THE FRENCH DETECTIVE.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 26, 1 July 1867, Page 3

THE FRENCH DETECTIVE.

(From “ Reynold’s Miscellany.")

Eugene, Laromie had passed some wonderful adventures in the exercise of his profession, and Had heen nearer death than most care to he. His success in ferreting out and bringing to light crimes of all kinds had won for him the bitter enmity of all the offenders, both political and criminal, in the city. They had repeatedly vowed vengeance against him, for they declared that there was no chance of success for them while he remained in Paris. Laromie only laughed at their threats, and kept his wits about him. He declared his readiness to meet them whpnever they desired it, provided only they would grant him fair play. This, however, was the last thing they intended doing. They had fired at him frequently without success, and had been equally unlucky in their attempts with poison. They had got, up mock conspiracies, he saw through them in an instant, and laughed at his enemies for their trouble., Still they had not abandoned the hope of capturing him; and it was very certain that if they could succeed in doing so, M. Laromie’s fate was sealed. One day he was lounging idly near one of the most noted shows of the Palais .Royal, when a woman passed by. She was very beautiful, and was richly and tastefully dressed. She was evidently a lady, syid decidedly one of the most beautiful the detective had ever seen. As she passed, she looked at him fixedly, and then smiled. Instantly Laromie lifted his hat 'and bowed profoundly. , When he raised his eyes again the lady had disappeared. He was annoyed at this, for beautiful stranger; and from. the smile she had given him he knew she was not averse to such a course on his part. Eugene Laromie was a true Frenchman in nis love of gallantry ; and this was the real thing that ever brought him into any real, danger. Several times he had narrowly escaped death at the hands of jealous husbands; and his friends : wew confident that if ever he died by violence, a woman would be the, cause of it.

During the day he could not help thinking of the beautiful unknown who had so fascinated him. The next morning, about the same hour, he took his place again at the Palais Royal to watch for her. He was not kept waiting long. She soon appeared; and as she passed him she again smiled, and this time the smile was accompanied by a bow. Acting upon a suden impulse, Laromie started forward and placed himself by her side. He was about to speak to her, when she said, hurriedly, and in a low tone, — “Not yet, Monsieur Laromie. We are observed. To-night at the Opera.” “ One word, ma lame,” exclaimed Laromie, impulsively. Whom have I the honour of addressing ?” The lady laughed slightly, and then handing him a card, said impatiently,— “Go now. I will see you to-night at the Opera.” CONTINUED ON THIRD PAGE.

Larasim bowed low, and drew back, I wtiiic riie iady missed on. Glancing iu | tne d sim km! give him, he saw written I mi ir in a dedf-ate Immidude do Noel; but wli-pher it was Zlailume or Mademoiselle (nils, nr Miss) the pasts board did not skim, and the detective did not care. He only knew she was a most beautiful woman, and that she bad consented to giant him an interview. “ W lio knows,” muttered he, twitching- li:s moustache, absently, “what may come ot it ? Jobe is superb. But bow tae deuce did sue learu my name? Well, it is not strange. Every one in Paris has heard of me.” In Paris when one wishes to learn anything- respecting- any inhabitant of the .Croat city, lie can lie satisfied by npuiying to rim chief of the police. To the office of his chief, Laroraie now bent Ids steps upon an errand of this kind respecting; the !a i.y he had just parted from, in answer to Ids inquires, the chief consulted a ponderous ledger, after a brief inspection declared there was no such person in Paris. VT fiat- is it, Laronde ?” lie asked ; “public business, or an assignation T’ “ Oh, merely a little affair of my own,” said Laronde laughing. “Take care, my friend,” said the chief, gravely. “You run a great risk in these little affairs of yours. Yve could uot afford to lose you just now.” “ Never fear,” returned the detective, gaily. “I always keep my wits about me.”

That night Laromie was at the opera at au early hoar. lie waited impatiently as the audience came in, and he thought they had never been so slow before. He scanned boxes and parterre closly, but could see the lady nowhere. As at the performance began, his attention was attracted by a friend, and he turned to speak to him. As he looked hack at the audience, when his friend left him, his heart gave a'great hound of delight. The lady was sitting in one of the most retired boxes, radiant in her beauty. She saw him, and nodded, smilingly. In an incredibly short time he was seated- by her side, pouring forth his thanks for the happiness she had given him.

In reply to his question, the lady told him she was the widow of a gentleman of good finally, and great wealth. She said she had seen Laromie at various places in tlie city; and with a blush she confessed that she had become very much interested in him. The rest we have already told.

One of Laromie’s weak points was his vanity; and hero a pretty woman could always strike a successful blow. He had become completely fascinated with Madame de Noel; and while he, sat with her in the box, bis demonstrations of

