A DINNER WITH RICHELIEU.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5314, 6 April 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

A DINNER WITH RICHELIEU.

“ Many years ago,” says Madame de Creoy, in her Memoirs, “an old soldier lived quietly on his half-pay in Normandy. Some money difficulties brought him to Paris. He had not been in the capital long before he received, one evening, on returning to his hotel, an invitation to dine with Ricaelieu at hia castle of Reul, near Paris. The honor was as great as it was unexpected, and he hastened the next clay, with natural vanity, to inform his friends of it. He went on font to Reul, and all alone. When he got to Neuilly, he perceived a coich coming behiud him; he waited for it to pass him, and was asked where he was going. ‘To Reul,’ answered our old soldier. ‘ Well, if you like, you can jump up and ride with die,’'said the coachman, pleasantly. The proposal was at once accepted, and tho new friends soon began an animated conversation. ‘Where are you going when you get to Reul?’ asked the conductor. ‘To dine with M. do Richelieu.’ ‘So am I,’ observed the first speaker. ‘Are you, indeed,’ replied the second, ‘and when did you get your invitation’’ ‘Yesterday, sir,’ said the old soldier. ‘My God I ’ uttered tho coachman, turning deadly pale, ‘my God; sir, you must not go.’ ‘But why not ? ’ ‘Ho you remember ever having offended the Cardinal Minister ? ’ ‘ No, sir.’ ‘ Are you quite sure ? Examine your mind and memory very thoroughly before you venture into the house of Richelieu.’ ‘But why, sir !’ asked tho officer, who now began to get very much alarmed. ‘ Because I tell you to do so for your own good,’ was the dry reply. ‘ Well, now Xcnmo to think of it, I do remember having once written some rather sharp verses against his Eminence many years ago, when I was a young man about town.': ‘That’s it. Now, sir, X will tell you why I asked you the question,’ said tho coachman, gravely. ‘ I am an executioner. When Richelieu invites a man to dine with him at Reul, I am the third guert. Tho. dinner is pleasant, and tho Cardinal very agreeable ; but immediately after dessert I do my work, and revenge Richelieu of insults received some thirty years ago. , Got down, and fly back to Normandy. Do not pause tor breath even, but begone, and remember years hence that you owe me your life.’ The old officer got down quicker than he had ascended to his place by tire mysterious coachman, and hurried off to'hia native Normandy. This story is true, and I know what took place (it the dinners at Reul. They were excellent. There were only three present, the Cardinal, tire executioner, and the victim. The conversation was animated,, and tho wine abundant ; Put .after tho sumptuous meal Iris'Eminence ;Wquld ask his guest to pass into l the adjacent chamber, and there the executioner 5 slew him, and threw tire body down a trap-door, into the river, which flows by the castle walla.”