THE DUKES DOG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9202, 3 November 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE DUKES DOG.

THOUGH HE COULD NOT SPEAK HE

LOVED HIS MASTER. The Due d'Enghien had a spaniel which passionately lamented over his death, and we wonder if Napoleon suffered any qualm of remorse when he read of it fiercely bemoaning 'its master's untimely fate in the moat at Vincenncs. At the ih'rib halt the Due d'Enghien's abductors made, their prisoner requested them to send back Ettenheim for his "dog and his clothes." He did well to ask for his dog, for at Strnsburg Napoleon had ordered that his friends and servants were to leave him. His dog, however, since it lacked '' the divine power to speak words," was nob included in the order. In the brief day of life which remained to him, this speechless friend was his only companion, went with him a prisoner to Paris, and entered Vincennes at his heels. On his arrival there lie was depressed, and his dog sidled up to him, and Lamartine says: "The spaniel, which lie had kept at his side the whole route, rested his head on his master's knee." The dog beguiled him out of dark thoughts of his doleful prospects, his spirits rose, and he left the window, out of which lie had been disconsolately staring, and called his dog to share his supper with him. The faithful creature was on guard beside him, when, one midnight, he was aroused from his sleep to appear before bin judges. The Duke, sure of his innocence, went to the mockery of a trial, with sanguine hopes of a speedy release. He did nob know that during his trial his grave was being dug. After leaving the judgment hall the prisoner, still unsuspicious of the haste to fulfil the sentence from which lie expected a pardon, was talking to Lieutenant Noiret, a soldier who had known his grandfather, the Prince of Conde. A historian says "he played with his dog" while chatting gayly to the soldier. The poor beast had been ill at ease, for some subtle instinct warned it that, there was danger afoot. Its dull spirits were raised by its master's assurance ; but it was but short lived contentment, for the Duke and his dumb friend were soon parted by death. The prisoner was ordered to follow the commander down a darksome stairway, which led into the moat. The Duke hesitated ; but the dog, as usual, followed without question* at his master's heels. The Duke, when lie reached the trench, realised the truth. He cut a lock of his hair, gave it and a ring to Noireb to send to his ber trot lied, Princess Charlotte de Rohan. As three o'clock struck the soldiers fired, and Napoleon's young victim fell. The spaniel in the dim light—for it was a gloomy March morning, and tho moat was lib by a solitary lantern—had not seen its master's face, and was unaware of his evil fato till it saw him dead. In vain it fawned upon him, who, but a few moments previously, had stroked and commended his pleased favourite. It was with difficulty that the poor animal could be torn from the spot and given to one of the Prince's servants, who took him to the Princess Charlotte. —All the Year Round.