Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-15

l lines attracted him at once. He slipped
 his absinth and smiled to himself
 1.-The play commences" he murmur-
 ed. q must return to M. Spencer"
 Spencer was still working like a
 madman.
 q must interrupt you for a mo-
 ment" De .Bergillac said. q have
 brought you an evening paper. The l Baltic fleet has sunk half a dozen
 English fishing boats, and the whole
 country is in frenzy. It is the begin | ming"
 Spencer nodded.
 "Leave the paper, there's a good fel-
 low" he said. T will look 1t through presently. If there is time-if there is only time this will be the greatest night of my life. No other paper has hint, you say?"
 Not one"
 If could put back the clock sin gle hour!' Spencer muttered. Never ! mind! Williams, more sheets" De Bergillac took his leave He had
 telephoned for his motor, which was
 waiting outside. He gave the order to drive to his rooms. On the way he passed the great pile of buildings in the Louvre. In room at the extreme end of the pile a light was burning. De Bergillac looked at 1t curiously. A small brougham. which he recognized. stood outside.
 'If one could see inside" he nut tered. Tt would be interesting" In sense it was interesting. NJ. Grlsson sat there in front of bis open table. His secretary's place by his side was vacant. Opposite sat tall man with gray hair and dark mustache He was dressed for the evening, and his breast glittered with stars and or, ders.
 Tt is exceedingly kind of you, mon- sieur," he. said, "to grant me this inter view at so short notice. I was most anxious to apprize you of news which as yet, believe, has not found its way into your papers. You have read ac- counts of Russian attack upon an English fishing fleet, but you have not yet been informed of the presence-the undoubted presence-of Japanese tor pedo boats concealed among them"
 M. Grisson raised his eyebrows.
 Indeed, nor he answered. "We have not even heard rumor of any thing of the sort.'
 Nevertheless their presence was in dubitable," the prince declared. "Un- der those circumstances, monsieur, you can doubtless understand that our re-. ply to any protests on the part of Eng land will be of an unpacific nature. We should not for a moment allow ourselves to be dictated to by the allies of our enemy"
 Naturally" NJ. Grisson answered. "On the other hand. you surely do not wish to embroil yourself in quarrel with England at the present moment?'
 "We wish to quarrel with no one." the prince answered haughtiiy. At the same time, we are not afraid of England. We recognize the fact that if war should come 1t is an independent affair and does not come under the ob- ligations of our alliance. We ask, therefore. for your neutrality alone"
 M Grisson bowed. l
 But, prince," he said grayely, you speak lightly enough of the possibili ties of war, but surely you must know that the English fleet in the channel and at Gibraltar altogether outmatches the Baltic feet!"
 "A Russian" the prince answered grandly, "is not afraid of great odds"
 NJ. Grisson bowed.
 'For the sake of humanity" he said, 'T trust most sincerely that affairs may be peaceably arranged. If the contrary should turn out to be the case, I can only say that in quarrel which concerns Russia and England alone France would remain benevo- lently neutral. As you have remarked. the obligations of our treaty do not apply to such a case"
 The priace played nervously with | the star at his chest. Both men were 1 well aware that up to now they had l been merely playing with words.
 "There Is another contingency" the l Russian'remarked. which now we are upon the subject it would perhaps be as well to allude to. The relations be- tween Germany and England. as you know, just now are very sorely strain ed. If Germany should take advan- tage of the present situation to make against England. that. of course. would not from your point of view affect the situation?'
 M. Grisson looked Ike a man who | sees before him amazing things.
 ''My dear prince" he said. do not let us misunderstood one another. You cannot by any possibility be suggest ing that Germany might associate her self with you in your resistance to pos sible English dsmandsy'
 The Russian leaned back in his chair.
 Germany is on the spot" he re- land knows the facts of the ease. She has proofs of the presence 1f Japanese torpedo boats among the English fishing feet Her natural bye of fair play might possibly lead her to spouse our cause in this particular in- stance. This. of course. would make Tor peace. If Germany commands England will obey. gee could not q otherwise"
 You have introduced. my dea- lrince.- M GrisSon said. -an altogeiheI lew phase to this question. and o- which merits the most grave conside-a ion Am to understand that there k