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<v Speaker 1>A Foreign Office Romance by Arthur Conan Doyle. There are

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<v Speaker 1>many folk anew Alfonse Laqueur in his old age, from

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<v Speaker 1>about the time of the Revolution of forty eight until

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<v Speaker 1>he died in the second year of the Crimean War,

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<v Speaker 1>he was always to be found in the same corner

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<v Speaker 1>of the Cafe de Provence at the end of the

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<v Speaker 1>Rue Saint Rorey, coming down about nine in the evening,

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<v Speaker 1>and going when he could find no one to talk with.

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<v Speaker 1>It took some self restraint to listen to the old diplomatist,

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<v Speaker 1>for his stories were beyond all belief, and yet he

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<v Speaker 1>was quick at detecting the shadow of a smile or

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<v Speaker 1>the slightest little raising of the eyebrows. Then his huge

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<v Speaker 1>rounded back would straighten itself, his bulldog chin would project,

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<v Speaker 1>and his ars would bur like a kettle drum. When

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<v Speaker 1>he got as far as ah monsieur rite er vulnem

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<v Speaker 1>mikroie pabunc, it was quite time to remember that you

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<v Speaker 1>had a ticket for the opera. There was his story

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<v Speaker 1>of Talleyrand and the Five oyster shells, and there was

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<v Speaker 1>his utterly absurd account of Napoleon's second visit to a Jacquio.

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<v Speaker 1>Then there was that most circumstantial romance, which he never

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<v Speaker 1>ventured upon until his second bottle had been on cork

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<v Speaker 1>of the Emperor's escape from Saint Helena. How he lived

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<v Speaker 1>for a whole year in Philadelphia, while Count Ebert de Berkhan,

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<v Speaker 1>who was his living image, personated him at Longwood. But

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<v Speaker 1>of all his stories there was none which was more

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<v Speaker 1>notorious than that of the Koran and the Foreign Office Messenger.

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<v Speaker 1>And yet when Monsieur Otto's memoirs were written, it was

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<v Speaker 1>found that there really was some foundation for old Lequeur's

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<v Speaker 1>incredible statement. You must know, Monsieur. He would say that

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<v Speaker 1>I left Egypt after Clabert's assassination. I would gladly have

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<v Speaker 1>stayed on, for I was engaged in a translation of

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<v Speaker 1>the Koran, and between ourselves, I had thoughts at the

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<v Speaker 1>time of embracing Mahometanism, for I was deeply struck by

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<v Speaker 1>the wisdom of their views about marriage. They had made

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<v Speaker 1>an incredible mistake, however, upon the subject of wine, and

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<v Speaker 1>this was what the Mufti who attempted to convert me,

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<v Speaker 1>could never get over. Then, when Old Clabert died and

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<v Speaker 1>Menu came to the top, I felt that it was

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<v Speaker 1>time for me to go. It's not for me to

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<v Speaker 1>speak of my own capabilities, Monsieur, but you will really

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<v Speaker 1>understand that the man does not care to be ridden

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<v Speaker 1>by the mule. I carried my koren and my papers

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<v Speaker 1>to London, where Monsieur Otto had been sent by the

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<v Speaker 1>First Council to arrange a treaty of peace, for both

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<v Speaker 1>nations were very weary of the war, which had already

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<v Speaker 1>lasted ten years. Here I was most useful to Monsieur

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<v Speaker 1>Otto an account of my knowledge of English tongue, and also,

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<v Speaker 1>if I may say so, on account of my natural capacity.

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<v Speaker 1>They were happy days during which I lived in the

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<v Speaker 1>square of Bloomsbergy. The climate of Monsieur's country, as it

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<v Speaker 1>must be confessed, detestable. But then what would you have.

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<v Speaker 1>Flowers grow best in the rain. One has but to

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<v Speaker 1>point to the Monsieur's fellow country women to prove it well.

