Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-03-31
4 DIPLOMATIC DRAMA.
How Count skouvaIoH Laid . Trap Tor
.. an EnElish Foreign Secretary,

American: Speaking about the Russian
treaty and the principles involved in
the treaty, am reminded Of a good
story which was recently told me by q
native connected with the Russian
legation. It illustrates the remark
able detective qualities of the officers Of
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 social occasion.
Each and every success of the Russian
arms in Turkey 80 alarmed the Tory
Government that it was resolved at last
in Cabinet meeting to aid the Turkish
Government in arresting the victorious
Russians from marching on CONSTANT
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 more fully of the nefarious de-
signs Of England on Russia, to give a
quiet dinner party in honor of the En-
El1sh Foreign Secretary, Lord -.
Invitations were accordingly sent out
and Lord - accepted the same. Here
followed the strange story. Count
Skouvalof, the Russian Ambassador,
set out table at that dinner party in a
superb manner, the plates and other ac-
cessories Of the costliest value. Lord
-, being the guest of honor, sat at the
right of the Russian Ambassador. Dur
ing the repast the Secretary, who is we'll
known as a .Rleptomaniac, helped him
self TO the costlieSt spoons, salt-cellars,
etc. This was observed by the steward,
who, with amazement, informed the
Russian. Am hassador. He said that tho
Foreign Minister, his guest, had stolen
some OF the best ware from the table.
"Hold onr' said Count Skouvaloff.
Don't say any thing. Keep quiet, for
we have bagged the enemy" ....
The dinner was over finally, and the
party retired to an adjoining room for
the purpose of smoking. Count Skouva-
loft inquired of Lord - of the truth of
the report that the English Government
was going to send a 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
Russian Ambassador escorted him to his
carriage. Whilo 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 LordsEip'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.
"What!' exclaimed Lord - to the
steward; chow dare you insinuate this
against my persona
In reply the steward said: ST have
seen you put the gold spoons in your
trousers pocket, and the salt-cellars in
your dress-coat pocket. I am RESPONSE
BILE for those costly plates; hence /
watched you closely. Please hand them
out of your pocket"
"Villain" exclaimed Lord -;
'search mo and your falsehood will be
branded, and for that insult you will
pay dearly"
81 dare not" replied the steward,
put my hands on your Excellencys
person; but, pray, do it yourself"
81 WILL said Lord --; and, putting
his. hands into his pocket, so uncon-
scious was he of his kleptomaniac pro-
pensities that he drew forth the gold
spoons and salt-cellars. In o compla-
cent manner he handed them to the
steward as if nothing had happened.
'"HoldP said Count Skouvaloff; eft
proves to mo that your Excellency
abused my hospitality as host and
committed gross outrage on society, as
we'll as against my person. I have to
send for the police and have your Lord
ship arrested"
emo ~ rhD1iod T.or5 ga. -. ~,