Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-04-23
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

MISTAKEN lUENIlIIs
Tho Count de Segur, French ambas-
iador Mt the court of Catherine H., en-
press of Russia, was at dinner one day,
when he was informed that one of his
countrymen wished to ask him for pro-
lection. He rose from the table and
asked the man to come in.
Justice, NJ. 10 conte," cried tho
Frenchman, throwing himself al tho
feet of the ambassador.
Justice? Against whomp Please
get up"
Against the governor of st. Peters,
burg. by his order 100 strokes with
the knout have been dealt out to me-"
With these words the unfortunate
man uncovered his bleeding back and
showed it to the ambassador. AS the
latter could not doubt the truth of the
fact. he asked the poor victim how he
came to deserve the punishment.
81 do not know anything about it.
monsieur lie conte; l have not even seen
the governor and have entered his
house for the first time to-day"
the ambassador. 1.-The governor is a
man whose humanity and kindness to
everybody are generally praised; his
bencvo!cncc myself know from expe-
Renee"
THAT did not prevent him, kind sir,
from having me brutally maltreated.
Permit me TO tell you the storyp"
III will listen to you provided you tell
the exact truth. Ii you lie or exagger-
ate shall not meddle with the affair. !"
"Oh, know very we'll that I would
lie to my own. detriment," cried the
unfortunate man. Listen, please dear
sir! If you mistrust me you may send
TO Tic governors hotel almost all his
servants were present at the outrage.
Yesterday countryman informed me
that monsieur lie gouverneur needed
cook. had been out of work for four
weeks. consequently grasped the OPP
portnnity and introduced myself to the
governors master of the household.
Without distressing the man, followed
him. Arrived in front of door, the
master opened it little. saying: Here
is the cook. excellency.' All right
exclaimed a voice. which never heard
in my life, but which / always will
hear Take him to the court and APP
p. 30 strokes with the knout on his
back. l almost tainted at hearing this,
but before could stammer out Single
word l was seized and dragged down
stairs to court. In spite Of my cries
and opposition the master of the house
ordered two serfs to give me the hum
dred strokes with the knout and as you
have seen, they did it. The affair hap
pened a quarter Of an hour ago and I
came directly from the governor"
The poor man had t6ld the whole
story in such truthful tone that the
ambassador believed him. He sat down
to write letter and gave it to his coun-
tryman, saying: "If what you told mo
just now is true you shall have most
thorough satisfaction, promise you.
Go and take this letter to the governor
yourself"
"Oh, kind sir" cried the poor man,
task anything you want of me except
that; never in my life again will I go
near that terrible man."
"You will go accompanied by my
secretary" replied the count.
ooh, that is different"
At the same time the count gave the
necessary orders and the Frenchman
departed.
After three-quarters Of an hour he
came back with radiant face.
well, have you seen the governor?
Has he answered my letterp" asked tho
Count de Segur.
Indeed, monsieur le conte," cried
the Frenchman, highly satisfied. arhe
answer is myself; there is no need for
another one. Oh, how thank you for
your kindness; everything is explained
and all right"
Il confess it will give me great pleas
ure to hear the story"
Nothing more agreeable, dear sir.
The governor had for cook serf who
enjoyed the entire confidence of his
master Four days ago this knave talk
ing an opportunity stole 500 rubles
from the governor and escaped. This
man, being the only one of his serfs
| who was able to cook, the governor
| wanted to change his system BY taking
a French cook into his service. Unfor-
tunately this morning he received the
news that the thief had been caught in
the country, and when the master Of
the house said, "Your excellency, here
is the cook" he thought the serf was
tlcEc. uaU Is HOW IcCtlVcu Uuc uul-
dred strokes"
Although the master of the house saw
that his highness had made mistake
he knew he had to do his duty by obey
ing without contradiction.
well, then the governor has asked
your pardon?"
"He has done more, dear sir. He has
paid mo Louis dor for every stroke
and has taken me into his service for
double the usual wages"
At that moment an adjutant of the
governor asked for the French ambas-
sador. He came to invite M. de Segur
to dinner for the next day to test the
culinary ability of the new chef
That Frenchman remained for ten
years in the service of the governor,
who loaded him with kindnesses. After
that time he returned with good pen.
sion to his own beautiful France.