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<v Speaker 1>Monsieur Ratto, our ambassador, was kept terribly busy over that treaty,

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<v Speaker 1>and all of his staff were worked to death. We

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<v Speaker 1>had not Pitt to deal with, which was perhaps as

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<v Speaker 1>well for us. He was a terrible man, that Pitt.

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<v Speaker 1>And wherever half a dozen enemies of France were plotting together.

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<v Speaker 1>There was a sharp pointed nose right in the middle

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<v Speaker 1>of them. The nation, however, had been thoughtful enough to

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<v Speaker 1>put him out of office, and we had to do

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<v Speaker 1>with Monsieur Addington. But my Lord Hawkesbury was the Foreign Minister,

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<v Speaker 1>and it was with him that we were obliged to

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<v Speaker 1>do our bargaining. You can understand that it was no

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<v Speaker 1>child's play. After ten years of war, each nation had

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<v Speaker 1>got hold of a great deal which had belonged to

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<v Speaker 1>the other or to the other's allies. What was to

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<v Speaker 1>be given back and what was to be kept? Is

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<v Speaker 1>this island worth that peninsula? If we do this at Venice,

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<v Speaker 1>will you do that at Sierra Leone? If we give

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<v Speaker 1>up Egypt to the Sultan? Will you restore the cape

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<v Speaker 1>of good Hope which you have taken from our allies,

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<v Speaker 1>the Dutch. So we wrangled and wrestled, and I have

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<v Speaker 1>seen Monsieur Otto come back to the embassy so exhausted

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<v Speaker 1>that his secretary and I had to help him from

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<v Speaker 1>carriage to his sofa. But at last things adjusted themselves,

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<v Speaker 1>and the night came round when the treaty was to

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<v Speaker 1>be finally signed. Now you must know that one great

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<v Speaker 1>card which we held, the one great card, and which

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<v Speaker 1>we played, played, played at every point of the game,

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<v Speaker 1>was that we had Egypt. The English were very nervous

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<v Speaker 1>about our being there. It gave us a foot on

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<v Speaker 1>each end of the Mediterranean, you say, and they were

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<v Speaker 1>not sure that that wonderful little Napoleon of ours might

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<v Speaker 1>not make it the base of an advance against India.

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<v Speaker 1>So whenever Lord Hawkesbury proposed to retain anything, we had

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<v Speaker 1>only to reply, in that case, of course, we cannot

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<v Speaker 1>consent to evacuate Egypt. And in this way we quickly

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<v Speaker 1>brought him to reason. It was by the help of

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<v Speaker 1>Egypt that we gained terms that were remarkably favorable, and

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<v Speaker 1>especially that we caused the English to consent to give

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<v Speaker 1>up the Cape of Good Hope. We did not wish

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<v Speaker 1>your people, monsieur, to have any foothold in South Africa.

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<v Speaker 1>For history has taught us that the British foothold of

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<v Speaker 1>one half century is the British Empire the net. It

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<v Speaker 1>is not your army or your navy against which we

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<v Speaker 1>have to guard, but it is your terrible younger son

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<v Speaker 1>and your man in search of a career, When we

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<v Speaker 1>friends have at possession across the seas. We like to

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<v Speaker 1>sit in Paris and to felicitate ourselves upon it. With you,

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<v Speaker 1>it is different. You take your wives and your children,

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<v Speaker 1>and you run away to see what kind of a

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<v Speaker 1>place this may be. And after that we might as

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<v Speaker 1>well try to take that old square of Bloomsbury away

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<v Speaker 1>from you. But well, it was upon the first of

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<v Speaker 1>October that the treaty was finally to be signed. In

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<v Speaker 1>the morning I was congratulating monsieur Otto upon the happy

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<v Speaker 1>conclusion of his labors. He was a little pale shrimp

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<v Speaker 1>of a man, very quick and nervous, and he was

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<v Speaker 1>so delighted now at his own success that he could

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<v Speaker 1>not sit still, but ran about the room, chattering and laughing,

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<v Speaker 1>while I sat on a cushion in the corner, as

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<v Speaker 1>I had learned to do in the East. Suddenly in

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<v Speaker 1>came a messenger with a letter which had been forwarded

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<v Speaker 1>from Paris. Monsieur Otto cast his eyes upon it, and then,

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<v Speaker 1>without a word, his knees gave way, and he fell

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<v Speaker 1>senseless upon the floor. I ran to him, as did

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<v Speaker 1>the courier, and between us we carried him to the sofa.

