Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
2. The Knapp Commission coined the term “grass eaters” to refer to officers who did all of the following except:
a. taking offered bribes.
b. taking offered gratuities.
c. taking valuable items from crime scenes.
d. accepting unsolicited protection money.
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
4. A study of police ethics around the world revealed that in the United States, the offense considered most serious by
the officers surveyed was:
a. accepting bribes.
b. accepting kickbacks.
c. stealing from a crime scene.
d. lying under oath.
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 1
5. Barker and Carter proposed that police abuse of authority comes in all of the following areas except:
a. physical abuse.
b. psychological abuse.
c. legal abuse.
d. sexual abuse.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
6. According to Barker and Carter, harassment and ridicule are examples of which of the following types of abuse?
a. physical abuse
b. psychological abuse
c. legal abuse
d. sexual abuse
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
7. According to Barker and Carter, unlawful searchers or seizures are examples of which of the following types of
abuse?
a. physical abuse
b. psychological abuse
c. legal abuse
d. sexual abuse
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Chapter Introduction
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Chapter Introduction
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Chapter Introduction
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
11. Items of value received by an individual because of his or her role or position rather than because of a personal
relationship with the giver are called:
a. pay offs
b. gratuities.
c. bribes
d. rewards
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 3
12. Kania believes that gratuities should be allowed because:
a. officers don’t make much money.
b. they cement social bonds.
c. they are payment for special services.
d. they are without cost.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
14. An important distinction between a gift and a gratuity is that a gift is:
a. clearly given with expectations of reciprocity.
b. clearly given with no strings attached.
c. something that can only be given to an off-duty police officer.
d. something that is received from someone recently arrested.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
17. In Barker and Carter’s study, they found that up to what percent of police may have used drugs on duty?
a. 20
b. 2
c. 60
d. 40
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
18. According to Carter, the elements of police work that can lead to drug use include all of the following except:
a. exposure to a criminal element.
b. time spent in traffic patrol duties.
c. relative freedom from supervision.
d. uncontrolled availability of contraband.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
Cengage Learning Testing, Powered by Cognero Page 5
19. “Graft” is defined in the text as the exploitation of one’s role by:
a. utilizing excessive force while arresting someone.
b. utilizing excessive force to obtain a confession.
c. accepting free coffee from convenience stores.
d. accepting bribes, kickbacks, or protection money.
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Criminal Cops
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
23. According to the text, explanations of corruption include all of the following except:
a. individual explanations.
b. institutional explanations.
c. subcultural explanations.
d. systemic explanations.
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
24. The “rotten bushel” explanation is which type of explanation for police deviance?
a. societal
b. organizational
c. individual
d. philosophical
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Costs of Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
29. Lack of background checks, poor internal discipline procedures, and poor supervision are all examples of what type
of explanations for police deviance?
a. societal
b. organizational
c. individual
d. philosophical
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
30. Murphy and Caplan argue that each of the following societal factors lead to police corruption, except:
a. lack of support from prosecutors and the courts.
b. unfair reporting in the news media.
c. lax community standards over certain behaviors.
d. mixed messages regarding certain crimes such as prostitution.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.04 - Describe societal explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
PREFACE NAME: Case 7.1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Apply
32. At break time, you and Officer Jones stop for coffee and a snack at a local diner. When it is time to return to patrol,
you are surprised to see Officer Jones get up and leave without paying. He explains that the owner of the diner
doesn’t charge police officers, which is why he chose that particular diner. This is an illustration of:
a. graft
b. gratuity
c. abuse of power
d. professional courtesy
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
PREFACE NAME: Case 7.1
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Apply
33. While on patrol, Officer Jones notices a car that is parked illegally. He uses his cell phone to call a towing company,
identifying himself as a “friend” on the phone. When the tow truck arrives, the driver thanks Officer Jones for calling
in the job, and discreetly hands him a twenty-dollar bill. This is an example of:
a. graft.
b. gratuity.
c. abuse of power.
d. professional courtesy.
