, 1873-10-12

torioal hcmoirB Of Segllr, EivoR llVcty picture
Of the spirit which roignea In tho Russian Court,
Second
rich banser, named Sunderland, enjoyed for
q long time tho favor Of the Empress, but ono
lhy ho suddenly saw Ills house surrounded by an
a11nod force, led By OommiHsary OF tho police,
who demanded to speak With him.
Ny dear Bir," said hc to the frightened
bankor, E" 1t grloves mo deeply to havo received
orders from our gracious sovereign to oxoouto
toward you aovority beyond anything havo
eyer yet seon. know not what extraordinary
offonBu YOU have committed to excite auch ex-
tro1nity OF anger in Hor Majesty NJ to induce hcr
procoaentod."
II do not understand a word OF what you nre
saying" answered the astonlahod banker. IT
nm as much amazed as if You Ind fallen from
the clouds. What arc tho ordorn you have re-
coived? :"
Il havo not courage to tell you, And got
shall DO compelled to execute them."
"Am I indeed 40 unfortunate as to havo lost
Hor Mn1estys confidence? p
"Ah If that wcro gil, sii, you would not SEQ
me so dsconsolato. You might regain hor coll
fdenco aud exon hor favor,,but-" A.,
"Ihat would indeed be sad misfortune yet
with your riclos you cx,ld find o hospitable ro.
.x,,s non Il 9sysns sSsp, i it d0ss6'0 tint am to b0
Even from there you might, sooner or later,
be recalled to RuBsia."
Perhaps, then, you aro going to put mo In
prison -
" wish it were 30, for thon you might bo
liberated"
"Am then condemned to undergo tho
knout 7"
"Tlo knout is dreadful punishment, to bo
nuro, but it is not alwaYB fatal"
"1'hen, Oh then, you lead mo to death tell
mo plainly tlls suspense is worso than death
"Know, then, that your most gracious En-
press haa siycn absolute orders to take of your
entire skln."
aeiZed with horror-"to nay mo aliyel' Dut,
rogainng his nolf-commaud, ho added, "No, no
it cannot bo; either you havo lost your sonsea,
Mr.. CommiRsary, or your most benign mistress
has Lost hors. 1B it possible you made no answor
when yo 1eeeiySa aSn asa esqei ntna oIasfs ,ras
to do. I did not conceal my grief and surprise.
I fingered in the Imperial presonoe, and had nc
tunlly begun an humble relnonstranco to Her
Majesty, when our gracious sovereign, turning
to look on me, with . look and voice Of anger,
seem to hear ler threatening and appalling
words: Co. aaid Her Majesty. and noyor
forget that it ia your Indispensable duty to OK
eouto without questioning tho commands think
you worthy to receive from me-
It ia impossible to deacribe the agitation, the
anguish, or the deHpair Of the poor Sunderland.
After he had for q timo given vent to the yio-
lence OF hls distreaH, tho CommiHsary told him
TINT ho was allowed quarter OF an hour to set-
tlo his affairs In win tho banker prayed for a
longor interval or ut least for m opportunity to
write to the Empress and impforo hor clomency.
At length, although trembling for the conBo-
quouccs to hiH own life, he consented, and ho
Immediately followed helotter himself; but not
having courage to present himself at Court no
went to seek hiH friend aud protector, Col
Bruce.
Tho Count thought that the Commiseary must
haro mndo mistake, and took him directly to
tho Imperial Palace. There, leaving him in an
cllnn1bor, lle obtained admiHsion to tho preB-
enco Of tho Emprcss, to whom ho related tho
whole af1air.
What was hs astoniBhment to ovcrhoar the
Empress oxc!aim: "Juat heaven! what atroci-
ty! I1,oro cnn be no doubt that NieoloH (the
CommiAaary( il mad Quiclt! Count, take horse
before it IL too late, and deliyor MY poor banker
from bis alarm and assure him Of my favor
and good wishes"
The Count hastened to communicate this or
dor to tho Commiasary, and VAS yet moro aston-
Emprons ho heard her oxolaim, mid bursts Of
tho loudost laughter:
"Now understand tho cause of this strange
and ncomproheneiblo scono. lave for seveTal
years had . fine dog, which valued highly, and
/ had givou him the name of 6Rdorland, both for
the aako of a joke on my good banker, and also
III compliment to tho English GentlemRn Of TINT
namo from whom I obtained the dog. Early
this morning gave orders to NoicloI to tako
of Ills skin entire in order to have it stuffed, as
tho poor thing waB dead. lie seemed to hesitate
whether tn obey, and WAS very angry, because
thought it waa silly pride Oh his part"