are to see the photographs of my family? Here," producing
a photograph of a gentleman and lady and a group of children, "is my
wife with the three children, taken in London just before she died."

Another group, bearing the trade-mark of a Parisian photographer,
exhibited a distinguished looking man surrounded by a group of many
children of varying ages.

"These," said De Nevers, "are my father and my brothers and sisters."

Then came photographs of Lady Londonderry and the Earl and Countess of
Dudley. My interest in my visitor's story had for the moment completely
driven from my mind the real object of the interview, which, ostensibly,
was to explain the reason for his incarceration. His straightforward
narrative carried absolute conviction with it; that he was the
legitimate Duc de Nevers I accepted without hesitation; that he was a
man of education, culture and many accomplishments, was self evident.

"You have had an extraordinary career," I ventured.

"Yes," he replied, "it has been a life of action and I may say of
suffering. Permit me to show you the certificate of my general that what
I have told you is accurate."

And De Nevers unfolded from his pocket a document, bearing a seal of the
French Ministry of War, which read as follows:

REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE

MINISTERE DE LA GUERRE

CABINET DU MINISTERE

No. 195

PARIS, _October 24, 1901._

_To Whom It May Concern_:

I, George Andre, General of Division of Engineers, Minister of War
of the French Republic, certify that the Lieutenant Colonel Charles
Jules Comte Francois de Nevers, is connected with the French Army,
since the 10th day of September, 1877, and that the following is a
true copy of his record:

Born in Paris the 10th of June, 1859.

Graduated, Bachelor of Sciences and of Letters, from the Lycee,
Louis le Grand, the 5th of August, 1877.

Received first as Chief of Promotion of the National Polytechnic
School of France, the 10th of September, 1877.

Graduated with the greatest distinction from the above school the
1st of September, 1879.

Entered at the Application School of Military Engineers at
Fontainebleau as Second Lieutenant, Chief of Promotion the 15th of
September, 1879.

Graduated as Lieutenant of Engineers with great distinction, the 1st
of August, 1881, and sent to the First Regiment of Engineers at
Versailles.

Sent to