Part 1 (1/2)

A Diplomatic Adventure

by S Weir Mitchell

I

No reater years of a nation so as to include the h in so the course of events It chanced that I myself was an actor in one of these lesser incidents, when second secretary to our legation in France, during the summer of 1862 I may possibly overestimate the ultimate importance of my adventure, for Mr Adams, our minister of the court of St James, seems to have failed to record it, or, at least, there is no allusion to it in his biography

In the perplexing tangle of the diploe stories must have passed unrecorded, but surely none of those reular than the occurrences which disturbed the quiet of my uneventful official life in the autuation two years, and was coed in pleasant apart of July I had occasion to engage a new servant, and of this it becomes needful to speak because the man I took chanced to play a part in the little drama which at last involved many more important people

I had dismissed a stout Alsatian because of my certainty that, like his predecessor, he was a spy in the employ of the imperial police

There was little for him to learn; but to feel that I atched, and, once, that reeable This ti for a suitable servant when a lean, alert little land and France He was very neat and had a huht reed easily as to wages and that he was to act as valet, take care of my salon, and serve as footman at need Yes, he could come at once

Upon this I said:

”A word e you” And then, sure that his reply would be a confident negative, ”Are you not a spy in the service of the police?” To my amused surprise he said:

”Yes, but will monsieur permit me to explain?”

”Certainly”

”I was intended by my family to be a priest, but circuay”

”Well, hardly”

”I was for a time a valet, but circumstances occurred--monsieur may observe that I am frank Later I was on the police force, but after two years I fell ill and lost ain, I was taken on as an observer Monsieur permits me to describe it as an observer?”

”A spy?” I said

”I cannot contradict lish--I learned it when I was valet for Mr Parker in London That is why I am sent here The pay is of a minuteness Circumstances make some addition desirable”

I perceived that circuraphy, and saved the necessity of undesirable fullness of statement

I said: ”You appear to be frank, but are you to belong to me or to the police? In your studies for the priesthood you may have heard that a man cannot serve two masters”

His face became of a sudden what I venture to call lu an answer to a difficult question

He replied modestly: ”A man has many masters One of mine has used me badly I became ill from exposure in the service, but they refused to take me back If monsieur will trust me, there shall be but one real e you, you will, I suppose, desire to remain what you call an observer”