The Marquis de Rochefort-Lugay, better known as Henri Rochefort, entered matrix many this week for the third time. His bride was Molle Marguerite Vervoort, sister of MI. Andre Vervoort, editor of the Radical evening paper the Jour, financed by M. Rochefort. The famous revolutionary's experiences of matrimony have been far from commonplace. His first marriage was in the stormy days of 1870 before the overthrow of the Imperial dynasty. Rochefort was in prison for a political offence when the news came that the lady with whom he had lived for several yeats, the mother of his children, was dying. To legitimist the children, Rochefurt was allowed to visit the dying woman, the civil marriage rite was performed at the bedside and the prisoner was immediately taken hack to his cell. He married again some ten years later in Switzerland, but left his wife the day after the ceremony and has never soon horsinee. For some years he has enjoyed the companionship of Mdlle Vervoort, but as the dubious situation of that lady cut her off from society, Rochefort consented to réguluriser lu situation, as the French express it. The existence of the wife in Switzerland, however, was a serious obstade. Unless she could be induced to apply for a divorce there was an end to Molle Vervoort's hopes, for Rochefort himself had no ground for action. Negoviations were carried on for some time and finally the affair was arranged on a cash basis. In consideration of a sum of something like £2,000 Madame La Marquise brought an action for divorce, with the result that the reputation of Maile Vervoort is now beyond reproach and Henri Rochefort, who despises marriage, is a married man for the third time.
The newspapers ate very busy just now in finding occupants for the ambassadorships which will be rendered vacant by the retirement of Baron de Coureel. At pro. sent, however, nothing is definitely known except that the Baron wants to retire as soon as possible and that the Government has been striving in vain for at least six months to find a'suiteble successor. The fact is that the post is not coveted by French diplomatists of the highest. class, It is difficult to maintain friendly relations with England and at the same time satisfy the French Chauvinists, especially over the Egyptian question, as M. Decrais could testify. Moreover Lord' Salisbury and Sir Thomas Sanderson. are hard nuts to crack. The Government's difficulties are increased by the necessity of finding an ambassadorship for M. Jules Cambon, the Governor-General of Algeria, in return for "services rendered and by the refusal of M. Lozé, Ambassador at Vienna, to take M. Cambon's place. M. Lepine, who succeeded M. Lozé as Prefect of Police at Paris, has also declined to go to Alsiors. As the Ambassndors to Great Britain, Russia, Austria, and Turkey are all in France at the present moment, the amount of wire-pulling and intrisui be going on in the Quai d'Orsay may easily be imagined.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.