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<v Speaker 1>He might have been dead from his appearance, but I

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<v Speaker 1>could steal Phila's heart thrilling beneath my palm. What is this, then,

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<v Speaker 1>I asked, I I do not know, answered the messenger.

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<v Speaker 1>Monsieur Talian told me to hurry as never man hurried before,

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<v Speaker 1>and to put this letter into the hands of Monsieur Otto.

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<v Speaker 1>I was in Paris at mid day yesterday. I know

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<v Speaker 1>that I am to blame, but I could not help

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<v Speaker 1>glancing at the letter, picking it out of the senseless

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<v Speaker 1>hand of Monsieur Otto. My god, the thunderbolt that it was,

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<v Speaker 1>I did not faint, but I sat down beside my

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<v Speaker 1>chief and I burst into tears. It was but a

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<v Speaker 1>few words, but they told us that Egypt had been

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<v Speaker 1>evacuated by our troops a month before. All our treaty

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<v Speaker 1>was undone. Then in the one consideration which had induced

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<v Speaker 1>our enemies to give us good terms and vanished in

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<v Speaker 1>twelve hours, it would not have mattered. But now the

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<v Speaker 1>treaty was not yet signed. We should have to give

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<v Speaker 1>up the cape. We should have to let England have Malta.

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<v Speaker 1>Now that Egypt was gone. We had nothing to offer

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<v Speaker 1>in exchange. Ah, But we are not so easily beaten

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<v Speaker 1>we frenchmen. You English misjudge us when you think that

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<v Speaker 1>because we show emotions which you conceal, that we are

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<v Speaker 1>therefore of a weak and womanly nature. You cannot read

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<v Speaker 1>your histories and believe that. Monsieur Otto recovered his sense presently,

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<v Speaker 1>and we took counsel. What we should do? It is

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<v Speaker 1>useless to go on, Alphonse said, he this Englishman will

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<v Speaker 1>laugh at me when I ask him to sign courage,

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<v Speaker 1>I cried, and then a sudden thought came into my head.

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<v Speaker 1>How do we know that the English will have news

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<v Speaker 1>of this? Perhaps they may sign the treaty before they

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<v Speaker 1>know of it. Monsieur Otto sprang from the sofa and

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<v Speaker 1>flung himself into my arms. Del Fonse, he cried, you

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<v Speaker 1>have saved me. Why should they know about it? Our

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<v Speaker 1>news has come from Toulon to Paris and then straight

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<v Speaker 1>to London. Theirs will come by sea through the straits

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<v Speaker 1>of Gibral. At this moment it is unlikely that anyone

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<v Speaker 1>in Paris knows of it, save only Talyland on the

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<v Speaker 1>First Council. If we keep our secret, we may still

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<v Speaker 1>get our treaty sign ah, Monsieur, you can imagine the

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<v Speaker 1>horrible uncertainty in which we spent the day. Never, never

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<v Speaker 1>shall I forget those slow hours during which we sat together,

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<v Speaker 1>starting at every distant shout, lest it should be the

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<v Speaker 1>first sign of the rejoicing which this news would cause.

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<v Speaker 1>In London, Monsieur Otto passed from youth to age in

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<v Speaker 1>a day. As for me, I find it easier to

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<v Speaker 1>go out and meet danger than to wait for it.

