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^^'WUPP^'^^^IWP*"
mrmf^T^^mm^imim^
242 stkwaut's i.itkkauy
TiiK :MYSTi:in' at the chateau des oiniRACx.
]>v J. (i. 15(11 uisor, Sviliirv, (.'ai)r Urfion.
Ti:\ yonrs mu'ii — tin' I'xact (luto i- a uuiIUt (if no iiiii)i)r'iiii('t — I AVi\.s
liviu^j in tlic |ili'a:-;uil iiml jjicdirr-qiii' city ol' (.)iu'li('(', mul anidii;,' tlio
RCiiiaiiitam-os lliat 1 inaile .<oon al'ivr my arrival was tin- Ai)lii' Ia'Ii'I-
liiT. IIo was coinu'iiol wiili dai' d' ilic riliicMlioiial iiisllliitioiis of
the city, and was cnn-Idcicd one of tli'> licst Hcimlais in liic cdloiiy.
To liini 1 ^vas indcbU'd, not only for unniiT<iii> fads rc.-iii'ctin;,^ tlic early
history of Lower Canada, I'lM i'dr many intti'i'-iinL' flctails of tlic man-
ners and customs of llie Frcnidi Canadians. I'ndcr liis i>uiilap.cc (Que-
bec and its snlmiljs l.ucanic as familial' to mc as llic old town wlioro
I wa^ born. I'.vcii now whilst I wrilo. 1 can see the tin-roofed Iniild-
iii'is (•reepin;^: u\) ihe s.ih-s, or nestlinir at the fool of that nolile {ircmnn-
torv. which overlooks the dark v>aleis of llie rlvtr that cai'iies to the
ocean, many hniidii'd miles helow, the irihiite of the 'ireat lakes of
the We.-t. A.^ain am I halhed hy the mist of the lovely fall of Mont-
njoreiicy, tiimMin,:^ in one mi^ilily lca|' from the rocks, lu'arly throe
hundred feet iilio\e, or 1 am ■'coas'.iim" down the sides of the im-
mense ice-cones which are formal I'.t the f.ini, and alliird so iniicli
lijnusement to the |dea--iire-.-('ekers of io\ial (^iietiec, diirinLr the monlh-
that the Fr<;st Kinjr holds the cfiniilry in his icy !:rasp.
lint 1 must rememher thai 1 ha-.e not sat down to descrihe the so-
cial or natural eharaeteristies of the oM ca|illal of Canada. I have ti
short story to tidl, not eonnocted immediali'y with (,[ne!i;c. I at with
a pretty villa;j;i! which is situated, a short distance from llie city, on
llie St. Lawrence. Soon alter my inlroiiiu li(.ii to the Ahhc, I ,-tatcd
that it was my intention, tit the earliest opporinnity, to \ isit some of
tlie (jld French \ill:i:j'es and -ee the hi'.lnltinl in lii^ own liona-. 'I'licrc-
lipon the Ahhe very kindly i Ifeied to jii\i' me letters ol' inlroihicl ion
to some Irienif- of his own, a; the \ ilhiL'e in (|i;e-iioii, — which is called,
like so many olliers in Cana(la, afier cue of tin- Saints so nnineroiis in
the luimau Catholic Calendar — and as-ured me at the same lime thai
there 1 would ^ee the /(((('•//(n-/, \ cry lillle ahcred iVom >\liat he was
last centniT w luii he came under llie i!on;iiiion <!' ( Ircat IJritain Hefore
1 liad availed myselt' of this oti'er, the Ahhe tailed on me at mv loil;,'-
injrs, and stated that it was his iiilentioii, two days later, to take .a trip
into the country, and that he would he very liajipy to have me a.s his
fonipanitui. I gladly accepted il.e inviialion, ami nuule till the ur-
raii,i;cments necessary to accompany him at tlu^ tinu' agreed iipim.
liarly ill the morninj; of a line St']iteiidier day, when the sim was
ju.-t risin.L' al.ove the surrouiidin^r hills iind lij-htiii;; iij) the tin roofs of
the city so that they fairly shone, I was .Mated in ihe Ahhe's study, a
cosy apartment well lined w ith llO(d^s in French and Kn,Ldi>li. We
noon took our jihices in the "Cah'che" — a sort of jii;: — of whi<di the Ahbe
Ts-as to act as (!river, and were on the joint oi'starlinir oil" when a seu-
thMuaii crossed the street qiiit-kly and handed my c(an|)ani<in a letter,
sayiiif; sonu'thinj,' at the same tim.' in French, the iiurjiort of whicii
did not rea<di me, 1 recognized him iuimediatelv as a vouiil? ma!i who
QiAinr.iti.v ma<;azini:.
213
(lu>
..IcI-
IS of
inliy.
