Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-01-13
"And your opinion, count. of the wis.
dom Of all this?'

north the NlcloIy o'Si 1hS oio'S SouIh
that even the south. once free. will
not tolerate a foreign government set
nm so close to her. And now we come
to the object of this revelation.
have begged and pleaded with the en-
neror to have nothing to do with
America or the struggle now going on
IN America. He declares that 1t is his
only hope to save his throne. He will
not listen to me. would save him
from himself. By securing prema-
ture publication Of the plan may
thwart it, and my master will be saved
from it's disastrous consequences
In my enthusiasm ! grasped the
counts hand and held it as in wise.
Count" exclaimed. II am no less
struck with woader at your disinter-
ested wisdom than was ut first at
YOUR seeming dishonor These men
about the emperor are idiots. You are
q statesman in the very highest de-
gree"
Though ! was burning to act In the
matter, let the count to spend tWen-
ty-four hours in thought upon 1t be-
fore doing so. The fate Of my coun-
trymen was in my hands. BY an er-
ror | might turn the clock Of human
liberty back half a century. BY a
we'll aimed stroke might change the
fate of the American republic. slept
not wink that night and when the
morning came had formed new plan.
At 10 o'clock l was again with the
Count de V.
Count" l said, II have not suei-
cient standing with any English paper
to feel sure I can put your scheme In
practice. American journals would
pay millions for the news, but they
are too far away to serve the purpose.
7 have a proposition to make. Trust
me to reveal this conspiracy to some
ruler who has the power in himself to
thwart it."
The count thought a few moments,
then with sudden impulse turned to
his desk. seized pen and paper and
wrote. There" he said when he had
finished, sis a note Of Introduction to
q man very near the person Of the
emperor of Russia I have told him to
introduce you to his master and say
that have proof in my possession OF
all you may tell him. Go to st. Pc
tersburg. reveal the plot to the czar,
but remember that my honor. my life,
! depend upon your ability to play this
difficult role"
T will do my best. coun.. not only
for my country. but for you"
"Goodby" he said. And may you
save the empire of France as we'll as
the cause of liberty in America. II
you do either and am sacrificed
shall not go down in vain."
That night took train for st. Pc
tersburg. Fast as we Travelled we
seemed to me to be going at a snail's
pace. My mind was ever on my work
of blocking the most rascally political
game that was ever played by civ
ilized governments. But. while
thought much Of the main issue,
thought more of devices by which
could get the benefit of De VS. infor-
nation without bringing him into the
matter
Arrived at st. Petersburg, as sooIl
as | had made toilet / drove to the
house of Alexiaef Vronsky. to whom
bore the letter of introduction. l
found a middle aged gentleman. un-
titled. but for some reason possessing
great influence with the czar. He lis
tened to what | had to say. then told
me that be would go at once with q
view to making an appointment for
me at the palace. The same afternoon
he wrote me a note saying that be
would 90 with me and present me to
the emperor the next morning at II
o'clock.
On the way to the palace Vronsky
said to me:
There is great hope for you in
this: The emperor is not fearful or
jealous Of the French. but he is watch
ing the efforts put forth by England
to control the sea and thereby the
| trade of the world tell you this that
you may know your best card and
know how and when to play it,
When stood in presence Of Tie
autccrat of all the Eussias felt that
l bore on my shoulders the cause OF
freedom for the world. He listened tC
what had TO say intently and with
evident interest. Put. seeing me hesi
! tate. he said:
You may trust me as you have
been trusted"
That was a help to me. and got on
much better as soon as ! had been
thus assured. laid bare the whole
scheme end showed knowledge OF
facts which fitted In with much that
he knew himself about the schemes
not only of Napoleon ILL.,. but the
| prime minister Of England. Before
had finished | knew had at heart
won the cars confidence.
II can only say TO you now" Saio
his majesty. that the scheme will moi
be carried out
withdrew Mt once perfectly salts
ceI with tie result Of my mission
After thanking Vronsky again anC
again for this introduction | tock The
train at onte for Paris. knowing thai
De V. would be eager to hear what
might have to say. | called on him ct