The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-02-02

"Have lost the confidence of the
Empress?"
at that were all, you would not see
me troubled. Confidence may return
position may be restored"
cam to be sent back to my own
country or, good heavens !" cried the
banker, trembling, "does the Empress
think of banishing me to Siberia7"
"Alas you might some day return"
cam l to be knouted3"
"This punishment is fearful, but it
does not kill"
"Is my life, then, in perila can
not believe that the Empress, usually
so mild, so gentle-who spoke to me
so kindly but two days since-'tis i'm
possible ! For heavens sake, let me
know the worst. Anything is better
than this irtolerable suspense"
"Well, then," SAID Reliew in a mel
ancholy tone, "my gracious mistress
has ordered me to have you stuffed"
"Stufed7" cried the poor banker,
Mortified.
eyes, stuffed with straw"
Sutherland looked hxedly at the
Minister cf Police an instant, and ex-
claimed:
"Sire, either you have lost your rea-
son or the Empress is not in her right
sense surely, you did not receive such
a command without endeavoring to
point out its unreasonableness, its bar
barity."
"Alas my unfortunate friend, I did
that which, under ordinary circum-
stances, should not have dared to at
tempt; l manifested my grief, my con-
sternation even hazarded an humble
remonstrance but her Imperial Ma
jesty, in an irritated tone, bade me
leave her presence and see her COM
mands obeyed at once. adding these
words, which still ring in my ears: Go,
and forget not that it is your duty to
acquit yourself without murmur any
commission with which 1 may deign to
to trust you."
1t would be impossible 70 describe
the horror, the despair of the unhappy
banker. After waiting till the first burst
of grief was over, Reliew informed him
that he would allow him quarter of an
hour to settle his worldly affairs. Suth-
erland went and prayed, and entreated
the minister to take petition from him
to the empress. Overcome by his sup
plications, the magistrate consented to
be his messenger, and took charge of
the missive bnt, afraid to return to the
palace, he hastily presented himself at
the residence of the English ambassa-
dor who very naturally supposed the min
lister efLisd- I'd become insane, but, bidding
him follow, be hurried % the palace.
Introduced into the imperial presence,
he told his story with as little delay as
possible. On hearing this strange re-
cital, the Empress exclaimed:
"Merciful heaven what a dreadful
mistake Reliew must have lost his
wits. Run quickly, my lord, 1 beg, and
desire that madman to relieve my poor
banker of his groundless fears, and to
set him at liberty immediately"
The English ambassador left the room
to do as her Majesty required, and on
his return found the Empress laughing
immoderately.
81 see, now," said she, "the cause of
this inconceivably absurd blunder. I
had, for some years, a little dog, to
which l was much attached. l called
him Sutherland, because that was the
name of the English gentleman who
presented him to me. This dog has
just died, and gave Rellew orders to
have him stuffed. As he hesitated, 1
became angry, supposing that from a
foolish excess of pride he thought this
commission beneath his dignity. That
is the solution of this ridiculous
enigma. ."-ParIs Figaro.