The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-01

|
tall, fine man, between fifty and sixty
exceptionally ugly, but with wonder
fully supple, and. If l may so speak
adjustable manners. ATd to match
these he had an extraordinary COM
mand of the facial muscles. When in
perfect repose, the clean-shaven skin
looked very like sheet of tight drawn
parchment, except that the color was
much browner than that of parchment.
But. when he wished, he could wrinkle
up the entire surface of his face into
a series of concentric curves which
| seemed to represent the ne plus ultra
of human suavity and benevoleNce.
But they came SO suddenly and dis
| appeared SO completely that 1t was
impossible not 10 harbor n suspicion
| that they were wholly superficial, and
that this many-wrinkled smile stood in
no vital relation to the mans inner
nature In fact it reminded me very
much of the grimaces of an india-ruD-
! ber doll when You squeeze its plastic
| countenance.
1t was said that the count had de
veloped this talent for facial contortiom
| to such an extent that he could, when
| he chose. mae one side of his face as
sumo a different expression from that
| of the other so as to be able to present
| a sympathetic ASPECT to two different
| interlocutors at the same time. This
was. of course. not literally true, but
l always fancied that he turned a
| natural defect TO such good account
| that there was an element of truth in
| the statement. For whilst his right
| eye was In all respects normal. the lid
| of the left eye dropped permanently
| over the eye+ball. This eye was. more
over always sufflIsed with an excess
| Of tut., yx.l, oh, hsl
| laChrymose appearance. This, no doubt.
| he sometimes turned to good account,
when paying a visit of coincidence.
| The explanation probably was that
| the left eye was an artificial one, as the
| irritation caused. by such artificial eyes
is apt to over-stimulate the lachrymal
glands. AT any rate. it was generally
believed in diplomatic circles that the
count was blind of the left eye, though
he himself never acknowledged the de-
feet.
Whilst I was conjuring up in my
mind this image of Count Shreval-
JEFF, the prince had been prodigal of
lamentations over the stolen treaty.
| 1T touches me more than any one, y
he SAID, "for it is precisely this thir-
tenth clause in which my gracious
| master is most interested. And | had
just succeeded in arranging matters as
l know he wishes them to Ire arranged.
| Ii has given me a world of trouble. and
now lie Grand is going to upset it all.
1t is monstrous that the press should
| have such power"
rs there anything / can do?" I asked.
| IF so. pray command me-"
We'll, | thought that. as you know
| lie Grand, you would not mind trying
| 10 sound him, so as no find out. If
| possible, hcw much he really has dis
| covered. He Is such a braggart that he
might commit himself
Il will see what / can do" I said.
but I DO NO.. expect that l shall get
much cut of him"
"Thank YOU so very much" said the
prince: you are always doing some
thing for me-"
I.le Grand was staying at an hotel
| rear the chief post Office. SO I bent MY
| steps in that direction. I did not wish
| to call en- him If ! could avoid it: It
would be far better shat any cOnvcrsa-
| tiCn we night have should spring up
| casually. I was therefore not a little
| pleased when. as | was drawing EeIan'
| the pest office. | saw my man little
| dhstanre in front of me. 1t was i'm
| possible to mistake his huge figure, and
| curious shambling gait.
BY an instinct he sesmed to know
| that some one was watching him from
the rear, for he suddenly turned round
and. catching sight of me. turned back
| TO meet me.
'Ah." he said. in his grand manner
| going to THE post Office, | suppose. 1t
IL the real centre of civilization"
/ though; il would be well to accom-
bipp lnn NJ
buying stamps.
We entered the post Office together.
| lie Grand prepared TO write telegram
AS he unbuttoned his coat to take out
| his own special pencil-the gift of some
| monarch-I noticed the end of blue
official envelope sticking cut of an in
side breast pocket and could not help
wondering whether III contained the
draft of the treaty
When he had finished writing his
| telegram. he came up to me flourishing
| ii in his hand.
at is In one way lucky" he said
that we correspondents have alb
solutely no news to send, for the
censorship Is very strict No cypher
kilograms agc allowed to be sent dur
ing the sitting of the congress. and the
ordinary telegranns are detained, or
Suppressed, or mutilated. as it suits the
suthorihies ] have no doubt, too. that
the black cabinet is at its old work of
| opening letters. However, If you have
no news to communicate, It makes no
! difference. They can hardly object to
a Telegram like this-can they?"
With that he handed me the tele
gram to read. III was very short and
was addressed to the office of his paper
in Londen: