morning call, the SHAH LEFEVRE walked in.  Had never heard of him before, but gathered from CHAKIR PACHA, who had been talking to WAHAN EFFENDI, who, had seen WOODS PACHA, who had spent an hour with VAMBERY, upon whom SHAH LEFEVRE had called, that the SHAH was really the mainspring of the Liberal Party in England, GLADSTONE being merely figure-head, HARCOURT in his pay, and CHAMBERLAIN suffering in exile under his displeasure.  Allah is Good!  Here was a chance thrown into my hands.  I forgot all about FREDERICK HARRISON; told CHAKIR PACHA and WAHAN EFFENDI to entertain the SHAH in the ante-chamber with coffee and cigarettes, drawing him out on Armenia and Egypt.  Meanwhile I crept under the sofa, and heard every word.  The SHAH very stern about Armenia, could not be drawn about Egypt.  At end of hour and half began to get tired under sofa; managed to stick in WAHAN EFFENDI’s Wellington boot a note, on which I had written, ’Take him to see my horse.’  So they went off to stable, and, as soon as coast was clear, I crept out; shut myself up in room for rest of day.  Heard afterwards that they came back, the SHAH much impressed with appearance of my horse; resumed conversation on Armenia and Egypt for another hour; at last got rid of SHAH.

“At night VAMBERY, disguised as melon-seller, entered Palace and gained access to my room.  Told me fearful mess had been made of matters.  The SHAH really didn’t care about seeing the horse; wanted to see me.  Talks about ordering round the Fleet.  ’Better ask him to dinner,’ said VAMBERY; so despatched Grand Chamberlain in carriage and six.  The SHAH mollified; gave him a good dinner:  plenty of electric lights.  Afterwards he was good enough to see me on the dais.  Tried to get him to promise alteration in attitude of English Liberal Party towards me; also wanted him to settle at once withdrawal of troops from Egypt, But, though most urbane in manner, exceedingly cautious.  Not to be drawn.  Talk about Eastern statecraft! nothing to you English, as represented by jour SHAH LEFEVRES.  When I pressed him to come to point about Egypt, he said, ’On this subject I can only speak my own views.  I am not authorised to speak on behalf of those I am politically associated with, but personally I am opposed to the occupation of Egypt by English troops.’  There’s an answer for you!  Your MACHIAVELLIS, your TALLEYRANDS not in it.  Felt I had wasted some time, and given away a dinner all for nothing, except the memory that will ever rest with me of having been privileged to see this remarkable man standing on my dais.”

Here the SULTAN clapped his hands three times, and Our Representative, being carefully placed in a sack, was dropped into the Bosphorus, whence he was rescued in time to send off this despatch for publication in the current Number.

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ACCIDENT ON THE ICE.—­The other day a gentleman, well known in the world of Sport and Art, was skating on the Serpentine, and fell in with a friend.  Both were getting on well when our reporter left.