The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-10-08

wish to preserve them for possible flu
ture events, which might, perhaps, he
very well, would they not be safer in my
hands than in yours ?"
"They are perfectly safe with me"
replied the countess, firmly and severely,
i'll tone that convinced Morny that all
further words on this subject would be
in vain.
He changed the conversation. They
chatted for IN hour about this and that
and then he took leave with the cordial
ity Of IN old friend, in which little of
the lovers fervor seemed still to flame.
The brilliant festivities ut st. Peters
burg and Moscow began. The papers
filled their columns with the de descriptions
of the magnificent displays ut the coron-
alton ceremonies ut Moscow, where the
emperor Alexander had gone, accompan-
led 10y all the great lords of his empire
and the ambassadors of all the European
powers. Count Morny outshone every
one, through the richness and splendor
of his carriages, his horses and his SER
wants. The taste and profuse luxury of
his balls and assemblies were unequaled.
He was the hero of the day. The high
est circles Of Russian society, following
the example Of the emperor, bestowed
upon him the most marked attentions.
One day the papers spread the rImor
that the French coronation ambassador
VAS going to marry young lady from
one of the first Russian princely families.
When the Countess Lchon read this
news the paper dropped from her hand.
wild anger tlared i'll her eyes, and for some
hours she remained locked in her bou-
| DOR. Afterward she showed herself IN
| her splendid carriage in the Bois de
Boulugnc. smiliugly returning the greet
ings of her acquaintance and seeming
not to perceive that these greetings We're
accompanied by ironical and inquisitive
! glances. The rumor mentioned in the
papers was indeed true. Count Morny
had understood not only how to out
SHINE by his splendor the diplomacy of
all Europe, and Ia convince the En-
peror Alexander, as well as his minis
tcrs, of the sincerity of the friendship of
Napoleon Ill, but the captivating charm
of his person had won the heart of q
Russian princess; whose inheritance
counted into the millions; and the mar
riagc, the celebration Of which would
also externally seal the new bond of
friendship between Russia and France,
WAS already sanctioned by Alexander III
and the Emperor Napoleon. Count
Morny returned one evening from q
magnificent festival Mt the Winter Pal
ace, where the gracious distinction of
the emperor and the radiant glances of
his betrothed, the beautiful princess
Sophy TrubetZkoi, had gratified his
pride and filled him with happiness. On
his table lay the letters from Paris. He
indillerently threw aside some Of them,
To put i'll order the political dispatches
for his secretary, when he suddenly
stopped mt the sight of little envelope
with IN elegant seal and opened 1t quick-
ly. 1t contained only few lines in the
hand of the Countess Lchon. They
ran:
"SR: The papers speak of your marriage
with Russian princess. | request you immc-
dIately To have this rumor rctracted. In case
this Is not done ] shall be compelled to cmbar-
rass YOU and others by giving publicity to all
your letters and papers, including those which
concern the coup dttdt, which, very fortunately,
are IN my pOsscsslOn.
The cheerful, happy smile disappeared
from Mornys countenance; he bit his
moustache, and angrily threw the note
on the table. After some moments of
reflection he seized his pen, and wrote
on the margin of the little letter, which,
like II sharp thorn, had suddenly thrust
its threatening point into the rose bios
SONS of his happiness:
"You must act quickly and avoid great
scandal"
He signed and put the whole in IN
envelope, to which he attached the great
seal of the embassy, and wrote the adj
dress, "To His Ma Fty the Emperor.
Then he called for hi. secretary, and or
dered that courier should Immediately
go to Paris and deliver this letter directly
into the hands Of his majesty. Having
done this, he went into the small dining
hall, where, every night ut late hour,
the gentlemen of his suite were assem-
bled to conclude the day with an in
formal supper, ut which they commune
Gated to each other their adventures in
the field of diplomacy and gallantry.
Count Morny was as cheerful us ever.
His sparkling wit animated the CONVEX
sation till far into the night, and nobody
around him perceived the disquieting
grief which troubled his heart.
The Emperor Napoleon had received
the dispatch of his ambassador at st.
Petersburg. The courier had brought
it in his traveling-coat from the station,
and delivered it with his own hand AZ
ter reading this dispatch, the emperor
did not send for his minister of foreign
affairs, but for NJ. Pietri, his police-p-e-
feet Soon afterward the chief entered
the cabinet. Napoleon gave him the pa-
per, and asked:
"What is to be done ?"
NJ. Pietri, man with the countenance
of hawk, with broad, bold forehead,
and crooked nose-a man who did not
admit the existence Of Representatives,
shrugged his shoulders, paused for mo-
ment in reflection, and then said
"That will be hard. The Countess
Lehon is very smart and cautious. She
will deny the possession of anything, and
If one does not know exactly where she
keeps those papers, forcible measures
will be OF no help, and only nggravata
the scandal"
"NO," exclaimed the emperor, forbid
dinghy, "no force. 1t walld be an Eu-
ropean scandal, and Morny, who is in SO
|
want. would BE- undone."
While the emperor walked musingly
up and down, and Pietri stood in medita-
ton over the paper, the Daiet de chamLre
of his majesty came in.
"A note to the prefect," said he.
ellis secretary has brought it here be-
cause he thinks that the affair is of the
highest importance, and requires haste. "
The emperor made an affirmative sign,
and while the Vatet dc chamLre with
drew, Pietri opened the letter, closed
with the seal of the police prefecture.
"What il it p asked Napoleon.
Pietri gave the emperor the sheet.
He read:
an. PREFEoT: A true friend OF the empire
considers II in duty TO communicate 10 you that
the Countess LehOn, on the tidings Of the mar
riage Of the Count Morny, has delivered all the
papers TO Orleans which the count has left be.
hind IN Paris"
, at is too late" cried the emperor,
badly frightened, turning pale, and sup
: porting himself by the back of q chair.
; "This is stratagem, sire, said Pietri
} with u confident mien, after having re.
+ flected for few instants. "Ihe Count.
ess Lehon wishes to give another direc.
3 ton to the search, and prevent measures
4 from our side. If she had really given
: those papers to Orleans, she would not
: have written to the count. She will moi
I let the papers go out of her hands unit
she has either prevented the marriage ol
the wedding is performed"
GVn, haiinua oT, ~ ..iaI Nannlnan