,' replied the cook, attempting to snatch the basin out of his hand. ' No, no,' said the Count, ' I vill make ze omelette myself; give me ze confitures.' •Ah ! ' said the cook, who began to get excited; 'we will see who is master here !' 'lt ia I!' exclaimed a loud voice ; ' what's the matter 1 ' The Count and the cook turned lound ; a man of from forty to fifty years of age,_ wearing a monk's dress, stood on the staircase He was tall, and had the stern and imperious expression of one accustomed to command. • The captain! ' exclaimed the cook. 'Ah !' said the Count, 'itis ze general! goot, general,' he continued, advancing towards the monk. ' I beg your pardon, but you have a cook who does not know how to make omelettes." ' You, sir, are the Count of Weder ? ' said the monk. * Yes, general,' replied the Count, without putting down either the f ggs or the fork with which ho was about to beat them, ' I am ze Count of Veder in berson.' ' Ah, then it is you who have brought me the letter of recommendation which the porter ha 9 given me ? ' ' Myself.' ' I welcome you here.' The Count bowed. 'I only regret,' continued the captain, * that the retired situation of our convent, so distant from any inhabited spot, does not allow us to give you a better reception. We are poor reeluse3 of the mountain, and you will excuse us, I hope, if our table is not better furnished.' 'Vat! not fetter furnished! But zo supper seems to me excellent, and veu I made ze omelette —' ' But, captain ' said the cook. ' Give the confitures to this gentleman,' said the monk, ' and let him make the omelette as he pleases.' The cook obeyed without saying a word. 'And now, don't trouble yourself, count; make yourself at home, and when your omelette i 3 finished coma upr.tairs. We will wait for you.' ' It is only a matter of five minutes, and I vill zen rejoin you. You can go on serving up.' ' You may,' said the monk to the cook ; 'serve up.' And he ascended the staircase. An instant afterwards two brothers entered the kitchen, and commenced to execute the conk's orders. Meanwhile the count was triumphantly cooking his omelette, and when it was ready he in his tarn remounted the staircase. The superior and all the community, which consisted of about twenty brothers were awaiting him in a well-lighted refectory, ar I an admirably-arranged table had been placed there in readiness for the repast. The count was struck by the wealth of silver displayed, and by the fine quality of the tablecloth and dinner napkins. The convent had dra' a from ita treasury and linen room the very best of what it had in order to do honor to its guest. As to the apartment it contrasted singularly with tha wealth that garnishei the table. It was a large room which must have formerly beea a chapel, but where the altar had stood a fireplace had been constructed ; the walls were ornamented only with cobwebs, and soma bats, attracted by the light, ilow about near the ceiling, entering and leaving, according to their caprice, through the broken windows. There was, : besides, a complete arsenal picturesquely arI ranged on the walls. 1 lb be continued.)