••V
nijiii-
<>Mr-
In re
iiiM-
IIIOII-
M llic
[■^ (,(■
llll-C(^
iiii-
iiiii'li
Mllll-
liii'l .'Insisted iiip on (.;.(• occiisiuii in (•(>j)yin;i joiiio. oM liistfirical docc-
nicnls \vli!'!i ! liinl liiii.tcd nji in llii' Li'^ri-ltiliv i- I.ihriuy. lie lunl ln'ca
inlrndni'ril !ii nu- !iy lln^ liliiiiriiin. lii;l i ImmI ior'^nitcn liis iijinii'. 11;
wiis ii lii-.-t-rntc piiii'.ii'n, iinil luid nd <'ii!y cojiic!'. !;i!t trunslalcil ila-
jKiiii'i's in iin iHlniiruMr numncr. lie was \ciy ymu!;; — imi ninri' lliiin
twe-nty |ir(il)!iltly— MMi'i .■■cnn -imw (n oiiur It .-iii:ck me, \Nlivn I nniicid
'i.i.-'. ri'liii::;r, ■'■uIm!;'! .; i.^iinniT, !li;;i ln'Wi'.s cpi/if.-.-cil l)ylliv .rii-c ol'
>-»)nn' ITcrlll l;r-!i:l'' ;;; .'. ! !i,ld inN'Ijilrd .jM.' •! ■iJliili;;- l!;i' 1 .Ir'i' : i:i:i IV-
(■prc! in;;' ii! ni, i);i! >i •iiu'.lnu.,' I'i'cnnt'd l-i pre v im:1 mo fan", ill;:; (uil ii:v
inlcntiun.
'' I !iiid irlsc'i yi.n iij'." aid liic .^lli'. '-.A iia nu'Ml ianr von would
lia\i' mis.-cd ns." A\ i;!i thi ,-■• \',ords tin' Aliit' 1 ado tin' .••IfttnLn r ad'i'ti
and tuiiclicd 11)1 till" 111! -('. A- wr j'assL-d rapidly nvi'f liio n»n;;li |i!,\c-
nU'Ul lowaidr- tin- ;:aii' It adiii'.: inili,. cininlfy, my ( innpaninii (b('f\cd:
''Tlial ynini'r man lia-i iVii'iid-- al i!h' jdai.' in ^vllil•ll we arc udiiiLr.
Iiidcc.l III' v.as, al niic lin'.i', lii;j!li in tlic lavuni- n'l iLc S'lijii'iiv
1\I. dr ( ;iicicla'\ iilc ; liiil .-(.nu' ditl'cfi'ni'i'.-. Iiavc iinriii-tnna'.i Iv <)C(i:in<l
lu'l\\ir!l ijii m."
\\y this time \\(' hail ]ia-MMl throni'Ii (In' ;.:al.' ami llic .M.Ik'".; iiltcii-
lion was dii'i'ctcd I" snna'th ii'i (.'Im'. A\'c \vi iil lh)uni:li llu' ]':i'lly
villa'ir nl' Iii'irapiirt and faiiLdil a ulinipso ot' M'jnimnri'ni'v sjiai kiiiiL^
in till' m(>rniii,u: snnliulit. '1'Ik' I'uimtiy thnn'^h wliitdi \vi; di- \ c v.a.-i
d<i'lid hy iit'Mt vi!la~ atid (diiiiviir- with iluii i; priiii;; spiic^ aial (pni^it
oriainu Ills ; hut llu' I'arnis i'|in';- I'd mtislly nl ^naill sixc — oin' ol' ilio
ri'.-niis, in fad, (d' ihc Sci,L;iii'.rial system wliicii had larii ahcdisiicd
fi lew vrafs pi'i'N i(in-ly. In isri'al jdacos we saw l)y the wayside
little cros.-e.' when', al ll at rally lanif. ilv\i.i;t /.l(/^V/(;/^., cliii liy Wdinell,
■Wire !viu'eliii;>'. \\'e met many d' ilie iiali\es — ilu' nu'ii in led .-hifls
(If lihiiise.-, and the W( men in cap- and ,-litl' li(>me:-ptin dri.-ses. 'Jiie
villa;. es (Mnsi-liil <d' elie-slc ry, w h ileV.asliiil, led-ri.cl'ed l.i Uses, most
(d' ihi'iii eln.'Nied iniiid ll i- (hni(li at;d ll.e C iiiV's ic-idi nee. Now
mid then we \\i'ii!d ■.vv a lar;.e, prett !:l!('\i--l( ekii;jr linildn:;; <d' stoiii!
or wend, .-nrionii'led. l>y i;;li I.( iid,ar(!\ poplars, laapU's, (i- ladde elm.-^,
juid !ri\ inir Ihe idea d ci i;itort and \\eahh. 'I hc-e jifiurally lit IciiLied
to liie Siiijiintrs who -o Ion;; e\eiei eil I' nilal li^l.ts o\ir tlie etiinJry,
ftiul aie still the wealthiest men in the iiiral ilisliiels.
It was nearly daiK when v\e iin'i\ed at our di'slii alion, v. hich wtis a,
hir;:(' \ iihiL'e prettily :e(jiiesieied hy the s'ue nf a .-mall stream just
vhere it joiiud the St. 1, awiei.ee. The lar;fest lionses Wile mostly ol
ftone. and some (d' them <:a\e the e\id<n(o of ap;i — iinleed tlio Ahba
J)iiinted (.lit ,-e\(ial (reeled luMnedialely alter the Tail (d<^i:elee. The
Chap.el was a tine ei! .ac ol' Liay .-lore, wiili a leiiy sit ej !e snrna.iinti'd
by a eros.s, and ornana nled I y an old I'ahii in d, dial i'.nd .-i me emicn.-ly
(•.'ir\ed ima;:es in niches (Ui i a< h .-ide ol' the I'nliance. Only a lew
ju'rsr.nM were ir.<i\iii;> al i nl, 1 nt we <(iidd -ee the .'ai na rs 1 iisv at their
barns, storinj;' crain, or lakii ;.; the latlle to v. ii!(i. 7\s \\e di(i\e we
cuiild .'^ei! the ('h.'.tcan di s OimeaiiN, the residence of Sil<j)i(iir (Ui
C!iierelie\ illi ^ — a lar;:c. .-(jiiaie hiiildii:;;, (.\ ei -slnid(.w; (1 by ir.n^nilieeiit
elms which .L'ave the place iis disliiieli\e name.