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<v Speaker 1>I set forth Therefore, toward evening I wandered here and

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<v Speaker 1>wandered there. I was in the fencing rooms of Monsieur Angelo,

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<v Speaker 1>and in the cell on the box of Monsieur Jackson,

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<v Speaker 1>and in the club of Brooks, and in the lobby

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<v Speaker 1>of the Chamber of Deputies. But nowhere did I hear

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<v Speaker 1>any news. Still, it was possible that my Lord Hawkesbury

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<v Speaker 1>had received it himself, just as we had. He lived

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<v Speaker 1>in Harley Street, and there it was that the treaty

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<v Speaker 1>was to be finally signed. That night, at eight I

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<v Speaker 1>entreated Monsieur to drink two glasses of Burgundy before he went,

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<v Speaker 1>for I feared lest his haggard face and trembling hands

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<v Speaker 1>should arouse suspicion in the English minister. Well, we went

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<v Speaker 1>round together in one of the embassy's carriages. About half

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<v Speaker 1>past seven, Monsieur Otto went in alone, but presently on

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<v Speaker 1>excuse of getting his portfolio. He came out again, with

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<v Speaker 1>his cheeks flushed with joy, to tell me that all

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<v Speaker 1>was well. He knows nothing, he whispered. Ah, if the

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<v Speaker 1>next half hour were over, give me a sign when

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<v Speaker 1>it is settled, said I. For what reason? Because until

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<v Speaker 1>then no messenger shall interrupt you. I give you my promise.

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<v Speaker 1>I alphonse la caire. He clasped my hands in both

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<v Speaker 1>of his. I shall make an excuse to move one

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<v Speaker 1>of the candles on to the table in the window,

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<v Speaker 1>said he, and hurried into the house, whilst I was

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<v Speaker 1>left waiting beside the carriage. Well, if we could but

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<v Speaker 1>secure ourselves from interruption for a single half hour, the

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<v Speaker 1>day would be our own. I had hardly begun to

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<v Speaker 1>form my plans when I saw the lights of a

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<v Speaker 1>carriage coming swiftly from the direction of Oxford STREETA. Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>if it should be the messenger, what could I do?

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<v Speaker 1>I was prepared to kill him, Yes, even to kill him,

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<v Speaker 1>rather than at this last moment allow our work to

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<v Speaker 1>be Undone thousands die to make a glorious war Why

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<v Speaker 1>should not one die to make a glorious peace? What

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<v Speaker 1>though they hurried me to the scaffold, I should have

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<v Speaker 1>sacrificed myself in my country. I had a little curved

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<v Speaker 1>turkish knife strapped to my waist. My hand was on

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<v Speaker 1>the hilt of it. When the carriage which had alarmed

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<v Speaker 1>me so rattled safely past me. But another might come.

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<v Speaker 1>I must be prepared, above all, I must not compromise

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<v Speaker 1>the embassy. I ordered our carriage to move on, and

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<v Speaker 1>I engaged what you call a Hackney coach. Then I

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<v Speaker 1>spoke to the driver and gave him a guinea. He

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<v Speaker 1>understood that it was a special service. You shall have

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<v Speaker 1>another guinea if you do what you are told, said I.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh art Master, said he, and turned his slow eyes

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<v Speaker 1>upon me, without a trace of excitement of curiosity. If

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<v Speaker 1>I enter your coach with another gin, you will drive

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<v Speaker 1>up and down Harley Street and take no orders from

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<v Speaker 1>any one but me. When I get out, you will

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<v Speaker 1>carry the other gentleman to Wakyer's Club in Bruton Street.

