Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-11-16
CHAPTER XVI.
Matchmaking Dispatches.

She had been arranging the papers
/ deity in some sort OF order
You read French. think? The let
ter OF Ferdinand is in that language;
| Sir Mortimer's notes and answers are.
OF course. in English"
I drew toward me the first OF the
papers she indicated.
You are nothing II not modern in
your methods" I scoffed glancing
down the page. Your safes and
| typewriters bring back 20 me the asso-
Citations OF my banking business. And
a banker. let me warn you. scans the
signature OF draft carefully before
he cashes e."
The typewriter is an amusing little
instrument" she yawned. "ana I am
proud Of my success IN mastering Il.
AS for the safe. IL you have been
banker. you know that the combina-
ton Is carefully guarded. NJ. Coward. ="
II gave her the cruelest delight TO
taunt me with the shameful word. Dur
! ing the next half hour she insulted me
so at least half dozen times. I bent
my attention on the paper before me.
/ translate roughly Ferdinand's let
ter:
"(Strictly conhdental)
Hotel du Rhin.
place Nendome. Paris.
May %
MY Dear Sir Mortimer:
Il expect 20 start for Sofa via Wen
ma and Budapest In about a week: I
trust / shall see YOU at the Palace
| shortly after my arrival. Meanwhile
| let me urge on you once more that
| you exert without further delay your
great influence with your Foreign OF
fice that your ministers may be con
| WINGED that the crisis has come-the
| opportunity We have so long awaited.
Now or never I must lead my army TO
the succor OF the distressed people OF
Macedonia. l think that the profound
| knowledge you have always shown OF
affairsgin the Balkan Peninsula must
make you realize the truth OF this
statement II is useless for me to re-
| peat my arguments. For what you
have done thank you But it is not
to the diplomatist am now speaking.
but TO the man. have written this
letter with my own hand. for reasons
that you will understand.
Believe me. my dear Sir Mortimer.
Faithfully yours.
Ferdinand"
Il see nothing discriminating in this
letter" l said. nor anything out of
the usual run OF letters.
You will notice on the back OF the
letter this brief statement: Answered.
| June Sd. NJ. b. AS to the answer OF
the letter IL is equally innocent. II is
simply the guarded reply OF a diplo-
matist dealing with delicate topic.
In these typewritten copies this letter
aud its answer are meaningless. The
originals are simply useful 10 prove
the authenticity of Sir Mortimer's
| handwriting"
! scanned the answer. II was not an
exact copy, but the substance Of Sir
l Mortimer's letter jotted down to re-
fresh his memory:
Il replied In substance as follows: II
was useless to bring, up the matter
again; my personal wishes would not
be sufficient 10 change the programme
of the Foreign once; at present did
not see my way clear TO advocate as
a diplomaust England's espousal of
this cause; l would continue to lay the
matter before the Foreign Once: more
than that. when events justified the
act, would see that such influence as
l possessed was exerted In the man
ner Prince FERDINAND wished; but at
present l could offer no encourage
ment"
Mote concerning the above, also In
Sir Mortimer's handwriting)
This reply will put an end, / think,
TO further correspondence in that quar-
ter. Certainly. the hopes OF the nation
seem so radically devirgent from those
OF the ruler that can favor one only
at the expense OF the other Natur-
ally, I prefer 20 favor the party that
promises the most for my own inter
ests"
Il told You that the originals are
particularly useful to identify the
handwriting and signature OF Sir Nor
timer. But observe. monsieur. the ex-
preston: Naturally, prefer 10 favor
the party that promises the most for