Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-07-16

William Ill He was of course we'll |
known to me by sight, for the Incl |
dent ! speak of took place at time |
when l was attached to the staff OF
the foreign office in Paris, and when, |
as you may have heard, there was
some talk of making me deputy and
minister.
But preferred diplomatic career
to a parliamentary one, and do not
regret my decision. In q country like
France, which is ruled over by the
bourgeoisie, politics reduces itself
to terribly prosaic level can only
find the romance for which my dis
| position Graves in the courts OF those
countries where the will of monarch
still counts for much, and where the
course of the greatest events may be
decided by a nod given at the right
moment, or by sentence whispered
in the intervals of a waltz.
| Though / never before had any I'M
tercourse with Prince Citron, was
familiar with the stories in circula-
ton about him. 1t was generally be-
lieved that his residence in Paris was
not altogether voluntary-that in fact,
he had been compelled to leave the
Hague In consequence of some ter
rible misunderstanding with his father;
and there were those who asserted
that the old king of the Netherlands
had sworn that his son should never
return so long as he himself was alive.
But, though there were a hundred diff
ferent versions OF the cause OF this ex-
lie, the truth of the matter had re-
NAMED a secret from every one, and
even in his most reckless moments
no allusion to it ever passed the lips
Of the prince.
In the meantime, the manner of
his life since he had come to reside in
Paris was unhappily only too we'll as
certained. From the moment of quit
ting his own country he seemed to have
cast aside all restraint, and abandoned
himself to all kinds of excuses, with
out even attempting to keep up that
outward decorum which is the moral
ity of princes.
There were few crimes which had
not been laid to the charge of this
degenerate scion of the house of Or
ange, who appeared to take a delight
in outraging public opinion. The worst
things which were said about him it
! would be impossible for me to repeat,
and firmly believe they were I'M
founded; but enough was known or
suspected to make his friendship con-
sidered a doubtful honor; and in
! short, but for his exalted rank, the
: doors of society would have been long
: ago shut in his face.
I Such was this miserable being, on
whom, nevertheless, the eyes of Euro
I pean statesmen had long been anxious
ly fixed, and whose life. by strange
turn Of events, had become OF the
greatest value to France. If you
! will cast your eye over the map Of
J Europe you will perceive, nesting
, between the frontiers of France, Ger
| many and Belgium, the little state OF
4 Luxembourg. At the time of which
9 speak. Luxembourg was united to the
t Dutch kingdom by a similar tie to that
9 which formerly connected Hanover
t with Great Britain; that Is to say
:, William III of the Netherlands wai
g also Grand Duke of Luxembourg
AS In your case. however. the law,
; regulating the succession were differ
ent in the two countries. In Holland tbs
g crown was capable of being inherited
e by female in the absence of direc
e male heirs, whereas In Luxemburl
/ the Salie constitution prevailed. undel
g which no female can ever inherit. Con
q sequently when William III died with
9 out leaving a son, the Grand Ouch!
2 was separated from the Netherlands
g just as Hanover became separated
q from your country on the accession
. Of Queen Victoria. King William lef
Q q daughter who inherited the Dutcl
q crown, while Luxembourg passe.
3. to the house of Nassau. But at thi
q time there was prospect Of the uniol
OF the two territories being maintainei
In the person of the young prince VIII
II had SO strangely come beneath M
% roof. France was interested in thi
II question. because 1t was feared tina
r II Luxembourg passed from under tn
. sway of a Dutch monarch, Il woul
% fall into the system of the GERMAN
Is Empire, to which 1t had formerly be
It longed, and thus increase the powe
le Of our relentless enemies The Gel
man government on its side earnestl
9, desired this event, which has sine
8, come to pass. You will now compre
ID bend what important interest Ger
Ie tered in the life of Prince Citron
y this disreputable waif of the boule
ID Yards.
sr You will acquit me. feel certain
g of any intention to profit by the acc
10 dent which had caused me to becom
o. the protector of the prince So littl
10 did / expect that was about to be
G come the possessor of a secret suff
cient to have lighted the flames o
( war, that was merely waiting til
d my guest had sufficiently recovered {
m offer him my escort to his own res
II dence.
); The first sign had that he wa
e coming TO himself was finding his eye
d obstinately fixed upon me in a lon
o gaze. No sooner did he perceive tina
his look was returned. however, tina
IS a deep flush suffused his face, b
r threw up his hands with that patheti
n gesture / had observed when / frs
~.