made itself heard. There was but one cry--for
the return of Prince Alexander. At once he consented to fulfil his
people's desire; and, travelling by railway through Bukharest, he
reached the banks of the Danube and set foot on his yacht, not now a
prisoner, but the hero of the German, Magyar, and Balkan peoples. At
Rustchuk officers and deputies bore him ashore shoulder-high to the
enthusiastic people. He received a welcome even from the Consul-General
for Russia--a fact which led him to take a false step. Later in the day,
when Stambuloff was not present, he had an interview with this agent,
and then sent a telegram to the Czar, announcing his return, his thanks
for his friendly reception by Russia's chief agent, and his readiness to
accept the advice of General Dolgorukoff. The telegram ended thus:--

I should be happy to be able to give to Your Majesty the
definitive proof of the devotion with which I am animated
towards Your august person. The monarchical principle forces
me to re-establish the reign of law (_la legalite_) in
Bulgaria and Roumelia. Russia having given me my crown, I am
ready to give it back into the hands of its Sovereign.

To this the Czar sent the following telegraphic reply, and allowed it to
appear at once in the official paper at St. Petersburg:--

I have received Your Highness's telegram. I cannot approve
your return to Bulgaria, as I foresee the sinister
consequences that it may bring on Bulgaria, already so much
tried. The mission of General Dolgorukoff is now inopportune.
I shall abstain from it in the sad state of things to which
Bulgaria is reduced so long as you remain there. Your
Highness will understand what you have to do. I reserve my
judgment as to what is commanded me by the venerated memory
of my father, the interests of Russia, and the peace of the
Orient[215].

[Footnote 215: A. von Huhn, _The Kidnapping of Prince Alexander_, chap.
xi. (London, 1887). Article III. of the Treaty of Berlin ran thus: "The
Prince of Bulgaria shall be freely elected by the population and
confirmed by the Sublime Porte, with the assent of the Powers." Russia
had no right to _choose_ the Prince, and her _assent_ to his election
was only that of _one_ among the six Great Powers. The mistake of Prince
Alexander is therefore inexplicable.]

What led the Prince to use the extraordinary words contained in the last
sentenc