The Washington times., 1917-06-17
knowledge of Berlin Secret
ProUeS Fatal to Italian Girl
Singer Who Learned About Plans of Kaiser and Crown
Prince Concerning Britain Meets Sudden DEATH

at it when all the honors Of the game
are already in our hands
His Actions PuEzIInE.
His words mystiied me. but l became
even more mystifed by his actions a few
days later.
i was in ignorance that a fortnight
before Hermann Hardt. one Of his high
ness couriers, had left Potsdam. and
on arrival at Nice had rented for three
months the fine Villa LiIas.
We soon settled there. and on the
evening Of our arrival | accompanied
the crown prince down into the towa
TO the Jetee promenade.
We smoked together and chatted. as
we often did when his imperial high
ness became bored. l was still myst-
ned why we had come to the Riviera so
early in the season.
Yet our coming had. no doubt. been
privately signaled because within half
an hour Of our arrival at the Villa Lilas
a short, stout old Frenchman, with
white. bristly hair-whom l afterwards
! found out was Monsieur Paul Bavouzet.
the newly appointed prefect Of the de-
I partment OF Apes-Maritimes-ca to
leave his card upon the Count Won Cru
nau.
Only Public DeIuded.
The imperial incognito only means
that the public are to be deluded. OF
ficialdom never Is. They knew the
ruse, and support 1t all the world
I over. His hiEness. the crown prince,
was paying his annual visit to Nice,
] and the President had sent his compli-
ments through his representative, the
bristly-haired little perfect.
As l departed from the crown
prince. who yawned and declared that
he was tired.-he said:
"Ah! Heltzendorff. How good II IL
to get a breath of soft air from the
! Mediterranean. We shall have a part
! live as long-eh?"
That remark showed the trend OF
events. II showed how. hand in hand
with the Emperor. he was urging pre-
| parations for war-a war that had
for its primary object the destruction
| OF the powers which, when the vol
cano erupted, united as allies.
The MysterIOus Lady.
After we had been at the villa Lilas
about ten days. ! was one afternoon
seated outside the popular Cafe de
rOpera, in the Place Massena, when a
lady, dressed in deep mourning and
wearing the heavy veil in French
style, passed along the pavement,
glanced at me. and then hesitating.
! she turned, and, coming back, advsnc.
ed to the little table in the corner
whereat was sitting.
May be permitted to have a word
! with you. monsieur" she asked in
French. in a low. refined voice.
Certainly was my reply, and, ]
| rose and drew a chair for her.
She glanced round quickly. as
though TO satisfy herself that she
would not be overheard. / saw that
she was about twenty-four. handsome.
dark haired. with weIl-cut features.
II know. monsieur, that ] am
] complete stranger to you" she e1-
claimed with a smile. "but to me you
are quite familiar by sight. ! have
passed you many times In Berlin and
| in Potsdam. and ! know that you are
Count Won Heltzendorff. personal ad-
| jutant to his highneEs the crown
prince-or Count Won Grunau, as he
Is known here in France
You know that" l exclaimed.
She smiled mysteriousIy. replying:
Yes. well. ! happen to be
friend of his highness."
Seeks Secluded spot.
held my breath. So this pretty
young Frenchwomsn was one OF my
young imperial masters friends!
The fact is." she went on, 81 have
/ Travelled a considerable distance to
see you. said that was one of
the crown princes friends. but ! have
never been introduced to him. and he
does not know me. am his friend
! because OF a certain frisndliness to-
ward him"
Really. madame. don't quite un-
derstand, said.
"Of course not" she answered. and
then. ElancinE around. she added:
This place is a little 100 public. Can
not we go across the garden yonder?"
rose and walked with her to a
| quiet spot in the gardens.
She told me that her name was
Julie de RouviIle, but she would give
no account OF where she lived.
Il ventured to approach you. be-
cause I cannot approach the crown
prince" she said, presently. You
probably do not know the true rea-
son of his visit here to Nice
NO, ] said. i adinlt that i do
not why IL he here"
Entente Based On Fraud.
cit IL secret OF his own. But
I am aware of the reason. and that
is why have sought you. Would
II surprise you II I told you that in
a certain quarter Of France II will,
in a few days. be known that the
German Emperor is establishing a
movement for an entente between
Germany and Britain. and that the
whole AFFAIR IL based upon a fraud?
The Emperor wants no entente, but
only war with France and with
Britain. The whole plot will be ex-
posed in a few days"
From what source have you de-
rived this knowledge" ] asked, look
ing at her in amazement.
But she again smiled mysteriously.
and said:
81 merely tell you this in order to
prove to you that ] am in possession
of certain facts known to but few
people"
you evidently are" ] said. But
who intends TO betrsy the truth to
France?"
81 regret. count, that cannot an
swer your question.
"If Won are as you say, the crown
princes friend. II would surely be a
I n knpv- he