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Apply
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Apply
After completing your observations of Officer Jones, you are asked to summarize your observations for a study
being conducted by an ethicist studying police behavior.
35. In the above example regarding the driver who ran the red light, we could say that Jones’ actions were unethical
because he had a duty to enforce the law. This viewpoint would be consistent with a(n) ___________ ethical
system.
a. deontological
b. teleological
c. ethics of care
d. ethics of virtue
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
PREFACE NAME: Case 7.2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Apply
36. Let’s assume that the driver turned out to be an undercover police officer who was engaged in surveillance. Jones
intended at first to write a citation. However, when he found out the driver was an officer, he decided to let him go,
so that the undercover officer would not have attention drawn to him while Jones wrote the citation. Jones decided
that letting the officer go would best serve the greater good. This would be consistent with:
a. universality
b. professional courtesy
c. utilitarianism
d. deontology
ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
PREFACE NAME: Case 7.2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Apply
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
PREFACE NAME: Case 7.2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Apply
You have been hired to consult with the new chief of a police department that has been fraught with complaints of
officer misconduct.
38. You draft recommendations to improve the hiring process. You advise the chief that one particular category of
recruits was more likely to be terminated during probation. Which group is this?
a. Hispanic recruits
b. recruits with only a high school diploma
c. recruits with military experience
d. recruits under the age of 22
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
PREFACE NAME: Case 7.4
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
39. The chief explains that the department has its own section dedicated to monitoring the department’s officers
and investigating complaints. This is known as:
a. the self-policing model.
b. the internal affairs model.
c. a consent decree.
d. the “rotten barrel” scenario.
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
PREFACE NAME: Case 7.4
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
PREFACE NAME: Case 7.4
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Apply
41. Studies indicate that gratuities do not influence the way that officers patrol.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
42. Transparency International finds that the country with the highest integrity scores for their law enforcement agencies
include the United States.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Chapter Introduction
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
43. In the international study of police integrity, officers in the United States rated theft from crime scenes as the most
serious form of misconduct.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
46. In Macintyre and Prenzler’s study of whether police officers would issue a ticket to a business owner who
gave them gratuities, less than half said they would issue the ticket.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
47. According to a 2006 study of police in New York City, the most common reason for termination was a failed drug
test.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
49. There is no evidence to indicate that police behavior is influenced by the possibility of civil lawsuits.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Costs of Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
50. Research shows that there is no relation between an officer’s level of education and the number of
citizen complaints received.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
51. Because gratuities are seen as a gateway to more serious corruption, all American police departments have strict
“no gratuities” policies.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
53. Noble-cause corruption is a type of organizational level explanation for police deviance.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
54. According to Gilmartin and Harris, an officer’s “continuum of compromise” begins when he or she perceives a
sense of victimization on the job.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
55. Greene’s study showed that the area an officer patrols is associated with the likelihood of receiving
discipline, complaints, or becoming involved in police shootings.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.04 - Describe societal explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: corruption
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
57. The phrase ________________ was used by the Knapp Commission to describe NYC police officers who were
taking bribes, gratuities, and unsolicited protection money and who were fairly passive in their deviant practices.
58. The phrase ________________ was used by the Knapp Commission to describe deviant NYC police officers who
engaged in shakedowns, shopped at burglary scenes, and engaged in more serious practices.
59. ___________ refers to any exploitation of one’s role, such as accepting bribes, protection money, or kickbacks.
ANSWER: Graft
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
60. The computerized crime-counting program known as was designed to hold police officials
accountable for their department’s effectiveness, which led some to make improper arrests to bolster their numbers.
ANSWER: Compstat
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
ANSWER: prostitutes
REFERENCES: Abuse of Authority
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
62. In the 1980s, a group of police officers nicknamed the “River Rats” committed a series of armed robberies in
______________.
ANSWER: Miami
REFERENCES: Criminal Cops
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
63. Conflict-of-interest laws recognize the reality that accepting items of value from stakeholders compromises a public
official’s ________________.
ANSWER: discretion
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.01 - Describe the types of police corruption (economic corruption
and abuse of authority).