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<v Speaker 1>Or Master, said he again. So I stood outside my

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<v Speaker 1>Lord Hawkesbury's house, and you can think how often my

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<v Speaker 1>eyes went up to that window in the help of

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<v Speaker 1>seeing the candle twinkle in it. Five minutes passed and

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<v Speaker 1>another five. Oh, how slowly they crept along. It was

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<v Speaker 1>a true October night, raw and cold, with a white

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<v Speaker 1>fog crawling over the wet, shining cobblestones and blurring the

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<v Speaker 1>dim oil lamps. I could not see fifty paces in

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<v Speaker 1>either direction, but my ears were straining, straining to catch

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<v Speaker 1>the rattle of hoofs or the rumble of wheels. It's

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<v Speaker 1>not a cheering place, monsieur, this street of Harley, even

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<v Speaker 1>upon a sunny day. The houses are solid and very

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<v Speaker 1>respectable over yonder, but there is nothing of the feminine

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<v Speaker 1>about them. It's a city to be inhabited by males.

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<v Speaker 1>But on that raw night, amid the damp and the fog,

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<v Speaker 1>with the anxiety gnawing at my heart, it seemed the saddest,

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<v Speaker 1>weariest spot in the whole wide world. I paced up

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<v Speaker 1>and down, slapping my hands to keep them warm, and

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<v Speaker 1>still straining my ears. And then suddenly, out of the

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<v Speaker 1>dull hum of the traffic down in Oxford Street, I

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<v Speaker 1>heard a sound detach itself and grow louder and louder,

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<v Speaker 1>and clearer and clearer with every instant until two yellow

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<v Speaker 1>lights came flashing through the fog, and a light cabriolet

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<v Speaker 1>whirled up to the door of the Foreign Minister. It

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<v Speaker 1>had not stopped before a young fellow sprang out of

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<v Speaker 1>it and hurried to the steps, while the driver turned

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<v Speaker 1>his horse and rattled off into the fog once more. Ah,

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<v Speaker 1>it is in the moment of action that I am best, Monsieur. You,

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<v Speaker 1>who only see me when I am drinking my wine

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<v Speaker 1>in the Cafe de Pravens, cannot conceive the heights to

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<v Speaker 1>which I rise. At that moment, when I knew that

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<v Speaker 1>the fruit of a ten years wore at stake, I

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<v Speaker 1>was magnificent. It was the last French campaign, and I

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<v Speaker 1>the general and army in one Sir, said I, touching

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<v Speaker 1>him upon the arm Are you the messenger fort Hawksberry, Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>said he, I've been waiting for you half an hour.

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<v Speaker 1>You to follow me at once. He is with the

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<v Speaker 1>French ambassador. I spoke with such assurance that he never

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<v Speaker 1>hesitated for an instant When he entered the Hackney coach

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<v Speaker 1>and I followed him in my heart gave such a

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<v Speaker 1>thrill of joy that I could hardly keep from shouting aloud.

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<v Speaker 1>He was a poor little creature, this Foreign Office messenger

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<v Speaker 1>not much bigger than Monsieur Ratteau. And I, Monsieur can

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<v Speaker 1>see my hands now and imagine what they were like

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<v Speaker 1>when I was seven and twenty years of age. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>now that I had him in my coach, the question

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<v Speaker 1>was what I should do with him. I did not

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<v Speaker 1>wish to hurt him if I could help it. This

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<v Speaker 1>is pressing business, said he. I have a dispatch which

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<v Speaker 1>I must deliver instantly. Our coach had rattled down Harley Street,

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<v Speaker 1>but now in accordance with my instruction, had turned and

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<v Speaker 1>began to go up again. Hello, Hello, he cried, what's this? What? Then?

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<v Speaker 1>I asked, we are driving back. Where is Lord Hawkesbury?

