The Portland daily press., 1898-03-28

"Not when it is defeated by the devil
ish Vaccinations of Spies" he replied
neaningly, flashing glance at me, the
ferceness of which [ did not fail to OBJ
serve.
"But Russia dare not take the initie-
tive" l blurted out.
Permit me, sir, to express my own
opinion upon our relations with St.
Petersburg, - be roared. II tell you that
for years Russia has held herself in read1-
ness to attack us at the moment when she
received sufficient provocation, ana IcF
that very object she contradiction alliance
with France. The Cars recent visit to
England was mere farce to dlsarm sus'
picion, proceeding in which, thank
Heaven! l refused. to play any part what
ever. The blow that have long antici-
pated. and have sought to ward off all
these long years of my administration as
Premier and as Foreign Secretary has
fallen. Today is the most sorry day that
England has ever known. The DEATH
knell of her power has sounded" and ne
walked down the room tow ards me, pale
faced and bent, his countenance wearing
an expression of unutterable gloomlness.
He was, l knew, a patriot who Wouid
have sacrificed his life for his country s
honour, and that every word he had ut
tered came straight fro.1 his heart
Chow the secret agents of the Gear OBJ
Galn0Q knowledge Oh uuo tI66uy huI passes
comprehension, l excl aimed.
HThe catastrophe is due to you-to you
aIoner % he cried. ''You knew of what
vital Importance to our honour it was
that the contents of that document should
be kept absolutely secret l told you with
my own lips. You have no excuse what
ever: none. Your conduct is culpable in
the highest degree. and you deserve, sir.
instant dismissal and the publication IN
the 'Gazette' OF statement that you have
been discharged from Her MaJesty's ser
vice because you We're thief and spy u
81 am NEITHER I shouted in a frenzy
of rage, interrupting him. eff you were
Younger man Tidy heaven! I'd
knock you down. But | respect your
age, Lord Warnham, and am not forget
full of the fact that to you ! owe more
than can ever repay. My family have
faithfully served their country through
generations, and will never allow a
false accusation to be brought upon 1T,
even though you, her Majesty's Foreign
Secretary, may choose to make 1T.
He halted, CHANGING at me with An ex-
preston of unfe1gned surprise:
"You forget yourself sir,' he answered
with that calm, unruffled dignity that
he could assume at will. 81 repeat my
accusation, and 1T is for you to refute 1t,
81 can! l WILL cried.
"Then explain the reason you handed
me sheet of blank paper in exchange fol-
the instrument.
~ cannot, l."
He laughed a hard cynical laugh, and
turning upon his heel paced towards the
opposite window.
"All I know ia that the envelope gave
you was the same you handed to me,
protested.
"It's deliberate lie," he cried, as he
kx 70 fooQ aoajn ftf
opened the dispatch, read it through to
ASCERTAIN there was no mistake, and after
sealing 1t with my own hands. gave 1T to
YOU Yet in return, you hand me this
and he took from the table the ingenious
ly forged duplicate envelope and held it
up.
Then, casting it down again passionate
ly, headed:
ssThe document I handed to you was
exchanged for that dun my, and an hour
| later the whole thing was telegraphed in
your possession. and even if you are not
actually in the pay of our enemies, you
were SO negligent of your duty towards
YOUR Queen and eountry that you are
undeserving the name of Englishman.
"But does not London swarm with
Russian agents?" I said. Have we MOI
had ample evidence OF that lately
|
proof is there to show that you yourself
did not hand the original document tt
one Of these enterprising gentlemen VIII;
take such keen interest in our aft airsY
"There is no proof that l am spy"
cried hotly "There never will be, for
am entirely innocent of this disgfacefu
charge. You overlook the fact that aftel
| it had been deposited in the safe 1t may
have been tempered with.
IT have overlooked no detail" he an
swered. with ca1mness. "Your sugges
ton is an admirable form Of excuse, but
unfortunately for you, it will not hole
water. First, because, as you must b
aware, there Is but one key to that safe
and that never leaves roy person; sec
of the secret whereby the safe may b.
opened or clossd thirdly, the packet yor
| gave me did not remain in the safe. Ii
order that you should believe that tn
document was deposited there put 1t II
in your presence, but when you lett m.
room l took it out again and carried il
home with me to Berkeley Square, in
tending to show it to Lord May bury- TIT
Premier did not call as he had promised
but kept the document in my poke
the whole time, and at six O'Clock re
turned to the Foreign Office and deposited
it again in the safe. Almost mex
moment-I had not left the room remem
ber-some thought prompted me to re
open the envelope and reassure myself o
the wording of one of the clauses. Walk
ing to the safe l took out thu envelop
and cut it open, only to discover THAT
had been tricked. The paper wa
blank"
lit might have been stolen while il
your possession just as easily as il
nine" I exclaimed, experiencing SOM
satisfaction at being thus able to turf
hisgown argument against himself.
Knowing it's vital importance | tool
the most elaborate precautions that sucl
circumstances were rendered absolutel.
impossible"
"From your words when Hammertor
arrived from Berlin it was plain that yol
suspected treachery. On what groun'
were your suspicious foundedp'
| IInnn his snhinx-like face there rested