Year: 1877

crowd and placed himself BY the young
officers side.
Sir, I am the Prince of W., and you
will oblige nae by accepting the loan Of the
two hundred rubles in question.
Prince, l am not worthy of your kind.
ness, for I don't know if I shall ever be
able to pay the loan, answered the young
man, in voice tremulous with emotion.
Take the money at all events, l can
wait until you are able to return There.
upon the prince held out two notes of a
hundred rubles each, and coming close up
to him, whispered few words very softly.
There was sudden lighting in the young
officers face. He Immediately took the
two notes, and, turning toward the lady
handed them to her with q polite bow.


I hope madame, you are satisfied?


With malicious smile she reach out her
hand for the money.


Yes; now am satisfied.


With q scornfal glance over the crowd Of
spectators, she prepared to leave the court.
room on her husbands arm.


Stop, madame" said the officer, who had
suddenly become like another man, with
firm and confidential manner.


What do you want?


The look that the young woman cast
upon him was as insulting as possible
And want my dress, he answered, with
neat but still perfectly polite bow.


Give me your address and will send it
to you.


Oh, no, my dear madame, Pm in thehab-
it of taking my purchases with me at once.
Favor me with the dress Immediately.


A shout Of appreciation came from tile
CALLER.


Order! cried the judge.


What an insane demand, said the lady's
husband. Ny wife cannot undress herself
here.


l have nothing to do with you, sir, in
this matter, but only with the complainant
Be so good, madame, as to give me the
dress Immediately. am in great hurry
my affairs are urgent, and cannot wait
moment longer.


The pleasure Of the audience at the ex.
pense Of the lady increased with every
word, until it was hard to enforce any ap.
proach to quiet, SO that either party could
be heard.


Do not Jest any more about it. will
hurry and send you the dress as soon as
possible.


l am not jesting. I demand from the re-
preventative Of the law my own property
the dress, said the officer, raising his
voice.


The judge, thus appealed to, decided
promptly.


The officer is right, madame. You are
obliged to hand him over the dress on the
spot.


Ican't undress mysslfhere before all the
people, and 60 home without any dress or,
said the young woman, with anger ard
tears.


You should have thought Of that sooner.
Now you have no time to lose. Either
Awe up the dress Of your own accord, Or:
A note that could not be misinterpreted
brought to the lady's side two officers Of
Justice, who seemed about to take upon
themselves the Office of my lady's maid.


Take your money back, and leave me my
dress.


Oh, no, madame; that dress is now worth
more than 200 rubles 10 me.


How much do you ask for it?


Two thousand rubles, said the officer,
firmly.


| will pay the sum, the weeping hus-
band responded, promptly. have here five
hundred rubes. Give Inc pen and paper
and will write you an order upon my
banker for the remaining fifteen hun
dred.


After he had..writtcn the draft the worthy
pair withdrew, amidst Kisses from the au-
dience.


Query: Did the lady ever again let her
dress sweep the street?