At my re(ji:e«t the Al be lell me at tl.e laui.'^e ( !' a hu'. 'ic, I, \\.'.\q be
-■'"^ ■■w i iwimimBt
244
8TEWAUT S I.ITKIIAUY
went oil to llic CoUofri" of the Cmv — !v |)r('lty littlo biiildiiijr, iilmost
oovL'rt.'<l l>y jxrapi^ vino au'l Viru'iui'i. creepers, iiiid witliiu k ^((jIic's
throw of tlie Cinireli. A Frenelnvdiimii of middle a;j:e — willi ii irood-
huiuourcd face — iveoived us witli a coiirli'sy and promised lln' Abb*';
to do her best to i.iake us eomfortal)le. Tlieii my kind iVieiid U'i'i ine
•ttitli ihe understaiidin;: tiiat be woniil sei' me early llie next iiKirninj^.
1 was soon at lioine in llie snu;,', Iboii^'h eerlaiuly plainly funiisliod
cottaj^o of Jean Bapti^to jMannonttl, wlio also kept the I'ost Olllep of
the sottlemi nt — a line evidence of bis inlegrily and respectabilily. His
kuowiedire ot Kii,L;lisli was very nioa^n'c — he could read it very well,
howe\oi' — an<l I found it more a':neabli' for liotli of us to i'all back on
my own stock of French, wliicli bad received lar^'e accessions since
my arrival at (Quebec. As the uveiiin^j; passed wo were perfectly
friendly with one another, and I heard all I'.ie news in the villa^'c.
As we sat chattinji-, a bri;jfbt-cyed, rather jiretty <i'\vl came in, and
the old man iiitro(biced her as his younjxest cnild.
"Oh, father," she said, soon at'ler eiiterin.Lr, "do you know what
I've heard at the Chateau. Mar^^iu'rite says some of the servants
declare that the buildiiii;- is lianiited — music and s(ran;.'e sounds have
been heard, several ti'nos, iu pari of the house wliere nobody has beeu
liviuiT for years."
"(')1<1 wives' fables, child."'
"Slcphanie and Marj!;u('rite both beard the nnisic the other night —
Thursday, I think."
"They're both ; illy ^'irls," replied the old man, " for lillinj^ your ears
with such nonsense."
'J ih' \()uiig girl, howevii'. ajipeared slill to ha\i' her own opinion on
the subject, a'ld followed her inolher to aiiDther part of the bouse, to
tell lier more about it in all probability. The old man then became
very communieative and (old me many things concerning the Chateau
and its inmates. JI. de (iuercheville was evidently more feared tiian
loved by the people of the districi, who still looked u|) to iiiin as their
"great mail." llis only daughter, Kstelle, on the other band, was au
undoubted favourite — to use i..o expressive language of these simple
folks, she was " iiiu' «(///('," both i'or her jiersonal beauty and her
amiable cpialities. Another favourite was one whom the Imliitaiit
called Ivaonl, and from what he said I conjectured he was the young
man I had .'-con that morning.
" r.ut what is the reason," I asked, "that liaonl never comes to the
Chateau ? '"
"Ah, ^lonsieur, it is a strange story. He was, you must know, the
Eon of a Hvluin; who long mana;;ed the estates of the Siijuniric; his
mother died v.iien lie was only a few months (dd. As he grew up he
was a great deal at the Chateau, and was much lov^'d by Madame,
who was a kind, gentle lady — she died eighteen mouths ago. Kaoul
and Estelle were playmates from au early age — ^^just like a brother and
niftier ; and when bis father died ho became an inmate of the Chateau,
and was bronght up as on • of liio family. He was educated by M.
LcCire, who is a great schjlar, and then was sent, at his own desire,
to study law ia the office o.' au avoaU at (.^lebec. Now it is reported
QUAIITEKLY MAOAZINE.
245
he <^i)\ into liiiil liiihits, sipiainlorod a j^n-at doal rA' nvwoy, and so in-
ccnsod M. do ( IniTclu'villi! lliat lie donicil liini tlic liuuso. Anotliisr
Story is 'iliat Kstcllc's jiroml latluir, nolioin<:!; tliat there was an attadi-
nu-nt L'rowinj,' u\) 1)ot\vct!n the yoinijr man ami iiis dangliter, so insulted
Kaonl lliat lie left the Chuteau never to return. It is inipos-ilde to
gatlur the trutli — noliody ever talks of hiin iit tlie (Miateau. None of
us helieve he ever did anythini^ wrong — he was always a kind, well-
behaved lad — I don't think even the city could change his character
as some declare."
