The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-26

place that Borofsky made his %acquaint'
ance. Having discovered fathers weird
eating house, ,Borofsky went n even
ing and dined there, choosing a table
alongside that which father always oc-
cupied. Il am calling him Gather be-
cause both mother and I, and of course
Percy, were at this tinse quite agreed
that the unknown was certainly my ia
Their and none other.)
Half way through dinner father came
in and sat down at the table next to
Borofsky. who presently started a con-
versation. Father began by being
brusque and silent. but warmed up by
degrees. They spoke in French. neither
being proficient in English, but Borof-
sky, desiring to show that Russian was
his natural language, suddenly upset
the salt on purpose, uttering an ex-
elamation of anger in Russian.
"Vui Kajetsya Russki!' ("Why,
you're a Russian!') exclaimed father
in surprise, and from that moment con-
versation was easy, and the unknown
one became, in the joy of his heart to
have met a compatriot, more communi-
cative.
Borofsky introduced himself as a
young Russian compelled, for political
reasons, to seek an asylum outside his
native country. The unknown one
laughed at this.
"Ah," he said, "there are many in
that position. I, too, might tell a tale,
but that in this country-which isnev-
ertheless the best in the world for those
situated as some of us are-one never
knows who are the bona fide politicians
and who are the spies!'
Borofsky laughed with his companion
at this sally and declared that If the
stranger felt any computations as, to
confding in him he at least need not
return the compliment, for nj one in
his senses and with any elementary no
tion as to "who is who" would aver
dream Of mistaking for a spy SO well
known a personality as-the unknown
himself.
"Do you mean to tell me you know
who I am?" asked Borofsky's compan-
ion. scanning him suspiciously and
freezing up a little.
"Every one knows Count Landrinofl'
said our acute little detective.
At this, wrote Borofsky. the count
gave a great jump. Then he set down
his knife and fork and began to laugh
40 that the table shook, switch shows"
Borofsky commented, "that the count
Is not melancholy mad, whatever his
ailment may be-
"Why," he said at last, II did think
I would pass unknown in these queer
haunts, at any rate, but I suppose there
are more people that know a big man
like Landrinof than Landrinof knows"
"There would be many to wonder
why 30 big a man should have the fancy
to live in these queer haunts, as your
excellence calls them" said Borofsky,
and the other replied that he was living
in London strictly incog. in order to in
quire privately into certain financial
speculations in which he was engaged.
'It cannot matter much to my friends
at home whereabouts in London I pitch
my tent" he added, and Borofsky
agreed that every man was free to live
where he liked.
"The countess would laugh to see a
grandee of Russia dining in a restau-
rant in Tottenham Court road" he add
ed.
"My wife has given me a holiday"
laughed the count. "You needn't men.
ton having seen me here. I wish my
incognito strictly preserved
"Better to have no address than M
in the purlieus Of Tottenham Court