Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-08-14

| Dub AOW udfo yOU-yOu WIZ nave o@io
you were my friend hundred times-you,
in short, to whom have had the honor to
render certain services how have you, say,
received such an order without endeavorin'g
to represent the barbarity of it to her maj.
esty?"
'iAlas! sir, I have done what could, and
certainly what no one would have dared to
do in my place. / besought her majesty to
renounce her design, or at least to charge
another than myself with the execution of
| it, and that with tears in my eyes. But
her majesty said to me, with that voice
| which you know we'll and which does not
admit of a reply: GO, sir. and do not forget
| that it is your duty to acquit yourself with
out murmur of the commissions with
which | charge you.''
"And then?"
"Then," said the master of the police,
Il lost no time in repairing to very clever
naturalist who stuffs animals for the Acad-
emy oi 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 man
sser possible"
"And the wretch has consented ?''
"He referred me to his colleague, who
| stuffs.apes, having studied the analogy be-
| tween the human species and the monkey
tribe.'
''Wen?"
"Well, sir, he awaits you"
Chow! he awaits me! But is the order
so peremptory?
"Not an 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 imp ossibler'
"Alas! it is but too true, sir''
''But you will allow me first to write to
the empress ?"
II know not if I ought; my instl uctions
were very emphatic"
'Listen! It is great favor-a favor
which is not refused to the greatest Gull 7rit.
| entreat it Of you."
'But it is my situation which I risk
"And it is my life which is at stake"
"Well, write; / permit it. However, L
inform you that do not leave a single in
stant.''
Thanks, thanks. Pray, request one of
your officers to.come, that he may convey
my letter.
The master of the police called ieuten-
ant OF the Royal Guards, delivered to him
the letter of poor Sutherland, and ordered
him to bring back the ANSWER Immediately.
Ten minutes afterwards the lieutenant re-
turned with the order to bring the banker
to the imperial palace. 1t was all that the
sufferer desired.
A carriage stood at the gate. Mr.. Suth-
erland entered it, and the lieutenant seated
himself near him. Five minutes afterward
they were at the place where Catherine
waited. They introduced the condemned
man to her presence and found her majesty
in convulsions of laughter.
1t was for Mr.. Sutherland now to believe
her mad. He threw himself at her feet,
and, seizing her hand in his, exclaimed:
MERCY, madam! in the name of heaven
have mercy on me; or, at least, tell me for
what crime have deserved punishment
SO horrible
"But my dear Monsieur Sutherland"
replied Catherine with all the gravity she
could command, ''this matter does not con-
cern you at all.
"How, your majesty, is it not a matter
me? Then whom does it con-
cern?"
"Why, the dog, of course which you
gave me and which died yesterday of indi- |
gestion. Then, IN my grief at this loss and !
in my very natural desire to preserve at |
least the skin, ordered that fool Reliew to
me and said to him: Monsieur Reliew, [
have TO request that you will have Suther-
land stuffed As he hesitated, l thought
he was ashamed of such commission; |
whereupon / became angry and dismissed
him on his errand."
"Well, madam" answered the banker,
''you can boast that you have in the mas
ter Of the police faithful servant; but at
another time pray, entreat of you, to ex-
plain better to him the orders he receives"
The four-footed Sutherland was duly pro-
moted to glass case, rice the banker-re-
lieved