1 had an idea, as 1 listened to the old man, that he kin-w more about
the matter than he chose to tell. However, as it was already lute, I
returned to th(\ pleasant room which good Dame ]\Iarmontel had pre-
pared for me, whilst I was listi^ning to lier husband.
N(;xt morning the Abbe called, and at about eleven we visited the
Chateau. Whilst on the way I (juestioned him with resjjcct to Ilaoul,
in whom I Itegan to feel somewhat interested — chieny because there
appeared to be some inystei'y connected with him.
"All, I see, iiiy old friend iMarinont(d has been talking about him,"
replied my companion ; '• it is perfectly true the doors of the Chateau
are clos(!d against him. jM. de (Juercheville belle\es he has been
deeply wronged by out! in whom he had placed unlimited contidcnce.
I am not at liberty to state the circumstances, for it is M. de Gueiehe-
ville's wish that tliey should be kept secret. Raoul has f^pokeu also to
mc on the subject and positively decdares he is innocent of Avhat he
has lieen accused. It is true the young man was e.Ntravagant, but
1 cannot believe lie is wliat M. de (Juercheville (who is very ob-
Btiuate in his opinions) ])ronounces liim to lie. Tlic Cure, who has
known liim from his childhood, believes that the truth will be revealed
sooner or later, and that it will be in favour ol' his iiui>II. T1h> letter
you savr tlie y(ning man hand mc when we started was for his old
tutor."
We had now reached li.e entrance to the Chateau -which was fronted
by a high stone wall, and passed up an a\er.ue of iine maples, beeches
and elms. A well kept law ii lay directly in front of the house, and a
small conservatory at one si<le. Over the door wc saw the date of the
building — A. I). ITKi — and some words which I could not decipher,
but which the Abbe said was the motto of the I'amily :
Rctincna Vtstiijia Fiimcr.
We went through a large hall, with a stone floor, and oak-stained
walls;, into the liitrary — a handsome, airy room. M. do (Juercheville
received us with much courtesy and introduced ine to his daughter, an
exceedingly chariiiing girl, with dark blue eyes, and very regular fea-
tures, lier smile was remarkably swt>et, and she wore her hair iu
coils twisted round her well turne(l head. The Hciyneur himself was
a snnill, wiry man, with keen eyes which were deeply set in his head ;
and with a (diin and mouth indicating a strong will. IVI. de Guerehc-
vil!e jiressed me very strongly to remain at the Chateau.
"8ir," lie said, " if you knew the gratification you would afford us
by remaining, you would not continue to refuse. AVe lead a very quiet
21(5
SIKWAUT S l,irKl!\Kr
life ill ilii-i dill liMii', mill arc aluiiys ul:i'l I" see lln- AI>Ii' nr lii.^
IVieiids. As I ii!iiL'i>:!i!ul viu tal;.' an inirri'sl in llic lii.s'.Di-y of ihis
foiiiitry, 1 siiall hi,' luil'l'V to sliuw y.-.i ^ in.' rai>' old works ami iiiaiui-
siTipls.
I wn^ wi'U .-ali.-lii'il wiili liu' i|iiii'l ((iiaitt rs I lial t'liui'l a! .Marmou-
ti'l's ('u!laj,'e, lait ulu'ii 1 saw that tin: S'l'tunir woiiM he (|i-|ili'a -id it"
I ilid not act'i'pt liis liospllalili' uHor, I aliiiwul him lu s<mi.| lor niy
liiV'ua,::*.'. I was soon at Iidih'.' in tin' * iiati'un. wliicli |in<sessi'(| a capi-
tal lilirary, i'.ichiiliu.u; such tri-asufi's an il.c Si'.<jiii'i;r liad s|ii)kcn of.
M. dc (incrclicvilK) liiiu.scH' was ol' an oKl I"'ivncli i'ainily, wliicli had
come into the conntry at tiie mid of the seventeenlh ecntnry. As iii>)
uanie sliowc<l, he was descended I'roni a hranch of tliiii I'aniily, of which
the celehraU'd ]\rar.[aise, wlio wiliistood the hlandi-^iinients of Henry
IV, WHS the ino-t di.-linjinislicd menilper. " Mie it was, yoii perha|)S
remember," said the S,-iijivin\ wlnii tin- ''.iin cr-ialion had turned to
liis family, as we were lookin.:' over . ome poi'traiis, " who repiilsoii
the >j;ay luonareh with the han:;h:y retort, ' Sjrc, my rank, jxn'haps is
not hi^h eiiou;;'li to piTmit lue to in- ynir wil'i', and iny heart is too
hi;,di to permit me to he yi>nr mistl^•^s.'
The iSci'jnctii's la'othir, a doctor hy profi's>ion, thouLch he rarely
practised tlieii, joined us in the course of tla* da\-. \\ hen I learned
that he had a son, now at colI.'Lre, I wondered if he had anythin;^ to
do with the d;s-raeo into whi 'h I'a(ed iiad lallen. He seemed an ofP-
handed, plear-ant Lientlcnan — nnu'li more a man oi' llie woi'ld lliaii his
brother; and 1 soon dismi-sul the .-nspicion that had llar-hed across
my mind that ho was periiaps jealons of tiie favour which iiad been
shown to Uaonl.