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<v Speaker 1>We shall see him presently. Let me out, Let me out,

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<v Speaker 1>he shouted, There some trickery in this coachman stopped the coach.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me out, I say, I dashed him back into

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<v Speaker 1>his seat. As he tried to turn the handle of

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<v Speaker 1>the door, he roared for help. I clapped my palm

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<v Speaker 1>across his mouth. He made his teeth meet through the

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<v Speaker 1>side of it. I seized his own cravat and bounded

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<v Speaker 1>over his lips. He still mumbled and gurgled, but the

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<v Speaker 1>noise was covered by the rattle of our wheels. We

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<v Speaker 1>were passing the minister's house, and there was no candle

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<v Speaker 1>in the window. The messenger sat quiet for a little

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<v Speaker 1>and I could see the glint of his eyes as

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<v Speaker 1>he stared at me through the gloom. He was partly stunned,

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<v Speaker 1>I think, by the force with which I had hurled

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<v Speaker 1>him into his seat, and also he was pondering, perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>what he should do next. Presently he got his mouth

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<v Speaker 1>partly free from the cravat. You can have my watch

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<v Speaker 1>and my purse if you will let me go, said he.

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<v Speaker 1>Sir said, I I am as honorable a man as

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<v Speaker 1>you are yourself. Who are you? Then? My name is

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<v Speaker 1>of no importance? What do you What do you want

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<v Speaker 1>with me? It? It is a bet, a bet? But

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<v Speaker 1>what do you mean? And you understand that I'm on

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<v Speaker 1>the government service and that you will see the inside

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<v Speaker 1>of jail, for there that is the bet. That is

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<v Speaker 1>the sport, said I. You will find a poor sport

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<v Speaker 1>before you finish. He cried, what is this insane bet

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<v Speaker 1>of yours? Then I have bet, I answered that I

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<v Speaker 1>will recite a chapter of the Koran to the first

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<v Speaker 1>gentleman whom I should meet in the street. Well, I

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<v Speaker 1>don't know what what would me think of it? Save

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<v Speaker 1>that my translation was always running in my head. He

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<v Speaker 1>clutched at the door handle, and again I had to

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<v Speaker 1>hurl him back into his seat. How long will it take,

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<v Speaker 1>he gasped. It depends on the chapter, I answered, A

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<v Speaker 1>short one, then, and let me go. But is it fair?

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<v Speaker 1>I argued. When I say a chapter, I do not

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<v Speaker 1>mean the shortest chapter, but rather one which should be

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<v Speaker 1>of average length. Help, help, help, he squealed, and I

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00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:54.080
<v Speaker 1>was compelled again to adjust his cravat. A little patient,

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<v Speaker 1>said I, and will soon be over. I should like

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<v Speaker 1>to recite the chapter which would be of most interest

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<v Speaker 1>to yourself. Will confess that I am trying to make

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<v Speaker 1>things as pleasant as I can for you. He slipped

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<v Speaker 1>his mouth free again, quick, then quick he groaned up

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<v Speaker 1>the chapter of a camel, I suggested, Oh yes, yes,

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<v Speaker 1>or that of the fleet's Stagion, Oh yes, yes, only proceed.

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<v Speaker 1>We had passed the window and there was no candle.

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<v Speaker 1>I settled down to recite the chapter of the Stagion

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<v Speaker 1>to him. Perhaps you do not know you Koren? Very well, monsieur, well,

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<v Speaker 1>I knew it by heart then, as I know it

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<v Speaker 1>by heart now. The style is a little exasperating for

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<v Speaker 1>anyone who is in a hurry, But then what would

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<v Speaker 1>you have. The people in the east are never in

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<v Speaker 1>a hurry, and it was written for them. I repeated

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<v Speaker 1>it all with the dignity and solemnity which a sacred

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<v Speaker 1>book demands. And the young Englishman he wriggled and groaned.

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<v Speaker 1>When the horses, standing on three feet and placing the

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<v Speaker 1>tip of their fourth foot upon the ground, were mustered

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<v Speaker 1>in front of him in the evening, he said, I

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<v Speaker 1>have loved the love of earthly good above the remembrance

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<v Speaker 1>of things on high, and have spent the time in

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<v Speaker 1>viewing these horses. Bring the horses back to me. And

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<v Speaker 1>when they were brought back, he began to cut off

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<v Speaker 1>their legs. It was at this moment that the young

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<v Speaker 1>Englishman sprang at me, My God, how little can I

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<v Speaker 1>remember the next few minutes. He was a boxer, this

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<v Speaker 1>shred of a man he had been trained to strike.

