The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-04-25

yet
"Alas yes, she orders"
"Well, speak, sir! What does she Or
derl am man; l have courage.
Speakw
ALAS, my dear sir, she orders If it
had not been by herself that the com
mand had been given, | declare to you,
my dear Mr.. Sutherland, that | would
not have believed it,
"But YOU make me die thousand
times. Let me see, sir, what has she
ordered you TO dor
"She has ordered me to have you
stuBed"
The poor banker uttered a cry of dis
trcss; then looking the master of the
police in the face, said: But, Your En-
cellercy, il is monstrous what you say to
me; YOU must have lost your reason"
mo, sir, have not lost my reason;
but will certainly lose it during the
operation"
but how have you--you who have
said you are my friend Il hundred times
YOU, in short, to whom | have had the
honor to render certain services, how
/ have you, say, received such an order
/ without endcavoring to represent the
barbality of it to Her Maiesty!'
"Alas, sir, have done what | could,
and certainly what 10 one would have
dared to do in my place. besought
/ Her Majesty to rcnounce her design, or
at least to charge another than myself
with the eNecatiou of it; and that with
tears in my eyes. But Her Majesty said
to me with that voice which you know
well, and which does not admit of re-
ply: go, sir, and do not forget that it
is your duty to acquit yourself without
a murmur OF the commissions with which
| charge you.
"And them"
Then" said the master of the police,
Il lost no time i'll repairing to very
clever naturalist who stuffs animals for
the Academy Of Sciences; for, in short,
since there was not any alternative, |
deemed it only proper, and out of respect
FOR your feeling, that you should be
stuffed in the best manner possible
And the wretch has consented:'
He referred me to his colleague, who
stutfs apes having studied the analogy
between the human species and the
monkey tribe"
"Well?"
well, sir, he awaits you"
How I've awaits me- But is the order
so peremptory"
Not all instant must be lost, my dear
sir the order of Her Majesty does not
admit of delay"
Without granting me time to put my
affairs in order! But it is impossible!"
Alas il is but too true. sir
But you will allow me first to write
to the Empressl"
Il know not if fought; my instruc-
tons were very emphatic
Listen 1t is great favor, a favor
which is not refused to the greatest cul-
prit. entreat it of you
But it is my situation which risk
And it is my life which is at stake,
well, write; permit it. However,
; inform you that do not leave you a
single instant
Thanks, thanks. Pray, request one
of your officers to come, that he may
convey my letter
The master of the police called IA lieu.
: tenant of the Royal Guards, delivered tc
him the letter of poor Sutherland, anc
ordered him to bring back the answer
= Immediately. Ten minutes afterwards
the lieutenant returned with the order to
bring the banker to the imperial palace
Ii was all that the sufferer desired,
4 carriage stood at the gate. Mr.
Sutherland entered it, and the lieutenant
seated himself near him. Five minutes
afterward they were at the palace, where
Catherine waited. They introduced the
condemned man to her presence, and
found Her Majesty in commissions OF
laughter.
1t was for Mr. Sutherland now to be-
lieve her mad. He threw himself at her
p feet, and selling her hand in his, ex-
claimed; "Mercy, madam! In the name
of heaven, have mercy on me; or at the
: least tell me for what crime | have de-
served punishment so horrible"
But my, dear Monsieur Sutherland,
replied Catherine with all the gravity
she could command, "this matter does
not concern you at all
How, Your Majesty, is it not a matter
concerning me- Then whom does it
concernT
"Whv, the dog, of course, which you
gave me and which died yesterday of
Indigestion. Then in my grief at this
loss and in my very natural desire to
preserve at least the skin, | ordered that
fool Relew to come to me, and said to
him Monsieur Reliew, have to re-
quest that you will have Sutherland
stuffed As he hesitated, thought lie
was ashamed of such commission
wherrupon | became angry, and dis