The daily gazette., 1875-12-04
LOBBYING ORDERS,
\ RUSSIAN STORY

/ presented nm TO the Empires or ltus-
sia, Catherine the Second. This dog
came near causing the most tragical
mistake that has occurred within the
memory of financirrs.
Sir" said valet de chambre one
morning, entering the chamber Of Mr.,
Sunderland, rich, English capitalist,
who gave this much loved hound to
tho Empress and who in consequence
of the p esent ha for three arss,ood
high in her good graCes-"sir, your
house is surrounded hy guards, and
the director OF the police - below re.
questing to see you"
"What does he want.' cried the
banker spring from his bed, alarme ed
at the Information,
Il know nothing about il, SIR" re-
piled the valet, "but it appears TO be
an affair Of the highcSt importance
lie will communicate ii 10 no one but
yourself" d"
SHOW him in," said Sir. Sunder.
land, hastily throwing on u dressing
gown.
The valet departed, and reappcared
in a few moments, conducting his ex.
cellency, Mr.. Rcliew, whom the bank
er ~ a glance perceived to he the
bearer Of some formidable news. He.
however, received the worthy director
Of police with his usual urba. ity, and
invited him to take a seat; but express
ing his thanks by significant move.
lnent OF the head, he remained stand.
ing, and in the most piteous accents
he could assume, addressed Mr.,
Sunderland
Sir" said he, ''you must believe
how very deeply am grieyed at
having been chosen by her Majesty,
my gracious sovereign, to accomplish
an order whose severity, atilcts me,
though it has undoubtedly been
provoked by some great crime,
BY some great crime" cried tn
banker; "who has committed tn
crimeg'
"You sir, undoubtedly, since to you
the punishment attaches"
"Sir, am anaturslizcd Russian you
know, and | swear to you that our
sovereign might search my conscience
to its depths, without discovering any
subject Of complaint in my actions or
thoughts toward ner."
"Ah, sir, you being a naturalized
Russian is what makes youf situation
SO terrible; if you had remained Brit
ish subject you might now have claim.
| ed the protection of the British minis
ter, and thus perhhps have escaped
from the rigorous command, which to
my great regret, am charged to exc.
cute.
"Will your exelleucy inform ne
what il isg'
"oh, my dear sir, shall never have
courage to tell you"
Have | lost the favor Of her Majes>
typ
"Oh! that it were but that.
Indeed does she contemplate SEN
ding me back to Englands"
"ERgland is your own country, and
that punishment would not be so Sc
we're that | should fear to mention
it,"
Good heavess! you frignten me.
Can she think of banishing me to ST.
beria:'
Siberia, sir, is delightful country
that his been illuminated, besides
you might return from there"
AAAAA L ScAbtLAil1h ~ @ ~ AopL
"A prison is nothing-you could
escape from prison.
Sir, sir cried the banker, more
and moie terrified, can be destined
to the knout:'
Tho knout Is painful punishment,
but the knout docs not destrony ones
life
My Godr' cried Sunderland, struck
with dismav, II now see that am to
die"
And what DEATH" cried the di.
rector of police, raising his eyes with
an expression of pity.
"W hatl is it not enough to kill me
without trial, to assassinate me without
CASEY Has Catherine ordered vet
more.'
ALAS, yes, she has ordered"
"Well, speak out, sir. What has she
ordereds am man and have some
courage. Speak,
MY dear. sir, she has ordered II
the command had not been given to me
never would have believed it. How
can l tell youy"
You make me die u thousand
deaths. Come, tell me, sir, what is the
order!"
you are to be fiayed alive"
The poor banker uttered cry Of
agony-looking the director of police
in the face:
but, your excellency," SAID he,
what you tell me is almost incred.
ible. You must have lost your rea
son?"
"No, sir, have not, though | Ger
tainlv shall lose it during the opera
ton"
But is it possible that you. who
have an hundred times called yourself
my friend, and to whom | have had
the happiness of rendering some SER
vices, could receive such an order
without making her Majesty compre-
hend its barbarity2"
Alas, sir, did what | could. and
certain Y more than any other person
in my place would have dared to do.
l besought her Majesty to relinquish
the project, or at least to charge some
one else witt the execution OF it. and
| persisted in the entreaty until she
grew angry and snswo-c,: in that tone
which yCu must nave heard, and that