The Nevada County picayune., 1915-06-25

| embassy as usual. During the meal tracted; and, as soon as it was over, he rose up and, taking me by the arm, l led me into his private study. l at | once guessed what was coming, and, while accepting a cigar, determined that nothing should be extracted from me respecting the negotiation I have 1 described. and of which NJ Fleuriot l had kept me partly informed
 My dear baron, he commenced, you and are old friends. We should both be equally distressed if war were l to break out between our two coun- tries
 Without doubt I replied affecting | to consider the remark a mere chance | observation. Let us be thankful that such an event is not in the least likely to take place. And I added to myself: Unless you refuse to give up Egypt. He glanced at me with suspicion. How far you are in the confidence of your foreign office,' he said, I nei- ther know, nor do I ask you to tell me. I desire to give you information, not to receive it.
 You are too good I murmured, more on my guard than ever I hope, at the same time,' he went on, that what I have to say to you 1 may cause you to take action in what I believe to be the interest of both countries! I am sure that if you use this information you will not allow | it's source to be discovered That is understood, of course,' replied. beginning to be really inter. | ested.
 "'Thank you. Let me say at once, then, that I have reason to believe | that your government has recently proposed to the court of Berlin an of | fensive alliance against England. with view to compelling us to evacuate Egypt in your favor
 T was thunderstruck at the accu. racy of his information.
 But, my lord this is some chimera delusion!' l cried affecting the utmost incredulity. Such an idea is too ex travagant for feuilleton!'
 Lord Soames smiled coldly.
 "I have already said that l do not ask you to commit yourself, my dear baron,' he replied. I will assume, ii you prefer it. that all this is news tC you. But you have not yet heard what l wanted to tell you. As you know Great Britain has hitherto steadfastly refused to join the triple alliance for fear of being dragged by Germany into a war against France. It is to your interest, l think you will admit, that we should continue to hold aloof
 "I shrugged my shoulders without expressing any opinion on this point
 "'Now,' pursued Lord Soames. we suddenly find ourselves placed in this dilemma. Prince Bismarck has in formed our ambassador in Berlin that he will accept your proposal unless England accedes to the triple alliance within a week from today. and un dertakes to employ her navy in a blockade of the French coast as soon as war is declared
 'T was overwhelmed. The revela. tion of this atrocious duplicity on the part of Bismarck completely stunned me. Knowing what l did of his char acter, it was impossible to doubt the truth of Lord Soames' disclosure It was evident that the whole of the negotiations with our foreign office had been a deliberate ruse in order to obtain the means of discrediting us in the eyes of Great Britain. It was the Belgian trick of 1870 over again.
 q could have wept. It was with the utmost difficulty that concealed my consternation from the keen eyes of the Englishman.
 You have been deceived, my friend answered. in tone of great confidence That Bismarck should make such assertions does not sur. prise me in the least. But it is a mere invention of his own, believe me. If such a thing had been on the carpet, l am the first person with whom M. F1euriot would have communicated | Lord Soames listened to me with an air of indulgence. as if had been child.
 Again permit me to remind you that am simply giving you a warning for your own benefit he said. I have only to add that the prince has prom ised to show our ambassador the writ ten French proposal, signed by M Fleuriot, next Saturday. Unless you can reclaim that document by then, England will join the alliance, and war will be declared within a fortnight
 Tt was useless for me to make fur, ther protests. They were wasted on this man of ice.
 "I am obliged to you for your friendliness,' said, rising. No doubt the whole story is some clumsy fabri cation of Prince von Bismarck's, which it will be easy to disprove If I should chance to meet M. Fleuriot, however will inform him of these islanders