I aceomjianied M. de (Inerelie\ilie a. id his l.rollier over his princi-
pal i'arin, which eoM-rcd se\eral hundred aci-cs, alihoUf:!i ii was only
a titlie of his posnessions. ()ue of the; most interesting; objects we
saw was a hu;;e btoue Imiidinjr, once u-ed as a wind-mill, but was
HOW employed as a ;j;ranaiy. Tiie mill was always an im|iortant
item in the eeonomy of a Seia;noiry, for under the feudal tenure, the
ccnsitairts, or holders of land, were bound to frriiul their corn ivt the
vionlin canal, or the lord's mill, where one-fourteenth j)art of it was
taken ibr his use as toll. Tlu; Ifihlfaiil.'i we saw on the estate were
just the same class of peoiile, in their faces aial manners, mw sees at
the present day in seme old Uretou vill,i;;(!.
The eveningat the Chateau passed away plea-aiillv. Mademoiselle
de (Jnercheviile was a charmin;;- musician, and sanj; simple Canadian
airs \vhicli are favourites anion;^^ tin; haliihuila, many of whose fathers
and jrrandl'athers hail l)eeii roj/a;icurH and coHieitrs clu hoia. The doctor
and the S'i)jn<-"r narrated anecdotes illustrative of the life of the
sim|de-minded, old-fashioned residmils ; and (hen we all i)arted (or tlic
night. I sat fa' awhile in my bccl-nuim — a larve, comlbrtable apart-
ment overlooking die river — h)noking a cigar and enjoying the jilea-
santlire of maple sjdinters wdiicn blazed ou the hearth, with its ipuiiut,
brass andirons. Tlie night was chilly, as is cd'ten the case in Sep-
tember in parts of Canada, and the room liJid not been occupied for
some time. So I .sat tor au hour at least, watching the sparks ilyiug
mmmm
QUAUTKKLY MAOAZINE.
217
III.'*
ilii.s
'iiiii-
IMIl-
.1 if
my
aj)i-
<>f.
ia<l
ills
licll
iiry
(1|)H
to
is
loo
up llie spacious cliiinncy, niul tlicii llic cloclv in iho lower luill .-ti-iiclt
(UK! Jiiul scut iiie to Ix'd. I liiiil lucii ii<liM'p I'.ir sMiiie time in tiie old
Fri'iieii liedsteiiil wliieli liiul proliiil)ly lielil miiiiy ^generations since it
was lirst put up, when I iiwoko witli u start, inia.LMnin;^ >liiit some
liody wa>^ in the room. I listened Cor a moment or two, and soon
lau^died at uiysidl' lor my foolish fancy. The moon-lijilit was slream-
in.ur into the apartment and playin;^ slrau'^e IVeiiks on some cnL^rav in^'i
Iwm/^in;,' on tlie wall; hut I heard iiothinu' except thu tick of my watcii
on the dressinjj;-tali!e. I was arrani^Miii; uiysell onco more eomt'ortabl/
imderthe hc<l-cIothes, when I heard a noise, as if somethiiii^ wa ■• l)ein,>5
(lra,ix;rod stealthily on tho (loor of the corridor, ami a lew ni'iments
ivfterwards the notes of an unknown jiir In'nke the nilhicss of the
iiijiht. AVhcn I lookeil at my watcii and sa^v that it was nearly throe
o'clock, I could no! Iielie\e that any of the I'aiuily would he nji at that
hour of tho mornint;. I confess 1 was sonu'whal stai'tled when 1 rc-
luomhered the st(My I had heard on tin; ]M"e\ ions ev(ininj;, hut I am not
.superstitious, and at once reji'cled the idea that there was aiiythiuij
.supernatural in those mysterious sound-i. I was on the jioint of p\it-
tiiig on my dressin;; j^own and .^oini; out into liie eorriilor. when the
music ceased and the noise l»ej;au a.rain. I imloekeil tlie door in
(]uickly as I could, hut nolhin;; was visihle, as 1 ln,ike<l into the c(jr-
ridor which appeared jjcrleclly dark, ior the n.o )n had at tliat instant
bei'ii ohscured iiy some jiassinLj cloud. ShnttinLr lite door, I got agai:i
into hed, with the, determination of havin;r a full exiilanatioii in tlie
mornin;;; f -oui some of the family.
I met oidy IMdIIe. de < Juercheville and her uncle at l>reak!'ast, as licr
father did not feel very wcdl and sent his excuses for his non-appear-
ance. I mentioned the eiri'umstances which had taken place dui-ing
the night, and as I did so 1 noticed that (uie looked at the other in
surprise. After a pause of a few moments, Dr. de (ruerchevilie ob-
served :
"I cannot at all explain the matter — it is certainly very curious ;
for the servants have, on two previous occasions, heard the very same
noises. None of us, however, have j)aid Miy attention to their state-
ments — indeed I don't tliink my brother has yet been told of them."
"1 hope you don't think," saiil M'dlle. de (liiercheville, addressing
mc, " that we put you purposely in that romii — it is the most com-
fortable in the Chateau, ai\(l noljody ever believed there was anything
in the stories which JMargiu'rite and aiujther ser\ ant have been telling.
I thought, when I was told of them yesterday, that the silly girls had
made thcni up to frighten the house-keeper who is very superstitions,
and no favourite with some of the servants."
