The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-04-12

fresh pair of gloves at the beginning OF
every game; 81 shall not play any more,
l will have my revenge tomorrow, NJ.
lie Marquis"
:" Your imperial majesty has had
it already" replied Marquis Strogo-
noff, who was the popular and ac-
complished French ambassador. 'If
you could but see the deep contrition
of my heart for having had the pre-
sumption to defeat you, you would find
yourself amply avenged"
The young empress smiled graciously
and rejoined: Very well, but prefer
deeds to words. That is what l try to
impress upon my people. Apropos, you
know how we Russians pride ourselves
on the strictness and alertness of our
detectives, and how nothing escapes
their keen vigilance. AS you seem to
doubt the watchfulness of my subjects,
| requested that the very next case OF
detected smuggling be at once made
known to me"
TO doubt would he reasonable,
your majesty" said the marquis, with
smile. do let us hear the details. "
Count Lazareff has just been ar
rested and detained on the frontier for
smuggling all kinds of contra band arti-
cles from Paris, which were most in
geniously hidden in the Innings and
roof of the carriage; and the emperor,
to encourage the detectives, has dis
tributed among them the heavy fine of
eight hundred roubles, which the count
had 70 What do 70 hot
marquis?'
II can but say, your majesty" he an
swered, with shrug of his shoulders
~ can but say how clumsy the man
must have been to fail in such simple
thing"
Simple thing" repeated the en-
press, with a slight look of surprise
81 do not think you would find it so
easy to deceive our inspectors"
will your majesty give me leaye TO
try?" the marquis quietly asked
oh no." she answered with smile.
at would be of no use. You know
that your person and property as am
bassador are sacred, and therefore you
would not be fair test | would
wager, however, this diamond ring
that were you to pass our frontier as a
private individual, you would not sue
coed in smuggling in the veriest trifle
without being detected"
81 accept the challenge" replied0 the
marquis, with graceful bow and
as | am shortly going to France on
urgent private business, | shall avail
myself of your gracious permission, re-
turn to Russia as private individual
and subject myself and property to the
most rigorous search of the custom
house"
You have accepted my challenge"
the empress rejoined. 'Rememb Der,
marquis, we shall have no pity on you"
Great excitement prevailed at the
small frontier station on the road from
Konigsberg to st. Petersburg. The Of
hcers of the custom house were on the
alert, for they had received orders from
headquarters that when the travelling
carriage of the French ambassador
should pass through that day it was to
be most carefully searched and ex-
amined, and even the person of the
marquis was not to be spared. Such
were the emperor's orders, and I'M
usual as they were they must be
obeyed.
Count Lazareff's ru bles were moth
ing to it! BY St Alexander, the en-
peror is kind father to us, and the
men stroked their long boards and
gulped down bowls of hot tea. But
bark! there is a faint tinl1le of bells
and the swift sound of horses on the
crisp snow.
Here he comesp' cried one of the
rest quickly followed, and as the am
bassador's covered sledge with its four
horses drew in sight it was surrounded
by the band of officers.
Respectfully touching his cap, the
head man accosted the marquis and
apolo2i lied for the intrusion, but he had
received orders to examine the carriage
effects of his excellency, and must
trouble him to alight while the search
was being made,
The marquis, who was luxuriously
reclining in the warm folds of mag
nifcent blackjack cloak, reused him
self at the words and replied that there
was no occasion to apologize.
''Alphonse," he called, as his valet
came to the door of the sledge take
care of Fidele, and see that the poor
little thing does not catch cold coming
out into this frosty air."
Like eager birds of prey over rich
prize, the examiners gathered around
the sledge, and began their search in
the most systematic manner, ransack-
ing every possible place of conceal
ment. Even the cushions and Innings
were not spared, to the indignation of
the coachman and valet, who looked
on with sullen eyes, not daring to in
terfere, but muttering at the folly of
their master in permitting such an out
rage. As yet they had not discovered
single contraband article, and more
eager became the search, until at last
the baffled men had to abandon it.
The marq uis meanwhile was warm
ing himself at the stcye, with stoical
ind ifference, slipping hot tea and strok-
ing Fidele's curly heae. Nor was his
equanimty disturbed when they APP
preached him and intimated that he
end his two servants must submit to
teing searched. Very we'll" said he.
"Only warn you your trouble will be
Ia ,,a;,, 60. ,,n,, Mill al