W : v bad several times to remind him tney might be observed bv some one in the audience. "When the performance was over, the Indy asked him if lie would a-o home with her to supper • and he, overjoyed consented. If any one had seen the detective during the drive from the Opera to the lady s house, his reputation for coolness and discretion would have suffered. He did nothing 1 but clasp the la;ly round the " r aist, and kiss her repeatedly, protesting between each emphatic salute, ardent and undying devotion to the fair widow. Fortunately the carriage protected the v.air from observation, and hid the ladv’s iousats. Madame ue iNuei lanirhingw iiedared that she never had seen so impulsive a lover; and said she was sure uo

v. Oman could resist such eloquence as he v, as using with her. Laromie’s only answer was a storm of kisses. Vdell, it must lie confessed very few men could have resisted tiie temptation. tv licii they reached the red deuce of Madame de Noel, the rnvria're passed iVo the court-yard am! they left it. Thev entered a dimly lighted hall, and passed oito a sumptously-iuruished auartment brilliantly illuminated. A footman received madame, and took charge of the 'doak and hood whicii she laid aside. Latonue atterwards remembered that she looked at the man in a iiccnliar wav as she hade him have suunr-r served as soon ;is possime; hut he thought nothin!' - of it rt the tine. °

mo scAVi herself m a Injurious arta-chan*, ami Luromie threw himself on a cushion at her Tea 1- . Bor a 1 rt<r while neither spoke. A stpan-re silence had jidien over them. A' 1 tae while however t!ie young- man’s liend rested atrainst- the ••rin of h-'r chair, and om of her liands flayed carelessly with las hair. A slijrht noise ja the upirtmcnt caused the detective to look up, Hut he could ”.ot raise his head iiurh enona’h to see :.'nything-, jladame's hand rested on it heavily. “Bah! It is nothing-, my dear friend/ she said, quickly. At the same instant he felt himself w.-rne to th; do or by an irresistible force; : before lie coidd collect las wits, '■diich he did not have about him tin’s f m:e, he was hound hand and f-of, and .rt helpless on the carper. Glancing- up .i n saw that the room was fall of men. “Vf hat do ;s tin’s mean ho demanded, Arnly. It means, Monsieur Laromie,” replied tae lady, smtlina- sweetl v, u that you will not sup with ms to-night.” Lar unies coolness returned to him now it was too late. “It seems that I have been a very great fool,” he said, bitterly.

“I agree with you, monsieur,” laughed the lady. “Stand aside,” said one of the men coming forward. “Let me speak with him. Do you know me, monsieur ?” he asked. ; “ Yes,” replied Laronde. “ You are Frederic Bonder, known to the Government as the president of a socialist club captain of a barricade, and a general promoter of disorder. These men, I suppose, are your confederates.” “Precisely so, monsieur. You have been for a long- time as anxious to capture us as we have been to secure you. Fortune has favored us this time, and you are now our prisoner. Perhaps you would like to know what w r e intend do With you ?”

“ That is a matter of indifference to me,” said the detective, coolly. “ Your courage is undoubtedly great,” said Bonder; “hut we shall put it to the test. We have decided long ago, Monsieur, that you must die. We would have carried out our decision to-night ; hnt all our club are not present. Tomorrow night the absent ones will return, and then we shall proceed to inflict our vengeance upon you. Your heart will he cut out of your living body. May heaven preserve your soul,” he added, mockingly; “for your earthly part is doomed.”

“Do not be swe of that,” exclaimed Laromie, indignantly. “ I was never born to die by the hands of such cowardly miscreants.” The socialist leader laughed. “Ah! Monsieur Laromie,” he said, sarcastically; “why would you not be warned by your friends ? Women will be the death of you, 1 fear.”

“ Who is this woman V asked the detective, not heeding the taunt. “ Let me answer,” said Madame de Noel. “ Monsieur Laromie,” she added, “ I am one who has long owed you a debt of vengeance. Two years ago you arrested a woman named Marqnerite Poisson; charged with murdering a French soldier. She was tried by your courts, and condemned to death. That woman was my mother.”

“ "Well,” said Laromie, calmly. “She was not executed.”

“No,” said Madame de Noel, fiercely; “but I owe you no thanks for that. The Emperor banished her to Algeria, to die under the burning suns of that land.” “But the Government subsequently pardoned her, and gave her permission to return to France.”

“True; but the pardon was too late. When it reached Algeria, my mother was dead. I swore to he revenged on you. I have succeeded in luring you here by my arts and lies. I hate you as the man that caused my mother’s death ; and I shall witness your execution with joy.” wuiu, u juur naintJ r “ Madeleine Desmoulins.”

“ Then you are the mistress of the chief of this club. A pretty couple truly and a pretty scrape you have gotten me into!” muttered Laromie with anmr. “ Well, then, Madame Julie de Noelj “ alias ” Madeleine Desmoulins, if it will ■afford you any satisfaction, know that, instead of causing your mother’s death, I tried to save her. In the discharge of my duty I arrested her. Although I believed her to be guilt}" of the offences charged against her, I pitied her. To oblige me, the chief of police interceded with the Minister of Justice, and procured the change, in her sentence, and finally her pardon. If you doubt this, you have simply to apply to the chief of my command, and he will confirm my assertions.” The woman grew as pale as death. Calming her agitation, she turned to Roulier, nmd said hastily, “ Spare him till I find out the truth of this!” “ Stop,” said the detective, quickly. I will not allow you to intercede for me. If you could give me my freedom now, I would not accept it from you.” The woman turned away and left the room. M Roulier directed two of his men to lift the detective, who was bound so securely as to be helpless, and to convey him to the dungeon. The order was obeyed. M. Roulier led the way carrying a large lamp, and the remainder of tiie men followed, bearing the detective with them. They passed through the hall, descended a stone staircase to large cellar, and finally paused before a heavy, close door. This Roulier opened, and tue party passed into the room. (To be concluded in our next.)