Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-17
A DIPLOMATIC DRAMA.
How Count SkouvaloH Laid . Trap 6os
 an English Foreign Secretary.

E:t1Sc COnneCCcO W1Cn tno N0SSAoh legation. It illustrates the remark able detective qualities of the officers ot the Russian army and navy, and shows how an important movement in war strategy was made by the use of detect- i've ability on a social occasion.
 In 1876, during the Russian-Turkish war, the sympathies of the English Government were on the part of the enemies of Russia. At that time there were in England two rival chiefs namely: The famous DisraeH Lord Beaconsfeld) and tho Grand Old Man, MT. Gladstone. Tho former was in power, and the latter striving to oust him out of power. Lord Beaconsfeld sounded the keynote throughout Great Britain that through the successes of the Russian arms in the Balkans the British interests were in danger, while on the other hand the Grand Old Man made speeches that "the Turks must go, bag and baggage, out of Europe"
 Each and every success of the Russian arms in Turkey so alarmed the Tory Government that it was resolved at last in 8 Cabinet meeting to aid the Turkish Government in arresting the victorious Russians from marching on Constanti- nople, and negotiations were opened with the Turkish Government for that purpose. This came to the ears of the famous Count Skouvaloff, the then Rus sian Ambassador to the Court of St. James, who was determined, in order to find out moro fully of the nefarious de- signs of England on Russia, to give . quiet dinner party in honor of the En- glish Foreign Secretary, Lord -.
 Invitations were accordingly sent out. and Lord - accepted the same. Hero followed the strange story. Count Skouvaloff, the Russian Ambassador, set out table at that dinner party in a superb manner, the plates and other ao- cessories of the costliest value. Lord -, being the guest of honor, sat at tho right of the Russian Ambassador. Dur ing the repast the Secretary, who is we'll known as 8 kleptomaniac, helped htrl- , self to the costliest spoons, salt-cellars, etc. This was observed by the steward. who, with amazement, informed the Russian Ambassador. He said that the Foreign Minister, his guest, had stolen some of the best ware from the table.
 "Hold on!' said Count Skouvaloff. "Don't say any thing. Keep quiet, for we have bagged the enemy"
 The dinner was lover finally, and the party retired to an adjoining room for the purpose of smoking. Count Skouva- loff inquired of Lord - of the truth of tho report that the English Government was going to send fleet to the Bos- phorus for the purpose of arresting the forward movements of the Russian army in the Balkans and aiding the Turk. Naturally, the English Foreign Secre- tary had little to say on the subject.
 On the departure of Lord - the l I@v tod h; %,h hfc carriage. While opening the door of the carriage the Russian Ambassador was approached by the steward, who whispered something into the formers ear. The Ambassador immediately turned around to Lord - and said: My Lord, something dreadful has hap pened, so the steward informs me, and your Lordship's attention will be called for few minutes to the ante-room." Lord - acquiesced, and upon his ar rival there was confronted by the stew ard and charged directly with the theft of small gold spoons and salt-cellars studded with diamonds.
 "Whatr' exclaimed Lord - to the steward; "how dare you insinuate this against my personr'
 In reply the steward said: ''I have seen you put the gold spoons in your trousers pocket, and the salt-cellars in your dress-coat pocket. am responsi- ble for those costly plates; hence I watched you closely. Please hand them out of your pocket"
 "Villainr' exclaimed Lord -; ''search me and your falsehood will be branded, and for that insult you will pay dearly"
 II dare not" replied the steward, ''put my hands on your Excellency's person; but, pray, do 1t yourself"
 'I will" said Lord -; and, putting his hands into his pocket, so uncon-
 oensities that he drew forth the gold spoons and salt-cellars. In compla- cent manner he handed them to the
 steward as if nothing had happened.
 'Hold!' said Count Skouvaloff; cit
 proves to mo that your Excellency
 abused my hospitality as 9 host and ,o committed gross outrage on society, as Q we'll as against my person. l have to z send for the police and have your Lord D ship arrested"
 B "No," replied Lord -, ''do not dis IF grace me and my official position!" 9 "Well," said the Count, calculatingly, ,o cit can only be done if your Lordship B will promise on the honor of Minister
 to her Majesty the Queen that you, as .
 Foreign Minister who has the greatest
 voice in the Cabinet, will oppose the
 sending of the English fleet to the Bos-
 phorus in order to hamper Russia"
 To this Lord - assented; and, true
 to his promise, he opposed the proposi- l2 tion of sending the fleet to the Bos-
 phorus, and, on that account, he had to
 resign his office. and Lord Salisbury, tho
 present Premier of England, was put in
 his place.
 Grip on Tomatoos.
 l.