Prince Boris turned aside to
talk with the Secretary, who had resumed taking notes. The King
continued pacing to and fro, evidently very nettled. Then, approaching
M. Zanoff, and as if to change the conversation, he asked him for news
about this season's harvest.
M. Zanoff abruptly replied: "Your Majesty knows that we have not come
here to talk about the harvest, but of something far more important at
present, namely, the policy of your Government, which is on the point of
ruining our country. We can on no account approve the policy that is
anti-Russian. If the Crown and M. Radoslavoff persist in their policy we
shall not answer for the consequences. We have not desired to seek out
those responsible for the disaster of 1913, because other grave events
have been precipitated. But it was a disaster due to criminal folly. It
must not be repeated by an attack on Serbia by Bulgaria, as seems
contemplated by M. Radoslavoff, and which according to all appearances,
has the approval of your Majesty. It would be a premeditated crime, and
deserve to be punished."
The King hesitated a moment, and then held out his hand to M. Zanoff,
saying: "All right. At all events I thank you for your frankness." Then,
approaching M. Stambulivski, he repeated to him his question about the
harvest.
M. Stambulivski, as a simple peasant, at first allowed himself to be led
into a discussion of this secondary matter, and had expressed the hope
that the prohibition on the export of cereals would be removed, when he
suddenly remembered, and said:
"But this is not the moment to speak of these things.
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