The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-26
in II whom all Russia knows and fe.

TO nave LETT my DeDved Wire 8
side. though only for a short holiday
abroad. eh?' he laughed. why, mar
alive. what queer things these women
are! Can't a man take a little holiday
and enjoy a trip abroad without drag
ging his whole establishment with him 7
Besides. I'm away on business.
"'The countess is distressed because
she has heard nothing Of your excel
lence. l murmured. and was not ever
aware Of your intention to depart or Of
your present whereabouts
What he said, as though sur
prised. Has she not received my let
tiers?
"'I believe not one,' l said.
"'Why. man alive he said, Il am a
very model of a husband. I came in a
hurry. true. But I sent word Of my de-
parture by the man who drove me to
the station. Since then I have written
as a husband should-nearly every
day. Have the letters miscarriedT
They must have. So far as l am
aware the countess has received none
at all
III LdSCdls, VIC ldsCdlSl sulu UIc
count, as though to himself. You
must know, my friend. he continued,
addressing me, 'that I have enemies.
You look surprised. It is odd that SO
good and universally respected a man
as I should have enemies. They are
men, You must understand, who are
jealous Of my position, and-er-of my
favor with the car. These men are
building up a plot against my reputa-
ton. l tell you this in strict confidence.
| am here in order to escape the worry
Of their prosecutions if only for awhile.
I--I-you will laugh over it, as l do
now-I took yon for their spy. You
will forgive me? My anger was excus-
able. Imagine, my friend, these men
will not allow a mar to write to his
own wife, but must needs intercept the
letters. Is it not too bad? You will for.
give me? Come. we will return and
sup together.
Willingly said, and in my heart
I thanked heaven and all the saints in
the calendar that the counts anger was
over and he was now in a quiet and
reasonable frame Of mind.
"We left the park and walked up Ok
ford street, and VIZ supped together as
he had suggested. During this meal the
count babe me explain how I had found
him.
"'The credit of it is not my own, ex.
cellence,' I said. but belongs to the
young Englishman. Mr.. Morris-Percy,
as they call him.
"'WhoP' said the count, looking be-
wildered.
~ repeated Mr.. Percy's name. He
who met you one day, soon after your
arrival, in Oxford street. I added,
and greeted you in Russian
"'Oh, all. yes!' said the count. I
remember, Of course. He knows me we'll
and recognized me. Is it not so?'
"'He has so often staid at your house,
both in town and country I said,
that he could scarcely meet you with.
out recognition. Nevertheless, neither
your wife nor your son was quite pre-
pared to believe that he could have seen
yourself here in London until this same
Percy cleverly took your photo and sent
over a copy.
"The count started and looked angry
at this.
What he exclaimed, took my
photograph For what purpose7 Elk
plain, sir, at once How dared he take
my photograph
"'For the consolation Of the countess,
only I fastened to reply. That she
and the young count might recognize
that you were indeed your excellence
and no other
"'Then the counts face softened, and
he laughed.
'Of course, of counsel, he said.
Naturally, not having received my
letters, they would be unaware Of my
presence in London and disinclined to
believe I could have gone SO far afeld
without letting them know-ha, ha!
So they must verify my photograph TAX
en- by this youth, my sons friend! 1t is
good, and very good-a curious turn
and combination Of eventsl And my
wife recognized the portrait at once, I
suppose, though it can have been but a
mere daub Of a thing, done by a boy,
eh? 2
The countess recognized III at once,
though she pronounced you hasgard
and worn as if with trouble
celia, trouble! That's this Internal
conspiracy that I told you of. Haggard
with trouble. Lord, I may well be all
that, my friend, and more. Well, and
the lad. the young count, he swore to
me, too, no doubt, Ell? One doesn't for"
get ones father in a week or two, even
though worn with trouble and so on,
Ell ?--ha, ha!--a good lad, this young
count. So he knew me by the portraitT
"'At once l said, though he de-
INJURED to the clothes. You were accus-
toned to a tall hat and the coat that is
called in English ''frock coat;' You
would never wear such clothes and a
soft felt, he said, such as these you
now have on.