Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-22
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and officials separated ostentatiously from civilian members. At two o'clock his imperial highness, Grand Duke Boris, issued from the li- brary with heavy step. His face was red as lobsters, his hair disheveled, his clothes in disorder. His women compan- ions remained behind, stretched out in their chairs fast asleep.
 The grand duke ordered several gen. tlemen he met to assist him to the music stand. He took seat by the side of the bass drum, his head dropped upon his chest, and he began to snore audibly. Im- mediately the bandmaster dropped his l baton. All quiet, his imperial high- ness deigns to sleep.'
 He slept one, two. three hours while the club members, their wives and daugh- etrs, thousand all told. looked on with out daring to stir. However. the per sons most interested in Boris slumber were the two ministers of state, the ad- miral, millionaire banker, marshal of the aristocracy and the president of the No- bility club. desperately bent upon wip- ing out the insults they had innocently heaped upon the imperial loafer.
 At last the marshal of the aristocracy, took courage to step up to Boris and whisper in his ear. His imperial highness moved his lips as if trying to blow away fly perched on his nose.
 Will your imperial highness deign to permit me to attend you to your pal ace, or is your imperial highness pleased to order me to fetch the car- riage?"
 Boris mumbled something; then, awakening, bawled out with a yawn: "Yes, I am about ready to go home, and you shall have the honor to conduct me. fellow"
 The marshals face gleamed with hap piness; he was once more summing him. self in the radiance of right royal fa- vor But the admiral, the president, the two ministers of state and the banker wanted their share. too. They crowded around his imperial highness with com- pliments. offers of service and petty talk Finally. they half carried him to his coach. As it drove away. the marshal cried rapturously:
 Your imperial highness. Grand Duke Boris, we are all agreed that you played your part to perfection. To mystify whole club for an hour-old Coquelin couldn't do better Of course. I saw the joke at once. and entered into it's spirit Never laughed so much in my life. and how I enjoyed your imperial highness' jests with their excellencies. I never saw such dumfounded parcel of fools! piness of this evening. and those old fossils, as your imperial highness called them. won't, either
 | Meanwhile the fossils held an im- promptu meeting in the library, from where Boris lady friends had been gently removed.
 His imperial highness nodded to me in quite charming fashion," said the master of police. "as he passed out"
 And our good grand duke had ths supreme kindness to press my hand gently as I helped him into the royal coach" cried the financier
 'I am sure he forgave us." said the two ministers of state. He laughed most happily between hiccoughs as hs sat on the music stand. with one foot in the bass drum"
 Gentlemen" announced the presi- dent of the Nobility club. ''I secured ths drum as memento of this unhappy happy evening. The spot where the im- , perial leg and foot rested shall bs framed in silver"
 Bravo" cried the polizeimaster. the , two ministers of state. the admiral and the fnancier. And the latter added: "I : secured the names of the ladies who ac ? compahied his imperial highness to the club. and have ordered two immense r flower pieces for them. to be presented early tomorrow morning" Not early" decided the polizeimas- ter Wait at least until one in the aft ernoon. Their ladyships might not ; wish to be disturbed before that hour.r , MAXIM GoRKI