Year: 1876

/


Consider, complainant, the conse-
quences of your demand. The defend
ant can be punished only through
being deprived of bis personal liberty,
and by that you could obtain no salts
faction, while to the defendant it
might prove the greatest injury in his
rank and position as an officer, and
especially as he is an officer who is
poor and dependent upon his pay. Do
you still insist upon your complaint |?


Il still insist upon it,"


The course the affair was taking
seemed 10 become painful to the lady's
husband. He spoke with his wife ur-
gently, but, as could be seen by the
way she held up her head and the en-
ergy with which she shook it, quite
uselessly, The judge was just going
on to further consideration of the ease,
when loud voice was heard from the
audience:


81 will place the two hundred rubles
at the service of the defendant"


There followed a silence, during
which a gentleman forced his way
through the crowd and placed himself
by the young officers side.


''Sir, l am the Prince W, and
beg you will oblige me by accepting
the loan Of the two hundred rubles in
question"


prince, / am not worthy of your
kindness, for l don't know if l shall
ever be able to repay the loan" ans.
wered the young man, in a voice trem.
ulous with emotion.


take the money, at all events. l
can wait until you are able to return
it" Thereupon the prince held out
two notes of a hundred rubles each,
and coming up to him, whispered few
words very softly. There was sud-
den lighting up of the officers face
He Immediately took the two notes,
and, turning toward the lady, handed
them to her with polite bow. 81,


81 hope, madam, you are satisfied.


With a malicious smile she reached
out her hand for the money.


"Yes, now am satisfied"


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


"Stop, madam" said the officer, who
had suddenly become like another
man, with firm and confident man
ner.


"What do you want"


The look that the young woman
cast upon him was as insulting as pos
sible.


"I want my DRESS" he answered,
with slight but still perfectly polite
bow.


"Give me your address, and I will
send it to you"


"Oh no, my dear madam, am in
the habit of taking my purchases with
me at once. Favor me with the dress



A shout of appreciation came from
the gallery.


"Orderl" cried the Judge.


"What an insane demand - said
the lady's husband. "My wife cannot
undress herself here"


"I have nothing to do with you, sir,
In this matter, but only with the com.
plainant. Be so good, madam, as to
give me the dress Immediately. / am
in great hurry; my affairs are ur-
gent, and / cannot wait another min
ute longer"


The pleasure Of the audience at the
expense of the lady increased with
every word, until it was hard to force
any approach 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" :"


Il am not jesting. I demand from
the representative of the law my own
dress, said the officer,
raising his voice.


The Judge, thus appealed to decided
promptly.


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


81 can't undress myself here before
all these people, and go home without
any dress on" said the young woman
with anger and tears.


"You should have thought of that


NTow you have no time to
Io0n'T; Io,e, Either give up the dress on your
own accord. Or" A nod tnss eonid
not be misinterpreted brought to the
iodv'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"