"After what you have told me," contimied the doctor, '' I must be-
lieve that the servants did hear something. 1 suppose the Scii/ucur
will ratlier }>lnme himself ou the fact that this old house is haunted.
I believe it is only your old families that are properly entitled to
ghosts iu their houses — they are luxuries beyond the reach of com-
mon-place pcoi)le."
" I remember hearing a similar stoiy about a year ago," said M'dlle.,
" when poor Kaoul left us. Uncle,"
248
STEWAUT S MTK.nARY
<^
Hero hIu' f foppi^il suiMoiily and bluslunl sliirlitly, us if hIio had been
bolrayoil into tlio mention of a name forbidden at the CliiUeau. The
Doctor, evidently (ib.-ervlnj; her confusion, olian;^od tlio tojiic, and took
nie into tlie j^'iird'en to wliow nio some rare autumnal llowers which lie was
himself cuUivatini,'.
I did not HCe the .S'l;/-/'"'"'', the rest of that day, as he was oblij,'cd to
drive away at noon to a distant part of the o-*tate where some oxtensivo
improvcnientM Wfre iroin'.' o-i. Nor ha<l his dannhter any oiijiorfiinity to
speak to him, for Home of her fi'male friends arrived in the course of the
niornintj. I was left at my own desire in the lib.ary, where I found
Homo jiapci^, from whir'i I wi>hed to make extracts. In the cvenin;^,
after dinner, we were a!! as-icniMi'il in the lar;,'e dressinu; room — and ihen
M. de (Iiu'K hoville Icninod, for tl.e first time, the story of the mysterious
noises in the cast eorridi.r. Wlicn I came to mention the music, he
looked exceedingly perplexed iind then f^ave a quick exclamation of sur-
prise, as if ho h.ui remcnibercd some eircumstancc lonj; forgotten.
''What iiistrunuiit do you suppose it was ? " he en(|uircd.
" That 1 cannot lei!," I replied ; " the music was very low indeed,
quite nuiftled and indistinct, as if it proceudcd from a distance."
" Your story," said M. do (Juerchcville, "recalls to my mind Ronic-
lliini; 1 had forgotten. If you will wait ii few moments we may unravel
this mystery.''
Thereupon he went out and returned shortly, asking us to follow hiui.
The houso-kcepcr ami a servant prcceeded us with lights to the ';orridor,
where iiiy bed-room was .-ituated, and liiially entered a large chamber at
the end. The room was filled with <ild furniture which had been in-
jured — in fact it was a himbor room. The house-keeper laid the lights on
an old Cabinet whieli stood against the wall ; it wa.s evidently tho worse
for wear, most of the bronze ornaments with which it was covered being
broken, and tiic only part that ajipearcd perfect w;is one of the l.ouis
Auatorze legs.
^ The SeiijHCii)- pressed a spring concealed under a bunch of grapes, and
a large compartment Hew open, and showed us a Knight on hor.so-bHck, fully
C(|uipped for the battle or tournament. Suddenly the sound of music
was heard and the knight rode forward on a mimic stage, and then
stood motionless, with spear at rest. Three airs were played — the first
stirring and the last plaintive — and then the Knight turned and vanished
bchinil. The mechanism was perfect, and the music cfl'ectually concealed
the noise of the creaking of the secret springs.
"This old Cabinet," said M. de Gucrcheville, "was brought from
France by my grandfather, and was the work of a clever Parisian artisan.
If you will look closely at it, you will see that it was to represent a tour-
nament, but it got broken and the other Knight is missing. I had en-
tirely forgotten the toy, until you alluded to the music, wiiicli, of course,
proceeds from a little box in the interior. Years ago it was consigned by
my father to the lumber room, until it could be repaired, but it was for-
gotten, and has ever since remained among other odds and ends."
" You mu.st get it repaired, papa," said M'dllc do Gucrcheville ; " it
is a pity to have so pretty a toy hidden away."
"Yes; I must try and think of it; but. if my memory serves me
QtlAKTKIILY MAGAZINE.
249
been
The
took
|c was
pi to
jnsivo
\Uy (0
(ho
IToiind
iiin-
llioti
!riou.^
|ic, he
sur-
leeJ,
arii^lit, tlioro nsod to Ix; a secret ilr.iwer .soiiinwliero in this Cabinet which
is full (if stniii^c edntrivaiices."
^Vl'ter I'liiiihliiiji; iihmit Cur ;i iniiiute, lie f'diiul a kiiolj which he ])rc.«sed.
As a lon^j; deep drawer iiew up, M. de (jiuerehcville liiu.nhiiii^dy ,suid r
" IVrhiips we shall find an old will, or other docuiueiit revealiuj^ Fome
fuiiiily secret. M. Cure, will you take the respoii.sibility of first looking
in J "
The Cure thus l.iui^diin^ly addressed, put his hand in and bron^^lit out,
li"irc cnouj;h, a small package which he handed to the Scl'/Hciir, who ap-
peared startled at the reali/alion of his prediction. When he had looked
at th(i package, he dropped it with the exclamation, " Mon Dicu," and
l!)cn aildeil, " It's the missing money."
The AbU' picked up the parcel, and running over several bank note.',
•aid :
*' Yef», there are exactly X250 here."
