The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-04-19
10.
OCTOBER.
THURSDAY.

The very day, it will be remembered, on
which the great Emerald was to be deliv-
cred into the eager hands of Mr.. Smith,
otherwise Count Andreas Kromeski. 1t
may be thought that Mr.. erode would
willingly have forgotten what would seem
to have turned out SO barren day; but he
glanced at the date in composed manner,
buttoned himself up, put on his hat delib.
erately, took his gold headed cane, and
once more bent his steps westward.
Now do not suppose that any reader Of
this story takes the faintest interest in the
history of Count kromeski. But that is
not his fault, nor ought he to suffer for it
No doubt there were some far away in
Caspia who did take a great deal of inter.
est in him; and there is certainly no doubt
but that Count Andreas Kromeski's own
head, whether the reader may care about
it or no, was very dear indeed to Count
Andreas Kromeski. So, for once, he shall
be taken at his own valuation, and stand
in the place of zero; which, after all, he
deserves quite as much as anybody else
deserves it.
Count Andreas, then, who spent his
mornings in his room at the Caspian EN-
bassy, his afternoons in lounging about
and his evenings at the theatre, was get
ting anxious and rather impatient The
day was drawing uncomfortably near wher
the Gar must have either the Emerald OF
his ENJOYS head. But Mr.. erode, to
whom he was always sending little notes
by special messengers, consoled him always
by assuring him that he need have no fear
that on the fourteenth of October the jewe
should be in his hands. He was bound to
take Mr.. Grode's word for all the circum
stances, without seeking legal advice Oh
guidance; for, be it remembered, secrecy
was of the essence of the negotiation. Mo-
even the Caspian ambassador himself, who
was only accredited to the Court of St
James, was admitted to the confidence o.
the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary who hao been accredited
W lu6 HOUSE, VI SIdlSJOuU SlduSLOuH.
l have in my possession certain secret
memoirs of the Court of Capia, which woulc
| throw much light ON the whole affair, anc
explain pretty fully how it was that this
difficult and delicate negotiation had beer
entrusted to Count Andreas. These, OF
parts of these, may one day see the light
but for the present the subject would form
too long depression. So l will content
myself with saying that. on this fourteenth
of October, the Count sat in his room, will
his watch in his hand, waiting for the houl
that was to bring Mr.. erode.
1t was very near-terribly near. | an
not sure that the Count did not by antci
patton feel the hard block pressing agains
his windpipe, and the wind about his ears
caused by the descending steel. AT al
events, the perspiration was standing il
beads upon his brow, and his hand trem
bled as if he had spent the night before il
drinking brandy-as very likely he had
for the Caspians are steady drinkers.
The Commits watch was a chronometer
set in jewels and bearing a miniature o
the late Czarina. 1t stood at five minutes
to twelve. The first of the five minute,
passed; it was an hour. The second; i
was day. The third; it was week.
| The fourth, a month--the fifth, a year.
Had there been sixth, it would have beer
a century. But then the clock struck, ant