The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-21
THE QUEENS ORDERS

of hnanciers.
''Sir, " said a valet one morning, enter
ing the chamber of the Mr.. Sutherland
who gave the dog TO the empress; sir,
your house is surrounded by guards and
the director of the pol oe is requesting to
see you
''what does he want?'' cried the banker
81 know nothing, sir, replied Cae valet,
''but it appears to be an affair of impor-
tanoe. %
Show him in. -
The valet departed and reappeared in q
few moments, conducting Mr.. Reliew,
whom the banker at a glance perceived to
be the bearer Of formidable news He be-
gan:
Sir, you must believe how very deeply
am grieved at having been chosen by my
gracious sovereign to accomplish an order
whose severity af1icts me, though it has
undoubtedly been provoked by a great
crime"
"By a great orimep' cried the banker.
"Who has committed the orime2''
you, sir, since to you the punishment
attaches -
''Sir, am a naturalized Russian, as
you know, and I swear to you that our
sovereign might search my conscience to
its depths without discovering any sub
jeot Of complaint in my actions or
thoughts"
"Your being a naturalized Russian is
what makes your situation SO terrible. II
you had remained q British subject, you
might now have claimed the protection Of
the English minister and thus, perhaps,
have escaped from a rigorous command,
which am charged to execute"
'Wiu you inform me what it is?''
My dear sir, 1 shall never have courage
TO tell you.
Have 1 lost the favor of her majestyP''
ooh, that it were but thatr'
81, 10 ke.,s
me back to England?''
England is your own country and that
punishment would not be SO severe.
Good heavens, you frighten mel ST.
beriag''
Siberia, sir, is delightful country
that has been illuminated. GU might
return from there.
Gam I condemned to prison9'
"A prison you might escape FROM
'fThe knoute''
"The knout is painful, but the knout
does not destroy life
My GOdl' cried Sutherland. cam to
die?"
And what a deathr'
"Whatf is it not enough to kill me
without trial2 Has more been ordered?''
calais, yesl"
"Wen, speak, sir. I am man and
have some courage. Speakl''
s. My dear sir if the command had not
been given to myself, I never would have
believed it. You are to be fayed alive
The poor banker uttered a groan of
agony.
''What you tell me is incredible. You
must have lost your reason.
No. I have not, though certainly shall
lose it during the operation"
But is it possible that you, who have a
hundred times called yourself my friend,
could receive such an order without at
tempting to make her majesty comprehend
its barbarity?''
II did what I could. I besought her
majesty to relinquish the project, or at
least to charge some one else with the ex-
ocution of it, till she grew angry and an
swered me in that tone which you must
have heard and that admits of no reply
''And then?'
''Then, " said the director of police, CT
went in search of a skilled naturalist, who
stuffs birds for the Academy of Sciences,
because, since the thing must be done, 7
wished it to be performed in the best pos
sible manner"
''And did the wretch consent to do it?''
% He referred me to his colleague, who
skins and prepares monkeys, on account
of the great resemblance between the hu-
man and the monkey
"Weu?''
"He is waiting
Waiting? Is it to be done this in
stant2"
Her majesty's orders admit of no de-
lay"
But you will give me time to write
note to the empress?''
Il fear that I cannot
cit is a last favor. Grant it, entreat
you
Very we'll, write -
The director of police called a lieutenant
Of the guard, to whom he intrusted Suth-
erland' S letter and ordered him to return
Immediately with the answer. Ten min
utes afterward he brought back an order
to conduct the banker to the palace.
A carriage was at the door. Sutherland
entered it with the lieutenant by his side
and in five minutes more found himself at
the Hermitage and in the presence of the
empress, who received him with a burst OF
laughter.
Unable to conjecture the cause of her
mirth he threw himself at her feet
Mercy, madam, he said, cor at least
tell me by what crime have merited such
a horrible punishmentP'
My dear Sutherland, - said the queen,
''you have nothing in the world to do with
all this"
81? But who, then, does it conoernP''
The dog that you gave me and who
died yesterday. In my desire TO preserve
some memorial of him I sent for that
stupid Reliew and said to him, Let Suth-
erland's skin be instantly stripped of.
when he hesitated, I supposed he de-
spised the com mission and, becoming an
cry, 1 sent him away without further ex-
PLANTATION.
Madam" replied the banker, "you
may boast of a faithful servant in your d.
rector Of police, but in future I entreat you
to explain more fully the orders which you
give him, for he viii surely execute them
to the letter. '-Exchange.
A Story Of victor Emmanuel.
One of the Italian papers tells the fol-
lowing story about King Victor Emman-
ueI: In 1850 his majesty vent to Pisa to