As far as could be made out from the disjointed stories which were afloat, this mysterious individual had been seen to arrive at Rochelle some time before the date of his embarkation.  He was then accompanied by an old man, who acted as a sort of mentor.  On their arrival they established themselves in private lodgings, in which the youth remained secluded, while his aged friend frequented the quays on the look-out for a ship to convey his companion to his destination.  When one was at last found he embarked, leaving his furniture as a present to his landlady, and generally giving himself the air of a man of vast property, although at the time possessed of very slender resources; and that he really was a person of distinction and wealth the colonists were prepared to believe.  They only awaited the time when he chose to reveal himself to receive him with acclamations.

After treating him hospitably for some time, Duval Ferrol precipitated matters by informing his strange guest, that as he did not know anything of his past life, and was himself only a subaltern, he had been under the necessity of informing his superior officers of his presence, and that the king’s lieutenant who commanded at Port Maria desired to see him.  The young man immediately complied with this request, and presented himself to the governor as the Count de Tarnaud.  M. Nadau (for such was the name of this official) had of course heard the floating rumours, and was resolved to penetrate the mystery.  He therefore received his visitor with empressement, and offered him his hospitality.  The offer was accepted, but again rather as a matter of right than of generosity, and the young count and Rhodez became inmates of the house of the commandant.

Two days after young Tarnaud’s removal to the dwelling of Nadau, the latter was entertaining some guests, when, just as they were sitting down to dinner, the count discovered that he had forgotten his handkerchief, on which Rhodez got up and fetched it.  Such an occurrence would have passed without comment in France; but in Martinique, where slavery was predominant, and slaves were abundant, such an act of deference from one white man to another was noted, and served to strengthen the opinions which had already been formed respecting the stranger.  During the course of the meal also, Nadau received a letter from his subordinate, Duval Ferrol, to the following effect:—­“You wish for information relative to the French passenger who lodged with me some days; his signature will furnish more than I am able to give.  I enclose a letter I have just received from him.”  This enclosure was merely a courteous and badly-composed expression of thanks; but it was signed Est, and not De Tarnaud.  As soon as he could find a decent excuse, the excited commandant drew aside one of his more intimate friends, and communicated to him the surprising discovery which he had made, at the same time urging him to convey the information to the Marquis d’Eragny,