New-York tribune., 1910-01-09

entered; with him came Count Julius and the
Greek.
Nice thing his Majesty has just told met"
cried Prince Michael with owl-like gravity.
." He says that StampOff and he have disagreed.
What has gone wrong? Have YOU heard of this
most unfortunate estrangement, Monsieur Nes-
imir?
The president, of course, assumed that some
allusion had been made already to the scene in
the Council chamber.
"A serious position has undoubtedly arisen,
he said blandly. a." His Majesty did not see his
way clear to adopt certain recommendations
put forward by his Ministers to-day,-by my
self, l may say, acting on behalf of my col
leagues" and he coughed deferentially,-" and
General Stampoff took an active part in the
debate He set forth his views with-er-
what | considered to be-er-unnecessary We
hemence. But there" and flourish OF his
hand indicated the nebulouS nature OF the dis
pute. nothing was said that cannot be mended.
His Majesty himself had the tact to adjourn
the discussion till tomorrow, and have little
doubt that we shall all be prepared to consider
the matter then like reasonable men.
" But what it about" broke in the
Prince testify. Was 1t with reference TO
Monsieur Beliani' | understood that his ap-
pointment to the Ministry of Finance was
agreed to unanimously"
Beliani coughed, with the modesty of man
who might not discuss his own merits. The
president hesitated before he answered this
direct question. He cast a doubtful glance at
the King, who had turned to the window again
and seemed to give little heed to the CONVERSE
ton. But Alec wheeled round
HAVE sent for Stampoff," he said exercising
amazing self control in concealing his fierce
desire to have done with subterfuge, and my
message was COuched in such terms that he will
hardly refuse to honor us with his presence.
Meanwhile, let me rescue you, Monsieur NeSi-
mir, from the embarrassment of explaining
away the difficulty you yourself brought about
at tO-day's meeting of the Cabinet. Monsieur
Beliani had no rival; no one doubted his ability
as a tinanCier.
The dispute arose in connection with my
forthcoming marriage. 1t was suggested that
should contract alliance with a Princess of
some relgnlng house IN the Balkans. The OBJ
vlous corollary of that view that Miss Joan
Vernon could not be regarded as a suitable
bride for the King of KoSnovia | declined to
accept the recommendation put forward by
Monsieur NeSlmlr,-tO whom, by the way, |
attribute the utmost good faIth,-and Stamp
off. whose patriotic ardor halts at nothing,
practically threatened me with the loss of my
Kingdom as the penalty of diSobedience. |
SAID that | was quite willing to leave the whole
matter to the arbitrament of the people If
they decide against my choice of a wife, it fol-
| lows that there will be a vacancy in the Del
gradO succession"
Are we to credit" Prince Michael broke in
| turlouSly that you have actually placed Your
marriage with this girl before every tie of family
and patrimOnv?"
That is hardly fair statement of the facts"
said Alec cOldv, though it cost him violent
effort to sustain this unnatural calm when he
was atiame with desire to ascertain loans
| motive; but it will serve. At any rate we
can defer discussion of that point for the pres
ent We are gathered here to deal with quite
another phase of the dispute. and with your
| PERMISSION shall leave any further eXplaua-
ton until General Stampoff has arrived"
Although his utterance was measured and