The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 4, November 1, 1851Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 4, November 1, 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
The stranger led me by the old route till we were again close to the
tottering cow-house. Here he paused, as on the last occasion, and was,
perhaps, preparing to disappear again.
"One moment, sir," I said. "Be good enough to explain yourself more plainly
than you did last night. However much I may admire your acting, and it has
_beaucoup de l'Esprit_ about it, family arrangements will prevent me from
again assisting----"
He nodded as though he quite understood me, advanced to the side of the
shed, stopped under a sort of window, and then, deliberately sitting down
on the grass, began to pull off his boots. I gazed at him in amazement, and
was about to address him again, when a little cloud sailed across the moon,
and for a moment shaded all the place. As it passed away, and I looked to
our mysterious visitant and my mysterious Original, no remains of him were
to be seen--except the boots.
At this moment Le Brun joined me. I was the first (as before and as ever)
to throw aside my natural fears, and I advanced to the spot. There were two
highly polished Bluchers, side by side, as if they waited till the occupant
of the cow-house was out of bed and shaved. I took one of them up.
Something inside chinked. I reversed it, and three Napoleons fell upon the
turf.
I was wondering why a French farmer-ghost should choose a Blucher to
deliver Napoleons into an Englishman's hands, when Le Brun, finding nothing
in the other boot, suggested that it would be well to get Gray out of the
neighborhood, and perhaps the three Napoleons might be useful to him. To
this I agreed at once, though I was somewhat dissatisfied with the little
fellow for the small share he had taken in the risks of the evening.
I went to the room where the gambler was; he was evidently in mortal fear.
I put down the Napoleons on the table, and then in those deep, pedal, and
ecclesiastical notes, which have so often hymned my congregation to repose,
informed him that friends of John Finnis were in the town, that he was
proclaimed to the authorities, and that he had better leave the
neighborhood for ever. With this I left him, joined Le Brun, and was soon
on my way back to Honfleur.
"It was well I drew the shot from his pistols," said Le Brun, as we were
parting. I did not then see any latent meaning in his words, nor would he
ever afterwards answer any questions on the subject. I had forgotten to
remove my ghostly dresses and decorations, and Grace and Emma both uttered
gentle screams as I stalked into their presence. My tale was soon told, and
we retired to rest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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