Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-05-13


there is piece OF thread on the back
of your coat"
We were about to go forth for a
stroll on the boulevards-I had Just
helped his excellency on with his over
coat. As bent forward to remove the
strand OF white cotton which had at
tracted my attention. the ambassador
turned his head with startled move
ment. even fancied that he gave a
slight ehiver as picked on the thread
and cast it away.
A thousand thanks" he murmured
mechanically, glancing after the thread
with q strange expression. But he
realized that had observed his singu-
lar agitation, for he Immediately went
on to say:
You ask yourself. perhaps, what 1t
Is that has disturbed me SO much in
this trivial circumstance? Do me the
Justice to believe. notwithstanding.
that have not been agitated without
Q real cause.
1T was not long after the mysterious
affair, which l have related to you, in
connection with the death of Abdul
Aziz," began his excellency. land
had just been promoted to the rank OF
charge d'affaires. In this capacity /
was entrusted with the French mission
to the court Of one of those barbarous
municipalities In the southeast of Eu-
rope. which have hardly yet recovered
drom their centuries OF vassalage to
the Turks. In these unsettled societies
acts OF lawlessness and violence are
rendered possible at which more civil
zed countries would be dismayed.
AT the time OF my arrival in the
principality to the court of which had
been accredited, l found things In a
very disturbed condition. As is always
the case In these petty states in the
region Of the Danube. Russia and Aus
tria were intriguing for the predomi-
nance, and the whole population was
rent into factions accordingly. which
pursued each other with the bitterest
hatred
This rivalry between the two pow
ers have named had even extended to
the palace, where the Austrian incli-
nations Of George, the reigning prince,
we're counterbalanced by the Russo
phile sympathies Of his consort, Cath
crime, princess of Russian extraction.
While / was preparing to walk
warily among the pitfalls which sur
rounded me, / was surprised one day
shortly after my arrival by visit from
the Russian minister, Baron Douren-
ski
I have come he said. as soon as
he had taken seat and exchanged the
usual compliments, to inform you that
I am obliged to leave for Russia in two
days time. The business which re-
quires my presence is important, and
will, perhaps, detain me four or five
weeks
Il bowed, and murmured polite ex-
preston of regret at the idea of losing
the society Of the minister for so long
q period.
That is not all, however, he pro-
ceeded toAsay. have at the legation
no one whom I can trust to take my
place properly while am away. Shall
be trespassing too much on your good
nature If | ask you to take charge of
the interests OF Russia for these few
weeks?'
81 am too much honored by the
confidence you place in me- / said,
but recollect, If you please, my dear
Dourenski, that l have only recently
arrived in this country, and know
nothing OF the political situation. Had
you not better apply to some colleague
OF older standing-to Sir Graham, for
Instance. the British charge d'affaires?'
He made an emphatic gesture Of
disapproval as pronounced this name.
Not for worlds, my dear fellow!
That man is mere tool of the Aus
trian minister's. No. must have some
one whom can trust, someone Of real
independence and judgment. Besides.
our two countries are friendly;
should leave the affairs of my legation
tn your hands with the same conf
dence as in those of fellow-country-
man.
Thus pressed. / could find no ex-
cuse Tor declining the honor which
Dourenski proposed to confer on me.
He went on to add:
There is one thing about which /
must ask you to preserve the strictest
secrecy. In the mailbag OF the lega-
ton you will from time to time find
letters addressed to M. Starovitch.
which you will without doubt find
means to transmit to him In private
manner. II the packages are some
times heavy, that is merely because
they contain little gold which it is
necessary to distribute among cur
friends.
fused as was to the tangled paths |
Of political intrigue. / could not alto
gether conceal my establishment at |
hearing MIN pronounce the name of |
M. Starovitch. This was the prime min
lister. the head OF the princes govern
ment, and although / had heard it |