" I'our IJaoul I '' I heanl Mstclle (who was at my side) whisper gen-
tly to herself. It was (|uito evident to me that the discovery of tho
notes had something to do with the banishment of Kaoul from his former
homo. 'J"he necessary explanations were adorded me, late in the evening,
by the Abbe, who came to my room.
" A year ago,'' said the Abbe, " M. dc Gucrcheville received a
turn of monc}' (.£2/5") I'or the purpo.so of paying some workmen who
were constructing a new mill on the estate. Kaoul was, at the time, on a
visit to the Chateau, and on the night i)rcvioi;H to his departure for Que-
bec, he was in the study and saw M. do (iuerchevillc place tho money
in the Escritoire and lay the key carelessly on the mantlc-jiiece, whilst ho
was giving the young man orders concerning some articles he wished sent
from the city. Now the study, as you know, conmmnicates, by f'olding-
doons which arc generally open, with the bed-room in which the Seigneur
sleeps ; and on the night in (luestion he saw Kaoul distinctly in the moon-
light pass from the I'lscritoire to the hall-door leading into the hall. Jle
thought nothing of the circumstance at the time, but you can imagine his
astonishment tho next morning when he went to the Escritoire and iound
the money gone, — the key also was lying on the table and not on tho
mantle-piece. Questions were put cautiously to tho house-keeper, but she
declared positively that neither she nor any of the servants had entered
the room that morning — in fact, they never did so until M. de Gucrche-
ville had arisen. I'he suspicion then took firm hold of the Seigneur's
niind that Kaoul had, in a rash moment, taken the money at the time
referred to. When the Seii/ncJir learned, for the liist time — I believe
the Doctor told him — that Kaoul had been very extravagant and got
largely into debt at Quebec, his suspicion of the young man's guilt was
very much st"engthencd. Haoul, indignant at tho ' harge against him, re-
fused to come near the Chr>teau whilst falsely accused. He did not dony
that he had gone into the study late at night, when all the honsediold was
asleep, but declared that he did so simply to get a f ockot-book which he
had laid on the E.scritoire when M. de (jiuerehcville had done giving him
the commissions he had executed. When he continued to deny all know-
ledge of the tran.saction, M. de Gucrcheville became deeply incensed and
declared that ha was sure of his guilt. It is just to say of him, how-
250
STEWAUT rf i-iii:i:auy
^
y
ever, liuit (I'.o n-.atti r \v;:s lut«!itil \\]> uml lu-vor j^nt l)oy'>ii'l llio family,
tlio Ciiiv nii'l iiivsi'lf, \'<n- M. ilc (iiicirlicvillc, wms iiiiwilliii:,' to ruin tlin
yoiiii;:; min's iirt),-i>oft: in liti'. TIil- C'liu' lu'viT ln'llt>\itl tlmt l!;iiinl was
jriiilty — .\Iiss do tincvi'lu'villi! In'M (lit !>iim<' o|iini(ni — tlio Dirrtnr hatt
m>vrr r.t'"rroil to tlio maltor in my licnrin^'. T(iiii;;lit tlio yonrij: tiiMn'n
iiiniiccnoo li:i.- boci revcak'l ii: ii very txtniorJimny maiitiia-. It is vory
curimis that tlo> mouoy i^l'.'HiM lio rminil in lli "1.1 C'lMnct."
" Who cimLl luivo luit It lliiTc!:' " I askul.
" M. ilo (iuoroluvillo dfi'Iaros that I"- '.a 1 not seen tlio Cahinot for a
nmii'irr of yoav-i — imlio'l Ik' liad forunitiii it.s cxi.stencc until yuii men-
tioncil tlio i«iran_(L:<' fiot of tlio mii-<io."
Tlio Alilv iiiailo somo moro allusions io tlio Fulijocf, and then aiinoiincctl
liis intention of IcniiiL' lor tlio city a? an early liour tlio next morning'.
" I need not till yon," lie said, " tliat M. do (lueri'luville \vi>hos to re-
pair, as -oou a^ 1 os--i!il(', tlio wnmL' lio lias uninlontionally dom^ to IJaouI.
It was my intontion to liavo returnod llio day after to-morrow under any
cireuuistaneos, and I may as well lavo in tlir moniiiiL', especially as it
will all'ord mo ureat pleasure to ho tlio m('ssenL;rr of i;nod tidiii'^s to the
youi!::' m:in. Voii wiii remain hero at least until tlio end of tlio week,
for I soo you aro about to volunteer to return with me ; hut that eertainly
I will not permit."
liaoul'a re 'urn — tor I pa-^s over the unimportant ineidonts of the two
days after the Ali!it'"s departure — was hailed with much dolii^ht hy ;ill.
It was not dilhoult to see from M. do (Iuere!ievil!e'.s mair.er that ho was
anxious to make amends for the past, 'fho Poetor seemed satisfied witli
the deiuiueineiit— at least he did not e;ivo any si/n-i tliat ho was sorry or
t^la'l that llaoul v/as re-tored to i'lvonr. I'nilonhtedly the mio who showed
her di'liyht mo.>t unei[uivoeally was Mstelle. It w:is easy to see that
the sisterly all'eetion she had hitherto felt for tlie youni; man was likely
to u;row into a deeper fcelin;^.
l>iit there was a mystery still eonneeted witli tlio missinj;' notes. IIow
did they become eoiuealed in the t'aliiiK t ? Was the mysterious noise
that I had heanl in the eorridor at all eonneeted with the mu.sic and the
coneialment ol the notes? I ha^ no doubt of it whatever.