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
64. ________________ are items of value received by an individual because of his or her role or position rather than
because of a personal relationship with the giver.
ANSWER: Gratuities
REFERENCES: Economic Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
65. Experiences such as witnessing the death of a fellow officer or accidentally killing a bystander can cause ,
which produces symptoms such as flashbacks and anger control issues.
ANSWER: PTSD
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
ANSWER: rotten-apple
REFERENCES: Explanations of Deviance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.02 - Describe individual explanations of corruption and potential
solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
67. Civilian review boards have been in existence since the mid-1960s, yet continue to strongly oppose
them.
68. An agreement requiring a police department to adopt reforms mandated by the Department of Justice is known as
a(n) ____________________.
ANSWER: decertified
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
70. Regardless of formal ethical codes, police are influenced by the standards of behavior they observe in their
________________.
ANSWER: supervisors
REFERENCES: Reducing Police Corruption
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: ETHI.POLL.17.07.03 - Describe organizational explanations of corruption and
potential solutions.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
71. List and discuss examples of law enforcement corruption in other countries.
74. Discuss the difference between on-duty and off-duty misbehavior by police, and distinguish between police
corruption and police crime.
75. Describe the arguments supporting and opposing a policy that allows officers to accept gratuities.
76. Summarize the available research concerning the on-duty use of drugs by police officers and discuss the
implications.
78. Explain how “perverse incentives” such as COMPSTAT can lead to organizational corruption.
79. Explain the “continuum of compromise” as it relates to police misconduct, including how it might help
supervisors recognize warning signs.
80. Discuss the research concerning on-duty use of force. What factors seem to lead to use of excessive force?
I
La suivante curieuse histoire me fut contée par un gentleman rencontré
en chemin de fer. C’était un homme de plus de soixante-dix ans. Sa
physionomie profondément bonne et honnête, son air sérieux et sincère
mettaient une empreinte de vérité indiscutable sur chaque affirmation qui
tombait de ses lèvres. Voici son récit:
—«Vous savez en quel honneur l’éléphant blanc du Siam est tenu par les
peuples de ce pays. Vous savez qu’il est consacré aux rois, que les rois seuls
peuvent le posséder, et que, d’une certaine façon, il est au-dessus des rois
puisqu’il reçoit non seulement des honneurs, mais un culte. Très bien. Il y a
cinq ans, quand il y eut des difficultés de frontières entre la Grande-
Bretagne et le Siam, il fut démontré manifestement que c’était le Siam qui
avait tort. Les réparations nécessaires furent donc accordées promptement;
le représentant de l’Angleterre se déclara satisfait, et oublieux du passé. Le
roi de Siam s’en réjouit fort, et, partie par gratitude, partie pour effacer les
dernières traces de mécontentement de l’Angleterre à son égard, il voulut
envoyer un présent à la reine, seul moyen de se concilier la faveur d’un
ennemi, d’après les idées orientales. Ce présent devait être non seulement
royal, mais transcendantalement royal. Dès lors, que pouvait-on trouver de
mieux qu’un éléphant blanc? Ma position dans l’administration de l’Inde
me fit juger particulièrement digne de l’honneur de porter le présent à Sa
Majesté. On fréta un vaisseau pour moi et ma suite, pour les officiers et les
serviteurs de l’éléphant et en dû temps j’arrivai à New-York, et logeai ma
royale commission dans un superbe local à Jersey-City. Il fallait s’arrêter
quelque temps, pour permettre à l’animal de reprendre des forces avant de
continuer le voyage.
«Tout alla bien pendant quinze jours, puis mes infortunes commencèrent.
On avait volé l’éléphant blanc! Je fus éveillé en pleine nuit pour apprendre
l’affreux malheur. Pendant un moment, je demeurai éperdu de terreur et
d’anxiété. Nul espoir ne me restait. Puis je me calmai un peu et rassemblai
mes esprits. Je vis ce qu’il y avait à faire, car il n’y avait qu’une seule chose
à faire pour un homme intelligent. Quoiqu’il fût tard, je courus à New-York,