was waiting for him with the carriage:

"Did you see who went out of the house just now?" "Yes, your Excellency," answered the coachman, "a young man, dressed in

"Where did he go?"

"Around the corner. Why, there he is crossing the

street."

"Policeman," shouted the advisor.

The policeman came up running, and saluted his superior. The latter whispered something in his ear and pointed out the person noticed by the coachman.

"Yes, your Excellency," answered the policeman and blew his whistle.

III.

"Drive to the governor!" ordered the advisor, entering his carriage. In fifteen minutes Formalin, greatly excited, was entering the reception room of the governor.

"Does his Excellency receive?" he asked, turning to the secretary.

"Not yet," answered the latter, bowing respectfully, “but he probably will soon."

"Announce me. I have a very important matter."
"Yes, sir."

"The secretary went out, and Formalin began to pace the floor impatiently. The latter soon returned and told him the governor would see him. Formalin quickly entered the governor's private office.

"What's the matter?" asked the governor.

"They placed a bomb in front of my door," answered the advisor, looking straight at the governor.

"A bomb?" exclaimed the governor, instinctively stepping back.

"Yes, a bomb."

"Well, and what happened? Who did it? How? What steps have you taken?"

"I was going out of the house when I saw a young man hurriedly coming down the steps; before the door a bomb. "So it has reached us at last? Well, was the guilty one arrested?"

"I pointed him out to the policeman, but do not know." "Well, we will soon find out. Take a chair, George."

IV.

The governor rang the bell, and the secretary promptly came to the door.

"Send the chancellor to me at once," ordered the gov

ernor.

"Yes, sir," answered the secretary and turned to go, but the governor stopped him with a new order:

"Phone the chief of police to come here."

"He has just arrived."

"That's good. Send him in at once.

Another thing: tell

the petitioners, if any come, that I do not receive to-day.' "Yes, sir."

The secretary went out and a minute later the chief of police entered.

"Well, do you know what has happened?" asked the gov

ernor.

"Yes, your Excellency," answered the chief in a loud voice; "the sergeant will soon bring in the report, but I hurried here to announce it in person.'

"Well, let us hear how the matter stands."

According to the order of his Excellency (pointing to Formalin), the policeman, after calling two more to his help, followed the culprit, and when the latter, thinking all was safe, stopped, they seized him.”

"Fine," put in the governor, "recommend them for promotion."

"I took the liberty to order the sergeant to mention them in the report."

"Yes, yes. Well, go on!"

"The prisoner put up a strong fight."

"Aha! he resisted?"

"Yes, it was necessary to use force."
“Of course, of course!"

"You could not be expected to pat them on the head," put in the advisor.

"Well," asked the governor impatiently, "have you identified him?"

"Not yet, your Excellency: the first thing I did was to prevent any possibility of escape, and so ordered him put in chains; then I informed the gendarme department and the district attorney, and the latter ordered to send him to jail." "Quite right, quite right."

At that moment the secretary announced the arrival of the chancellor.

"Show him in," replied the governor.

The secretary went out, and the chancellor, with a portfolio under his arm, entered and bowed.

"Good morning, Peter," the governor greeted him, extending his hand.

"Good morning, your Excellency," answered the chancellor. Then he shook hands with Formalin.

"Well, have you heard?" asked the governor.

"Yes, the chief of police told me all about it."

"You had better call up the chief of the gendarme department and the district attorney."

"Yes, sir."

"Then, it is imperative to send a telegram at once to the minister of the interior. How many times we told them of the necessity of having martial law here, and yet they do not pay any attention to us."

"I suppose he is waiting till some one gets hurt before he will do anything," put in Formalin.

"Ha, ha; so you have joined the opposition and find fault with the government? Ha, ha! Well, though I am a governor I fully agree with you. Indeed it looks as if they are waiting till we are blown to pieces by bombs. As a matter of fact, bomb throwing has become an every-day occurrence and it is but natural to expect it here also. Well, it is here. Peter, finish the telegram as follows: Repeating my former requests, I again ask for the establishment of martial law here. You also, chief, have often expressed your view in this."

"Yes, indeed, your Excellency," answered the chief; "why even at ordinary times the police have all they can do to handle the rabble. We have not even got a good detective force."

