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Show ' When the father of the present czar of Russia, after the death of his minister of finance, could find no successor among the aristocratic clique, he received Sergius Witte in audience. The following fol-lowing authentic and highly characteristic dialogue dia-logue ensued: "I appoint you herewith my minister min-ister of finances. By the way, I learned, Mr. y Witte, that you are single." "Excuse me, sire," exclaimed the hero of Portsmouth. B.ut the czar said quickly, and with irritating emphasis: "Then, 'tis understood, you are single." Mr. Witte's wife, who divorced her first husband, a Jewish banker, to share the destinies of the Russian Rus-sian Colbert, as he is called by his numerous admirers, ad-mirers, does not exist for the imperial court. |