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<v Speaker 1>I tried to catch him by the hands back pack.

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<v Speaker 1>He came upon my nose and upon my eye. I

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<v Speaker 1>put down my head and thrust at him with it.

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<v Speaker 1>Pack he came from below, But ha I was too

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<v Speaker 1>much for him. I hurled myself upon him, and he

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<v Speaker 1>had no place where he could escape from my weight.

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<v Speaker 1>He fell flat upon the cushions, and I seated myself

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<v Speaker 1>upon him with such conviction that the wind flew from

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<v Speaker 1>him as from a burst bellows. Then I searched to

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<v Speaker 1>see what there was with which I could tie him.

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<v Speaker 1>I drew the strings from my shoes, and with one

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<v Speaker 1>I secured his wrists, and with another his ankles. Then

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<v Speaker 1>I tied the clovat round his mouth again, so that

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<v Speaker 1>he could only lie and glare at me. When I

351
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<v Speaker 1>had done all this, and it stopped the bleeding of

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<v Speaker 1>my own nose, I looked out of the couch, and, Ah, monsieur,

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<v Speaker 1>the very first thing that caught my eyes was that candle,

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<v Speaker 1>that dear little candle, glimmering in the window of the minister.

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<v Speaker 1>Alone with these two hands, I had retrieved the capitulation

356
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<v Speaker 1>of an army and the loss of a province. Yes, monsieur,

357
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<v Speaker 1>what Abercrombie and five thousand men had done upon the

358
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<v Speaker 1>beach of Abukuire was undone by me, single handed. In

359
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<v Speaker 1>a Hackney coach in Harley Street, well, of course, I

360
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<v Speaker 1>had no time to lose, for at any moment Monsieur

361
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<v Speaker 1>Otto might be down. I shouted to my driver, gave

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<v Speaker 1>him his second guinea, and allowed him to proceed to Watier's.

363
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<v Speaker 1>For myself. I sprang into our embassy carriage, and a

364
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<v Speaker 1>moment later the door of the minister opened. He had

365
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<v Speaker 1>himself escorted Monsieur Otto downstairs, and now so deep was

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<v Speaker 1>he in talk that he walked out, bareheaded, as far

367
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<v Speaker 1>as the carriage. As I stood there by the open door,

368
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<v Speaker 1>there came the rattle of wheels, and a man rushed

369
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<v Speaker 1>down the pavement, a dispatch of great importance from Alorrd Hawksberry.

370
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<v Speaker 1>He cried, I could see that it was not my messenger,

371
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<v Speaker 1>but a second one. Lord Hawkesbury caught the paper from

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<v Speaker 1>his hand and read it by the light of the

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<v Speaker 1>carriage lamp. His face Monsieur was as white as this plate.

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<v Speaker 1>Before he had finished, Monsieur Ratto, he cried, we have

375
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<v Speaker 1>signed this treaty upon a false understanding. Egypt is in

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<v Speaker 1>our hands. What what cried Monsieur otter m poseubrus. It

377
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<v Speaker 1>is certain it fell to Abercrombie last month. In that case,

378
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<v Speaker 1>said Monsieur Ratto. It is very fortunate that the treaty

379
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<v Speaker 1>is signed. Very fortunate for you, sir, cried my Lord Hawkesberry,

380
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<v Speaker 1>and he turned back to the house. Next day, Monsieur

381
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<v Speaker 1>what they call the Bow Street runners were after me,

382
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<v Speaker 1>but they could not run across salt water, and Alphonse

383
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<v Speaker 1>Laqueur was receiving the congratulations of Monsieur Talleyrand and the

384
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<v Speaker 1>First Council. Before ever his pursuers had got as far

385
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<v Speaker 1>as Dover, and of a Foreign Office romance by Arthur

386
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<v Speaker 1>Conan Doyle