The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-02-01
CONVINCED
lOriginal-l

Petersburg. The cars cabinet. Ine
czar standing with one hand on his
writing table, looking out of tie win
dow.
Czar-Oh, thai 1 might find some
drug to give me intervals Of oblivion,
beset on every side, never knowing
when l go out but that u bomb may be
thrown into my carriage. and. II l re-
main In the palace, but that a glass OF
wine landed me by an may
contain poison. (Enter Count Demi-
doff.) What, you here, Demidof? |
was just thinking of my Isolated ondi-
ton. Were it not for you. good friend,
l would despair. Every day a new
plot is reported. Sometimes | fear /
shall go mad.
Demidoff-Calm yourself. you maj
esty. there is not the reason for fear
that you uppos Never has there
been less cause for inquietude.
CZar-Ah, Demidoff, what a comfort
you arei And yet sometimes l fancy
your affection for Inc leads you to con
ceal the dangers that threa ten from me.
Have you any especial news for me
this morningf
Demidof-Ncne except that every
day l gather fresh assurances that all
near your majesty's person are devoted
to YOU. would die for you
Czar-Thanks, Demidoff docking at
the clock. You may go now, my friend.
1 am expecting some me-. l have an
other ceAfiscated estate for you. one of
the finest in Russia.
Demidofr kneels. kisses the cars
hand and withdrawS. The car rings
n an attendant enters.
Czar-Has the Countess Maria
Nicholievna arrived?
Attendant-She is waiting your mai
esty's pleasure.
Czar-Admtt her. (Enter countess)
Have you been to Paris?
Countess ave just come from
there.
Czar-Well?
Countess-By pretending to be a nj
hilist l won the confidence of the con-
spirators and am their trusted messen-
ger to one who is managing the plot
here.
Garland who is that?
| Countess would not dare make an
accusation without absolute proof at
hand The conspirator stands too high
in your majesty's confidence.
Carlo you not bear credentials,
Instructions or something of the kind
addressed to-is it man or woman?
Countess-I bear papers, but they are
addressed to no one.
Czar-Well, what do you propose to
do?
Countess-I ask your majesty's per
mission to leave o for ten minutes.
At the end of that time l will return
and hope to be able to convince you1
majesty Of the identity of the person !
know to be guilty.
Czar-Be it so. You may withdraw.
Countess leaves the room. Car PAGES
back and forth, impatiently waiting
her return. Re-enter countess. Gar
looks at her i~nquiringly.
CounteSs-Thus far, your majesty,
have been successful, but do not know
If h rest of my plan may not miscar-
~. / risk all on what l am doing,
knowing well that it Is either my
! downfall or that of the person l ac-
! cuse. Will you majesty please SEM
for Count Demidoff.
CZar-Demidof. Certainly. We will
need him, of course.
Gar rings and sends for Demidof.
Meanwhile he PAGES the floor, the
countess standing silent. both waiting.
Enter Demidoff. Seeing the countess,
he starts and turns pale. The ear
looks at him wonderingly.
Czar-Count, are you ill?
C~ount-In? No, you majesty. only
Countess-Surprised to see me here.
Count (trembling)-I do not know the
lady.
| (NnIJntoC0 fro fhn .zorl Vnr1r. m n inrfu
this is the man who conducts the mat
ter of the Paris conspiracy in st. Pc
tersburg. The papers 1 brought I was
directed to give to him. Had I given
| them to you majesty or your chief of
police we would not have been able to
convince your majesty that your most
trusted friend was seeking your assas-
sination. During the few minutes that
1 left you l went to the counts apart
ment in the palace, gave him the pa
pers, charging him to keep them ON
his person, as he valued his life. If he
has done as / told him not five minutes
ago., they will be found on him. If he
has had time to get rid of them, my
plan fails and l must bear the conse-
quences of having accused one who
| Possesses to the highest degree your
majesty's confidence.
~Count-Your majesty, Ii is some
plot to drag me from the position l
hold which enables me to protect you.
Czar-So l believe, count.
Countess VIII your majesty be
pleased to have the count searched?
Count (pleadfngly)-Your majesty.
would you subject me to such an indig-
nifty at the instigation of a paid spy?
CZar-I would give you an opportu-
nifty to prove your innocence. CTaps a
bell and an attendant enters.) Search
him (pointing). The attendant search
es the count and find the incriminat-
Ing papers In his boot. Gar takes
| them and can them eagerly. covers
his face with his hands, then turns to
Demidon. And you, too, Brutus?"