evitches are sent after the Obrenovitches." And King
Nikola's tactics were severely criticised. Either make war or
demobilize--the country could not stand the strain. I was warned not
to trust Stanko Markovitch, the Governor of Podgoritza, a sinister
figure enough, who had been raised suddenly to this height from
being master in a primary school, for "services rendered." "The
King's poisoner," said folk. "Beware!"

Foreign correspondents swarmed, and Russian officers came and
reconnoitred the frontier. The Turks occupied all the strategical
posts. Russia was not ready for war, and would not have it. Suddenly
the Maltsors were told Montenegro could do no more for them, and
they were to make peace, and go back to their burnt and pillaged
homes. Never has a people been more shamelessly betrayed. King
Nikola had used the poor creatures as a cat's paw, had failed, and
now brutally cast them out, and pretended to the Powers that
Montenegro was innocent. By brutal threats the Maltsors were induced
to accept the Turkish terms. But they stipulated I was to return
with them and stay the winter. This I undertook to do, and before
leaving was told by some one who had just had audience with the King
that owing to pressure from the Powers he had been forced to
postpone war till next year, but that Montenegrin troops would
occupy the strategical points so soon as the Turkish troops
withdrew, and I was to be ready. The Montenegrin army was, in fact,
never quite demobilized, and the King badgered the Powers
continually to order the withdrawal of the Turkish troops "which
threatened his frontier." Great Britain realized that Montenegro was
a spot which needed watching, and sent Count de Salis there as
Minister. High time, too.

I went to Scutari worn out with toil, responsibility, and the heat
which stood at 104 in the shade. France was now represented by a
Levantine Pole. Krajewsky, bitterly anti-Austrian, and very active.

English sympathy for the Maltsors had been aroused, and Mr. Nevinson
came out to report on the state of things and help me to organize
relief work. In order to close the Turkish frontier the Montenegrins
declared cholera in Scutari, though we saw no signs of it, and
quarantine was declared. We were cut off from news, and when
distributing quinine in the fever districts round Alessio learnt
suddenly that Italy had declared war, and was bombarding Tripoli. It
was a bolt from the blue. Italy had no casus belli, but