A LADY OUTWITTING THREE ROBBERS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1904, 9 February 1875, Page 3

A LADY OUTWITTING THREE ROBBERS.

Some years ago I used to remark -a well of very singular construction at the foot of the tower, of the Hotel Casamajer. " Isn't iltere some strange story about thatP" "There is," was the reply ; and he proceeded: At the close of, the last century the house of M. Arrin,"which, is now inhabited by a cabinet-maker, was the residence of M; Plantefoso, who was treasurer of the province. He was very wealthy, and had married a wife of great Jjeautyi?; They entertained magnificently; invitations to their dinners and balls were eagerly sought by alt who had any pretension .to. such distinction ; but in no house was gambling carried to a greater, pitch, or more money lost in an afternoon. One night, her husband being from home, Madame de Planteroso was suddenly aroused from her sleep by hearing steps in her .room, and was horrified to see at her bedside three men, masked and armed. One of tligm said^o her in a disguised to ce,^** Give us the key of the treasureroom." "I haven't got it," she replied, with much self-possessiop. "We will try, and if we do not find it, wo will put you to the torture." Upon this, in fear and trembling, she produced the key, which was concealed tinder her pillow, and gave it to -her interrogator,, After a short absence he returned, saying thatjhe had been unable to open the lock, and as she, no doubt, understood the secret of the spring, she should accompany them. Ihere was no avail in refusal, and she promised to unlock the door, * pi»*ided they would allow her to,, dress herself. But they mocked her inconvenient modesty, and dragging her from her bed, hurried her along, shivering with col^nd shame. She opened the door, heaps of gold glittered on the shelves, and as if fascinated by the blaze of so much coin the;robbers rusjied eagerly into the robin. MadamePlanteroso had recovered her presence of mind, and seeing her advantage, instantly closed the door, and called out to the intruders that they should have ample time to count their gains. Finding themselves trapped as it were in their own snare, they cried out lustily, and instead of the brutal manner with which they had lately terrified her, uttered most piteous,supplications for ddiyerance. "Mercy, wetc^ madam," they cried in chorus, "we have been led to make this rash attempt that we might repair the heavy losses at play which (we *|)ave buffered in the house. You know us all. I am the Chevalier de-?~-, liere is the Bal-bn de—-^, and! the Count^de-—--. v If you cannot have mercy upon ourselves) take pity upon our families. Save our honor, which we value inbre than life. It is true we have been without pity for you, that will make your generosity shine all the brighter if you liberate us." For a moment she felt touched by the position | of persons whom she had received as friends and guests, and was disposed to save them from dishonour. But, casting her eye upon her own almost uricovelrM figure, and remembering the coarseness with which they had outraged her modesty, she withdrew, and left them to pass the night in such comfort as they iniglit derive from the rouleau?: of coveted gold by which they were surrounded; They were banged in front of the door pf the

tower which had been the rcene" of their crime. In order that no one in future time should set foot upon the spot that had bedn thus polluted, a deep well'of peculiar construction was excavated before the tower.— " Centulle," a tale of Pau.