The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-23


ertheless did not at once give my con-
sent.
"I am too much honored by the con-
| fidence you place in me- / said; but
recollect, If you pleace, my dear Dour-
enski, that l have only recently arrived
in this country. and know nothing of
| the political situation. Had you not
better apply to some colleague of older
standing, to Sir Graham, for instance,
! the Britishcharge d'affairesY
He made an emphatic gesture of
disapproval as / pronounced the name.
"'Not for worlds my dear fellow!
That man is a mere tool of the Aus
trian minister's. No, l must have
some one whom / can trust, some one
of real independence and Judgment
THUS pressed l could find no excuse
for declining the honor which Dour-
enski proposed to confer on me. He
| went on to add:
"'There is one thing about which 1
must ask you to preserve the strictest
secrecy. In the mbail bag of the lega-
ton you will from time to time find
letters addressed to M. Starovtch,
which you will without doubt find
means to transmit to him in a private
manner. If the packages are some
times heavy that is merely because
they contain little gold which it is
| necessary to distribute among our
| friends
| Used as ] was to the tangled paths
Of political intrigues, could not alto
! gether conceal my astonishment at
hearing him pronounce the name of
M. Starovitch. This was the prime min
ister the head of the princes govern
ment and although 1 had heard it
whispered that he was less favorable
to Vienna than his master. I was GER
tainly not prepared to find him in the
receipt of Russian gold.
"Dourenski smiled at my look Of sur
prise.
1.-The Premier is a discreet man. he
observed, cynically. Should any un-
expected difficulty arise while 1 am
| away, involving the interests of Rus
sia you will not do badly to consult
him.
1.-THE matter was thus arranged. In
due course the Russian handed over
the care of his legation to me, and took
his departure.
Shortly after he had left the capi-
tai a banquet was given at the palace.
to Uf:ch 1 received an invitation. The
affair was not one of state, but good
many distinguished fun 3'io lar o.; We're
present. including the Austrian minis
ter and Nj. Starovitch.
- vas graciously received by Prince
George, and with st.l more cordiality
by his l'eautiful and distinguished con-
sort. When we sat down to dinner j
found myself on the left of the prin-
cess, who sat between me and the
prince, While the prime minister was
lister OF coupled the post of honor on
Prince Georges right. 1 mention these
Gel ais for a reason which you will
presently perceive.
80 have said that the banquet was
not a state one Nevertheless the pres
ence o. so many high func:ionaries i'm
parted to ii ! more or less political air
AS the evening advanced ] even hegQn
- perceive something in tie atmOs-
pae'" which warned roe that this
gathering lad some hidden 'Snifi-
oarCc. Tie prince, who was drinking
frasly, mad hardly exchanged word
with his wife since we sat down, while
he kaft irculging in long, confidential
WhiHI crs with the Ausriii minister.
THE princess, on her part, was evil
IDENTIFY not at her ease. Whether or
not she suspected that something con-
trary to her wishes was on foot, i am
unable to say. But she continually
glanced at the prince with an anxious
air, and then turned and cOnversed
with me in light tone, which was
evidertly artificial.
Il lad not long to wait for the key
TO all this. AS soon as the dessert was
placed before us Prince George rose to
his feet with an abrupt air, and filling
his glass to the brim, called out, with
marked intonation:
Ladies and gentlemen, ] ask you
to drink to the health of my very good
friend and cousin, the Emperor Fran
els Joseph!"
: 1T was a demonstration. 1t was
impossible to mistake the significance
, of these words. They meant that
! Prince George had arrived at an un-
! derstanding with the court of Vienna
and that the friends of Russia in the
principality were crushed
Il turned from the eXultant face of
, the Austrian envoy, who saw this tri-
umph Of his diplomacy, to Princess
Catherine, She had turned fes dly pale
, as she rose from her seat in compliance
with the princes example, and slowly
, lifted her glass to her lips, as if each
; drop that it contained were the most
; deadly poison.
? The prime minister managed tC
; conceal his chagrin with forced skill
lie drank the toast as though 1t Were
, a meaningless ceremony, and quitely
9 resumed his seat by my side But As
p soon as the attention of those near MS
was diverted for a moment he whis
r pered SOFTLY in my ear:
, Baron Dourensh is a prudent man
7 His absence has been well timed
I This was the first suggestion to me
that any hidden strategy underla,
Dourenskfs departure. began t.
feel slightly uncomfortable, and to wisl
that this astute Russian had not mad,
me the channel of his suspicious re
mittances to the prime minister.
my uneasines was not removed b,
Starovitch's next words, uttered in tn,
same low tone:
There are certain precautions
which the baron foresaw might be.
come necessary, in the event of any
thing of this kind taking place. The
necessity having now arisen, | an
compelled to ask you, as his represen
tative, to come to my assistance.
have in my pocket at this moment ar
envelope containing certain papers o
the highest importance, which it is es
sential l should intrust to your car
for time
II could not restrain a look OF an
noyance at this suggestion.
you may bring the packet you
speak of to my residence tomorrow. 4
4