Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-02

which had once before caught sight Of.
and said with a triumphant smile:
This Is one of my surprise packages"
Indeed" 1 said, land what is the value
inside?' y
perhaps q CROWN" he answered gran
diloquently. 'aH
Then he returned it to his pocket, but
not before 1 had noticed two things about
it. The first that it was fastened: the sec
ond that there was no writing upon it.
1 had now to devise some plan to get
possession of this envelope, and it was not
long before 1 hit upon one.
1 left lie Grand and twent into another
cabin. Here | opened my valise and took
out a precisely similar envelope. Then !
folded sheet of foolscap paper and plac-
ing it inside fastened the envelope. 1 now
had dummy package not to be distin-
guished externally from the one in LIE
Grand's pocket. 80.
All this was simple enough. The diff
Guilty was how to effect the exchange-but
l had my own scheme. g.,
The custom house officers were, as usual.
on board, and l went up to the chief of
them, and told him in confidence that there
was a passenger on board whom it might
be well for them to search for cigars or
tobacco. "Of course l added. Il do not
wish TO be mixed up with the business.
1 just give you the hint for what it is
worth. You cannot mistake the passenger
in question, he is so immense, and l can
hardly believe that all his bulk Is genuine -
The official was much obliged to me for
the hint, and it was arranged between us
that the se9rch should not take place till
just as we were reaching Dover, and that
l should then place myself close to the
suspected passenger in order to avoid the
possibility Of a mistake
All came off as we had arranged. AS the
steamer was on the point Of entering the
harbor, 1 went up to LIE Grand to fetch
my valise. which 1 had previously placed
beside him. Then the revenue officers came
up and asked him if he had anything to
declare.
Nothing" said LIE Grand impatiently.
please to open your packages
These were duly examined, but nothing
contraband was discovered.
And now. SIR" said the chief official, 81
must trouble you to turn out your pockets"
"Whatr exclaimed LIE Grand. swelling
with Indignation.
DUTY, SIR
But it is unheard of. Do you know who
I ann"
THAT doesn't matter, sir: we have the
right to search any passenger"
You will hear more of this" said LIE
Grand.
But he had to submit, and he laid a mot
ley collection of articles on the table
Amongst them was the blue envelope. This
was my opportunity. 1 felt very nervous.
but in reality the risk of detection was
slight, as every ones eyes were riveted on
LIE Grand. In fine l made the exchange
without difficulty. Then quietly withdrew
and went on deck. The gang plank had al
ready been placed in position. AS 1 was
crossing it, LIE Grand. foaming with i'm
potent anger game up behind me.
did you ever hear of such insolence?'
he said Il shall have the matter brought
forward in parliament"
1 let hin. sass when we got on shore,
and then made my way. not to the Lord
Warden, but to a much smaller hotel
where 1 knew 1 should be unmolested by
enemies or friends. Here 1 opened the
packet. True enough. 1t contained the
draft-treaty in French with the thirteenth