The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-10-08
From the Caliionian.l
COUNT MORNY.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN ny A. wfIs.


COUNT MORNI.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN ny 4. wFIS.
The Crimran war was at IN end. The
Emperor Alexander WAS about Ia celc-
hratc his coronation, and Ia place upon
his yuuthiul forehead the crown of Peter
the Great, which, i'll descending from
theproud head of the Emperor Nicholaus,
had lost some of its bright Jewels. The
Emperor Napoleon III. stood AZ the
zcuith ui his power, and, rs II was al
Mans nus policy Ia aitorward make friends
ui those whom he mad beatcn-a policy
which hr later applied, ut NlllWfrmca, Ia
the Emperor Francis Joseph, with pc
cllllar success Napoleon did his utmost
t. prove his kind feeling to the new
Russiau autucrat by sending II brilliant
embassy Ia attend the coronation. He
u.ld appointed ia" clever Count Morny,
the son of Queen HurtenSc, and Count
FEhault, his ambassador To Russia; and
without douht there WAS no more suitn-
able for the mission-for Count Momy
understood, like the great seigncurs of
perfect elegance with the most lavish
proiusiOn: and this the empcror's m,miti-
ceucv enabled him Ia do. The count
was, perhaps, the most suitable person
to nlsinuatc himself into the favor of the
Young Emperor of Russia, and Ia I'M
part TO him the conviction that Napoleon
was his best friend; and that Russia,
forsahcn bl the holy alliance, could find
no trucr aud better ally than Napoleon,
uf France.
When Count Morny received his APP
poiutmcnt the most particular instIuc-
tons were gwen hmm conc, ming his de-
meanor at the court al st. Peter sbGrg.
Napoleon communicated 10 him all the
reports of his secret agents, 50 that the
count had before him the principal per-
sonagcs uI the Russian court rs If III Il
CdHicru DJSc"r0, and WAS rs accurately
informed concerning the scene of his
future activity as ii he had lived there
fur wears. His carriages and his servants
were ready, and he was instructed To de-
part the next morning.
When Count Morny left the emperor,
h Uttered his """l,,, which Was without
coat of arms or livery, and drove rapidly
along the Champs Elysccs Ia the
BTuerc de IEtollc, ut which point he
turned into the gateway of Il charming
hotel, built i'll highly aristocraric
>tylr. Without utteriug word he
crossed the entrance-hall, passed the
low-h,wiug servants, and entered rich
" and elegantly furnished parlor, i'll
which WAS lady, who rose from her
chair rs he entered. In the dim lamp
light which pervadedthe room, this lady,
who wore a simple dress Of dark silk,
made mn almost youthful impression.
Her face was fine and regular; her figure
WAS full and graceful. Only the sharp
linca around the mouth and eyes gave
her Il somewhat hard and severe express
sion, and showed that youth lay far be-
hind her. Indeed, the Countess Lehon
WAS certainly fifty years old, altho' she
we'll understood how to destroy the
traces OF time in her appearance. Peo-
pie add al hvT--and perhaps they had
ample ground for it--tLat III her early
yuaJh she had had particularly intimate
relations with the duke Of Orleans, King
Louis PhilIppe's soh. Afterward, she
had been the intimate friend and conf
dent Of Count Morny; and the young
Count Lchou, her son, who at that time
was twenty and some odd years old,
showed III his appearance II certain re-
scmhiance to the Emperor Napoleon's
hali-hrother, who mad just been appoint
ed ambassador to ST. Petersburg
IL came 10 take leave, my dear" said
Count Morny, with chivalIic politeness,
kissing the hand Of the countess, Sand
to chat for few moments with you, here
at the most attractive centre of charming
Paris, before my departure to the coun,
try Of the Muscovite harbarians.'
"And Charles" asked the countess
"my son; he will go with you?"
"rhe emperor has refused it to me,
replied Morny, Struggling his shoulders
"Prince Murat is to fill the place among
my cavaliers which 1 had designed fol
Charles. The emperor hopes to add
through this, more brIlliancy to the EN-
bassy. 1t was impossible to influence
him otherwise"
A bitter smile played for m instant
around the lips Of the countess.
Gould not Charles, asked she, "hay,
still found place by the side of Prime.
Murat, if you had earnestly demanded il
from the EMPEROR"
81 tell you it was impossible" replied
the count. "You know that the en-
pcrur is sometimes obstinate in triiiinG
things; perhaps he fears the ISLANDERS o
the Russian court circles, If Charles
should appear there in my suite.
al regret it, said the countess. ale
would have written To me-wOuld have
informed me Of everything. You your
self, She added, with a touch of light
lnockcry, Twill perhaps not find time. ,
Certainly shall, my DEAR" replied
the count. Although you must expect
no long reports from me, shall always
find time, however busy ! may he, u
convince you Of my Interchangeable friend
ship. Yet II separation like that which il
about to take place requires some pre-
cautions. You will be, when am no
here, without any direct protection, an,
you know that the emperor has alread,
several times made allusion to the paper
which refer 10 the coup dCtm and tin
time before it, and which are in you
hands"
"They are well kept" answered tn
countess, Il peculiar flash sparkling froI
her eyes. "All your letters are pre-
served as my dearest possessions
among them, also, that in which yo
promise, as soon rs circumstances admit
to give me your hand"
THAT moment will soon arrive" II
piled MorDy, with an expression of sin
cerest cordlality, in which can fulfil
that promise, and give myself the high
est happiness. The times till now hay
been 80 much disquieted. everything
not yet sufficiently consolidated, my owl
position.is not yet finn enough, TO thin
Of marriagc. Lately the emperor ha
several times limited that it might b
time for me- now TO establish my ow
house and 10 introduce into it lad
who understands how TO do the honor
to II representative person. We sha
speak again of this as soon az mission
finished. YET" he then continued
"would it not be better to destroy thos
papers before my departure, or, il "