Tombstone epitaph., 1915-06-13


 seated ourselves in front of a small able with a marble surface, which a waiter diligently wiped with his nap kin. before proceeding to bring US our refreshments. The night was mild. and the numerous lights of the boule- sard were muftied by a faint mist, %hich softened the voices of the pass. srsby. The ambassador leaned for ward with one arm resting on the able and his hat set back from his forehead.
 IL was on a night Ike this" he be- gan, only more close and sultry. that had what is perhaps the most bizarre experience of my life. It was when Il was attached. in the capacity of secre- tary. 10 our embassy in Constanti- nople.
 Tt was at Q time when the affairs of Turkey were about to attract the at lention Of the civilized world. Russia was already preparing to draw the sword, and it was believed in some quarters that England would not con sent to remain a passive spectator of the struggle. The entire weight of France was being thrown into the scale to avert this contingency. and have reason to believe that it was the services which I was able to render to the republic during this crisis winch led to my being intrusted with my first embassy
 Our desire. of course. was to keep Russia strong. to act as a restraint on Prussia; and in this task I found my self pitted against your celebrated minister, Lord Beaconsfeld. He was Q great man, let me tell you. who sue ceeded in obtaining for himself a Bismarck. But of my labors in this direction l must not speak.
 To return to the night which 1 have already referred to: had saun- tered out from the embassy quite late. and after walking through the streets of Pera for an hour, I was seized by an impulse to cross over the Golden Horn and explore old Stamboul. It was per- haps a rash proceeding at such time, but had accustomed myself to these nocturnal rambles. in which. for great CT safety. l wore a Mohammedan cos tune.
 Doubtless. you have read those de- lightful Arabian Nights. and can fig ure to yourself the enchantment of wandering through an Eastern city in the silent hours. when the moonlight falls softly on the tapering minarets. and on the high walls of mysterious gardens in which yelled beauties re- cline beside marble fountains. and listen to the songs of divine birds.
 T made my way. ss have told you. into the Turkish quarter. Avoiding the region of the bazaars. which at thIs hour were closed. l turned my steps their superb residences. a region in- tersected at long intervals by narrow and solitary lanes, running between blank walls, with here and there a lit tie postern gate artfully introduced beneath the ivy l vas saunterinS slowly down one Of these lanes when l perceived in front of me, at a point where the shadow Of tall Hex fell across the white surfate of the road. group of those dogs which infest Constantinople. They were quarreling over some object which lay on the roadway in the center oi the black patch Of shadow. Save for the pres ence Of the dogs the whole reighbor- hood appeared to be absolutely de- serted.
 =. advanced toward the spot. en- deayoring to make out the pature or the object which had attracted these carnivorors brUtes. As I got nearer perceived it to be Q slipper of the pattern usually worn in Turkey. My curiosity was now strongly reused. l stepped into the midst O: the growing .curs, and drove them oi with a few blows of a stick which carried. Then stopped down to pick up this mys- terious object
 No sooner had my hand touched it than l started back with a veritable thrill of horror The slipper contained a human foot,
 My first impulse on making this ter rib,e discovery was 10 turn and fy from the place. But a dreadful fasci- nation, WEIGH l COCi0 nut oseiSonaS' rooted me to the spot. and even com pe.ied me to make a closer examina- ton. I stopped down. peerins in the dim light, and asking myself with a beating heart how this severed foot had come to be exposed there on that lonely path, as if it were the damning evidence of some strange crime
 "As I gazed at i, thus. l became aware that the foot had for some time ceased to bleed. It had been cut of at the ankle, and the dry blood was beginning to congeal over the severed veins and arteries. l looked on the ground beside it for stains Of blood but not one was visible. I extended my circle, and scrutinized all round Il with care. but the result was the same
 "Of one fact was now positively as sured. This foot which l beheld on the ground had not been cut on the human being to whom 1t belonged al this place, nor perhaps anywhere in the neigh borhood. It had been broush, here. doubtless. under the influence ol