Tombstone epitaph., 1915-10-17

- mitrien had begged her to return to Sofa, but. since che found the Bulga- rian climate unendurable, Dimitrieff has come to Vienna on the eve of wa. to say good-by to her. The queens opposition made Bulgaria impossible for Mademoiselle Celeste. you know"
 Dimitrien! Dimitrien! Suddenly l bethought myself of a young military officer of Bulgarian birth. fellow at tache with me at Berlin. a man whom 1 had known very well indeed when Prince Alexander and Stambuloff were the storm center of Europe during the turbulent period of the eighties.
 l had followed the careers of most of my former friends through the newspapers. I knew that Nicholas Dimitrieff had risen tigh in his pro- fession of arms, and that a Nicholas Dimitrien was now war minister of the belligerent little state that was the chief partner in the newly formed Balkan league against Turkey. The thought that this might be my old friend silenced all my scruples about listening further.
 1 was not surprised that Dimitrieff had succumbed to the fascination of Mademoiselle Celeste, a woman of Russian birth. who had recently made tour of the Balkan principalities.
 So Dimitrieff had rushed on to Vienna upon the eve of war. to see her, carrying important papers with him. How like Dimitrien of old days, I remembered a certain escapade out of which I had once helped him. his protestations of eternal gratitude, and a very warm feeling toward the man whom I had not seen for so many years swept over me.
 He is staying at the Hotel Metz, under the name of Ivanoff," the little man continued. The tailor has seen him, and feels confident that he can du- plicate the dress coat The grease is arranged for. and the hotel valet has been instructed that you will buy the discarded coat"
 How do you know for certain that he has those papers?" I asked, trying to conceal my loathing fo. the little spy.
 Our agent sat in the same compart- ment with him during the entire jour ney from Sofia to Vienna. Now, our man observed that Dimitriefr con- stantly put his hand to his pocket dur ing the journey. as If to satisfy him. self that the papers were there. Un- doubtedly he Is carrying them in his pocket
 tried to keep my face impassive In my day diplomacy, subtle though it might be on occasion, never resort ed to the substitution of dress coats However. it seemed to me incredible that Dimitrieff would leave the papers. which were evidently SO valuable, in the wrong pocket.
 Tie little man leaned forward and spoke immediately into my ear
 The alternative plan of attacking Dimitrieff was considered" he said. but it was felt to be impossible. Apart from tke certainty that Dimit- rien is armed. one cannot assault minister of a foreign state in the streets of Vienna. even though he is travelling incognito."
 No. You are quite right" I an- swered.
 We sounded Mademoiselle Celeste without her knowledge. but we found that she could not be influenced, be- ing fellow Slav. However, if she shares the psychological nature of women. she will do everything that is necessary without the least suspicion that she is aiding us. Do you stay long at Vienna, mein herr? It was my intention to go to Agram, and l should have started at noon. had not word reached me that you were in the capital"
 T cannot tell you," answered. My plans are-weIl, indefinite"
 "Of course" answered the spy. smiling. And where shall the dress coat be brought tomorrow morning?"
 gave the fellow my address at the Hotel Families I also gave him my own name, which he undoubtedly con- sidered a nom de plume, for his smiles anu OCSaAc oo outidBcoucty miliar that 1 left him.
 But I wondered who I was supposed to be as I stroIled up the Kcenis- strasse.
 That the Austrian government had urgent need of certain documents vi tai to Bulgaria had no doubt. That the diplomats of the dual monarchy had resorted to a particularly shabby trick to obtain them was evident. Of course. the little spy was . go-be- tween. But those other men in the club
 could never enter the Diplomats club again. The atmosphere there was intoIerebls. If the new diplo- macy was represented by the type of man who seemed to predominate there, would prefer to associate with Iow-grade commercial travellers.
 1 made my way toward the Hotel Metz. with the object of warning DmitrieR.
 The hotel clerk informed me that Herr IvanoR was out. He had gone out early that morning. He could not say when he would return.