The ni;;ht after liaoul's return I retired to my room at a somewhat
earlier hour, as I hid a severe head-aoht . It was a very stormy niij;ht;
the wind perfectly s!:rieked around the hoa.se and shook the elms till they
almost l.icnt ; the rain came down in torrents at intervals. IJut I soon
fell asleep notwithstanding' the roarin;,'- <d' the wind and the constant tap-
pin;;: of the hraie.'hes of the elms a;;ainst the window-panes. My sleep
was eonsiderably disturbed by dream.^ in which music jilayed a principal
part. 1 thought 1 was in a spacious concert room, wliieh was brilliantly
lighted, and tilled by a i,'ay concourse, and that amotie; the jierfurmers
was llslelle, who was perfectly resplondeiit in ilia!non<ls. Just as I ima-
gined that I he.Li-d her voice lillin^' the air with its harmony, I woke siid-
denly to hear the trees still moaning in the storm. Then as there was
a lull i'(jr a i'ew seconds, I airain distinguished the music of the Cabinet.
I jumped up h.astily and threw on my dre.ssin^-gown, but before I could
get to the door and unlock it, I was startled by the sound of a rustling
in the hall — exactly the same noise I heard on the previous occasion. I
th.
QUAKTK1U,Y M.VGAZINK.
iu
liii Hio
III was
'I- lias
MiatiH
is vcrj^
fur a
iiion-
IIMCCJ
to rc-
t.ioiil.
r any
as it
'1 I ho
wofk,
(ainly
tlircw opon tlic iloir aii'l '•ailcil " Wlui's tluir," Itut tlir> only nnswcr wa»
tlio slirii'k (•('till' tfiiiiifst. A-i [ liiiikc'l ii|) ami dnwn the citniili.r, f saw
iiotliiii:^ liiit tiarlciiuss — ili(> dnIy rimili.ir aii'I ciiiiiloi'liiiL^ hoiiihI I heard
was llui tii'k 111" tlio olil I'lo-k in Iho inwoi' liall. IVi'iiloxivl at tlio iiiys-
ti'vy, I rotiiriieil to bed ; but it was luti:; bcl'oi'c [ cuiild coinpitHO myself
(O sll'(']l.
AVIhii M. do (JiiiTidiovillo heard tliat I bail bf>on a;_;aln disturbed by
ihv luysforiiiiis nuises, lu! was as mucdi pir/.z'.ed us I was, and imnii'diatcly
ordurod tlio (!abinct to be packoil away in an out luMisi! until it rould bo
sent tn the Caliinet-in ikor's at Quel) t I'm- repairs. This decisin; action
on the part of the Si'fjwur a|>p;\rently annoyed the ^diostly visitant, for
during;- tlie two rcnminin;^ ni^diN I was at the (jliitcau I heard nothing
unusuil. ',(•»• were the noises a;,'ain heard on the ro-appearanee of tho
Cabinet — tho .. _^stery ceased with the removal of tbat article from tho
lumber-room.
Of cowrse the servants belii ved to the end of their lives that there was
somethini,' supernatural in tin- eireunistanees. The Doctor, however,
contended for a solulion of the alf.iir, which will bj .satisfactory probably
to matter-of-fact jieojilt; in this prosaic a,^e. lie said that he lia<I noticeii,
I'or some time past, that his brother f-howed an unusual languor and dull-
I1CS.S about the I'yL':^, us if In; ha 1 n^t his iie(;essiry amount of sleep. M.
do Ouerelieville himself aeknow'.e i^ed that he awoke frequently in tho
moniinir just us weary as when he had rt;tiied. This I'aet corroborates
tlie theory of his brother — that the Siliju'tif hail become u Somnambu-
list and was himself the author of the noises which had so perplexed us
all. He probably fell asleep after lie bad .«een llaoul jkiss out of tho
study on the ni^ht in (piestion, and dreamed that the money was not
safe, or had been taken out by the youn^j; m.m. Now a Somnambulist
Inis been described as " the dreamer who acts his dreams;" and we may
therefore Rurmise that M. do (luerehevillo ;^'ot up in his .sleep, took the
money out of the Escritoire, and carried it to the Cabinet. The fact
tliat he bad not seen the Cabinet for years does not weaken the force of
the theory ; for it is one of the phenomena of dreams that ideas ami
facts, lonu; forgotten, suddenly appear in the visions of the nifj^ht.
A few weeks after the events I have attempted to narrate, as briefly
and correctly as possible, M. de (Juerehevillc and his daughter went to
Europe, whilst Raoul continued his legal studies at Ijuebcc. 'J'he Sci<j-
ncur certainly never walked again in his sleep — his somnambulism, ac-
cording to the i>octor, was owing to his nervous system being deranged,
and disappeared with a chaiigo of air and scone. Of course my readers
can adopt or reject the Doctor's theory as they may think proper; my
duty ends when I have laid the facts before them.
Since I left Canada I heard that Ilaoul has been married to Estelle,
.ind that ho is considered one of the " rising men " at tho bar. The
Abbe, I am sorry to say, died a year ago, and his remains are laid be-
neath the shadow of an old gray church in the suburbs of Quebec.
I