"Undoubtedly," agreed the governor. "Why, even now, if it had not been for an accident, if Mr. Formalin had not happened to go to work, the house might be already demolished. By the way, what object could there be in placing a bomb in front of Mr. Formalin's residence?"

"I think, your Excellency," answered the chief, lowering his voice and looking around, "that this was an attempt on your life."

"You think so?"

"You see, your Excellency is accustomed, though rarely, to visit Mr. Formalin and so they might have————”

"Very likely, very likely. I will have to call the attention of the gendarme department and the district attorney to this; and you, Peter, inform the minister of the interior of the opinion expressed by the police."

The chancellor nodded assent. At that moment the secretary announced the arrival of the sergeant from the 3d district. "Let him come in," ordered the governor.

The sergeant entered and saluted.

མ.

"Your report." The chief extended his hand.

"Here it is," answered the sergeant, handing the paper. "Permit me, your Excellency, to run through and sign it."

"All right, go ahead," answered the governor, and, turning to the sergeant, he said: "In the meantime you tell us how the matter stands. Yes, Peter, go ahead and do what's necessary; call up the district attorney, the chief of the gendarme deparment, send the telegram, and you might also tell the colonel of the regiment to come here."

"Yes, sir," answered the chancellor, and went out.

"Well, go ahead." The governor again turned to the sergeant.

"At the present moment, your Excellency, the police, together with the assistant district attorney and the adjutant of the chief of the gendarme department are making a preliminary examination. The bomb is guarded by two policemen and no one is allowed to leave or enter the house. they do not know how to examine the bomb itself, and they are discussing plans."

"Yes indeed!"

But

"The report is ready, your Excellency," the chief interrupted the governor, handing him the paper.

"All right, thank you. It contains everything that you told me?"

"Everything, your Excellency."

"Very well. Go and take further measures and increase the surveillance. To-morrow we will probably have martial law proclaimed here. About the bomb, now? Indeed it is dangerous to handle it."

"Had I not better call out the fire department, your Excellency?" asked the chief.

"The fire department? Well, you might. That's in case the bomb bursts?"

"Yes, your Excellency. A fire might start and-"

"Yes, yes, of course. By the way, have we no instructions regarding bombs?"

"None whatever, your Excellency."

"Strange! What are they thinking of in Petersburg, anyway? Bombs have been known for so long a time, and yet it is not known what to do with them."

"Perhaps I had better invite the city doctor?"

"Ha, ha. What has the doctor to do with it?"

"Don't know, your Excellency. I was just thinking that doctors make all sorts of mixtures. Well, perhaps the druggist."

"No, no! If anyone, it would sooner be the instructor in chemistry or physics."

"Shall I invite them?"

"Well, you had better see the legal department. They will tell you what to do."

"Yes, your Excellency." The chief and the sergeant withdrew.

VI.

"And you, George," the governor turned to the advisor of the state administration, “had better wait till the arrival of the district attorney and the chief of the gendarme department. We will talk it over together. Then, too, we had better call in the lieutenant-governor. Yes, we are having great times." "Terrible!" assented Formalin.

They both became silent and with bowed heads began to pace the floor. In a little while the secretary came in and

announced:

"Your Excellency, the chief of police wants to talk to you personally over the phone."

"Personally?"

"Yes, sir. I asked him to tell me what the matter was, but he said that he must speak to you personally."

"Then he must have discovered something new," said the governor, going to the phone. He soon returned pale and excited.

"What is the matter?" asked the terrified Formalin; "did it burst?"

ute."

"You have made a fine mess! There is no bomb at all!" "What?"

"Yes. The chief of police will explain to you in a min

Formalin stood speechless in the middle of the room. while the governor was pacing to and fro, until the chief of police arrived.

VII.

"Well, what is the matter?" asked the governor impatiently.

"Well, you see, your Excellency, there was a misunderstanding."

"Go ahead, and say what it was."

"His excellency (pointing to Formalin) was mistaken." "Good Lord! Misunderstanding! Mistaken! But what is it? What is it?"

"It was not a bomb at all, but a lamp globe. While the examination was being held, the porter appeared and explained the matter as follows: 'Mr. Formalin's wife bought a globe and had it sent to the house. The porter met the clerk on the way and told him to leave it near the door, and that when he returned he would take it up himself.'"

At that moment the district attorney and the chief of the gendarme department came in.