The Washington herald., 1914-10-18

" But there was another man in a lof-
tier position than NJ. Delcasse. / took
my leave of the minister, as if I were
going to lay his terms before my august
principal As soon as / was outside
the ministry l entered a hacre and
) drove straight to the Palace of the
Elysee.
NJ Loubet received me in a manner
which told me at once that he had been
left in ignorance of the whole intrigue.
Ny first words electrified him.
What do you say!- he cried out.
The Kaiser a prisoner on French ter
ritoryl Sit down, monsieur. and ex-
plain your extraordinary statement"
! The President heard me out with tho
closest attention, an in perfect silence.
When had finished he said:
Both parties have been wrong in
this most regrettsble transaction, 10
seems to me. The Emperor is to blame
for having crossed the frontier of
France without my invitation. NJ. Del
casse is also to blame. as I shall bo
obliged to tell him. 1t was his plain
duty to stop the Emperor on our from
tier, and have him deported with every
consideration. To lay a trap of this
kind, and, above all, to seek to take adj
vantage of it. is unworthy of the great
ness of France"
Ny hopes revived at these words. NJ.
Loubet concluded:
"On one point / agree with NJ. Del
casse. 1t is impossible for me to ac-.
knowledge that the prisoner styled
Number 100 is foreign sovereign, and
therefore not amenable to the law of,
France. Neither can I order his re-,
lease on the ground that he has been
wrongly accused. That is a matter for
the tribunals only"
Then what does your excelIency in
tend?" exclaimed in dismsy.
You will see"
The President touched a bell, and
said to the secretary who came in:
Bring me the Grand Gordon. And
order my private carriage"
In a minute the secretary returned
bearing a case, from which the Presi-
dent took the splendid insignia of his
rank as head of the Legion of Honor.
the most famous order in the world
NJ. Loubet put the chain over his
shoulders. adjusted the crimson sash
across his breast and then put on
light oyercoat, which he buttoned up So
as to conceal the decorations.
Come with me-" he said.
l followed him out into the carriage.
and he gave the order-"To Mazas."
Arriving at the prison We alighted,
and the President commanded the jan
itor to take him straight to the gov
ernor.
We found that official in the room in,
which he had received me less than
twelve hours before. He rose to his
feet alarmed and agitated, as the Pres
ident was announced. NJ. Loubet. With
great dignity, placed himself in the
governors chair.
You have in your custody a prison.
er who refuses to give his name. and
who is described in the book OF the
prison as Number 100. have come to-
see him discharged"
But, your excellency!'' the governor
repeated with a helpless air, when
have received prisoner I am respon-
5ible for him to the minister. I can re-
ease him only under an order of the
court"
NJ. Loubet rose to his feet and threw
back his overcoat, revealing the daz-
ling emblems of his state.
IN the name of the French repub-,
ic, / command you to obey mel"
Pale, and trembling In every limb,
he terrified governor crossed the room
nd returned with the great volume
the entries of his prisons.
NJ. Loubet dipped a pen in the inks
nd wrote across the final column in a,
arge, clear hand:
"Pardoned by the President of tho,
epublic. EMILE LOUBET."
There is your warrant" said tho
PRESIDENT firmly, as he laid down the
en-; now take me to the prisoners
ell"
Without a word the chief of the pris-.
n conducted US to where l had left
le imperial captive and unlocked the
oor.
"You may retire." NJ. Loubet order-
d. "And you, Monsieur v, be,
God enough to wait for a few min
tes."
He walked into the cell alone, ana
osed the door.
What passed between the illustrious
air, so strangely confronted by nv
yeney, neither has ever informed me
reetly.