The Russian Minister of the Interior happened to be in the
green-room, and on my personal guarantee as to the identity of the
Widnes youth, he wrote an order to the police on his visiting-
card, bidding them to leave the goggle-eyed boy in peace. I really
tremble to think of the reports this family must have circulated
upon their return to Widnes (or Runcorn) as to the frivolity of
junior members of the British Diplomatic Service, who dressed up
as old women, and used bad language about Chantilly lace.
There is a wearisome formality known as "legalising" which took up
much time at the Berlin Embassy. Commercial agreements, if they
are to be binding in two countries, say Germany and England, have
to be "legalised," and this must be done at the Embassy, not at
the Consulate. The individual bringing the document has to make a
sworn affidavit that the contents of his papers are true; he then
signs it, the dry-seal of the Embassy is embossed on it, and a
rubber stamp impressed, declaring that the affidavit has been duly
sworn to before a member of the Embassy staff.
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