The Nevada County picayune., 1915-06-25

empty one met. and drove furiousIy l to the Quai d'Orsay T was lucky enough to find M. Fleu- | to him the terrible news which had | just heard.
 "The minister was absolutely stupa- | fled.
 "Did Lord Soames tell you this? was his first question. l "Iord Soamesi No, have not seen | him for days I answered, remember ing the caution had received. The 1 intelligence reached me direct from 1 Berlin, by channel which l am not permitted to disclose. But you may rely upon it's absolute truth 1 "M. Fleuriot tore his hair. | Beast that I am!' he cried de- spairingly, I ought to have suspected that this pretended alliance was one of Bismarck's traps. And I believed in the faith of that Prussian.'
 Then there is such a document? I exclaimed. little less dismayed than he was.
 ! sisted that the first written proposal | should come from us. I placed 1t in his hands four days ago, and doubtless it is by this time in Bismarck's pos session. I have betrayed my country | to that wretch!'
 q exerted myself to soothe him. | Finally said:
 Give me letter to our ambassa- dor in Berlin, and I will go there my | self and regain this paper from Bis marck's clutches You will? Baron, you are an angel! Do this. and you shall have the grand cross of the legion, swear it. Your F1euriot will regard you as his savior!'
 "On the second day I arrived in Der | lin. My first step was to see our am bassador there, an upright and pains taking diplomatist, but a man who was | by no means a match for the internal craft of Bismarck. My sudden appearance naturally caused him the greatest astonishment, which was changed into chagrin as explained to him how he, like M. Fleu- riot. had been duped by the perfidious l chancellor
 l But what you tell me is impos- sible,' he exclaimed. I know the char acter of Wilhelm II too well. That he | should conceive the idea of trans forming the foreign policy of Germany does not surprise me, but that he should have the cunning to contrive plot of this kind Is incredible. He is Charles XII, not Machiavelli.'
 This was the very point on which I desired to sound the ambassador. fixed on him an ironical smile.
 And what part has the kaiser in this affair, then?' I asked him.
 He gazed at me in bewilderment
 "'Why, Prince von Bismarck in- formed me'-he began, and stopped short. chilled by the sarcasm of my look.
 Bismarck informed you that he was acting under the kaisers instruc- tions. But what assurance have you that this was not part of the trick?'
 "'You must be right he exclaimed at length. The kaiser never has re- ferred to the matter. though I have twice conversed with him since it was broached'
 q was satisfied. It only remained for me to put in execution the design which I had conceived.
 "The following morning found me at the imperial palace.
 AS soon as had sent up my name, I was ushered up the great main stair case of the palace to the first landing stage and brought into his majesty's | private cabinet The kaiser, as l en- tered, started up from table on which lay the design of a battleship, and welcomed me with effusion.
 "I thought it we'll to commence by administering compliment. | My government l observed. 'en- l tertains sentiments of the most pro- found respect for your majesty. and it believes that you cherish no hostile feeling toward France
 "'Your government is right, he in- | terjected. So long as France con | ducts herself with propriety, and re- frains from indulging in disturbing ! projects. she may assure herself of my | good will
 'I affected to receive this condescen- sion with delight. 'Ah. sire exclaimed, if my coun- | trymen could only hear those gracious words, Such kindness makes my present mission easy. It is no doubt an irregular thing for my government to communicate with your majesty, except through the official channels. Our excuse is the high regard in which France holds your majesty personally. and the belief that. in matters of for eign policy it is no longer the Prince von Bismarck who exercises sole con troll
 The emperor drew himself up
 :" am the only person who exer-