, 1917-08-16

DLAllNts wv Sdlu DltStLliSs Aou Blop
ably do not know the true cas- of
his visit here to Nicer"
NO" 1 said. 81 admit that 1 do
not. Why is he here?"
ut is a secret of his own. But, /
an aware of the reason, and that is
why / have sought you. Would it III
prise you if I told you hat in a GER
tain quarter in France it will, in a few
days, be known that the German en-
peror is establishing a movement for
an entente between Germany and Brit
ain, and that the whole affair is based
upon a fraud? The emperor wants no
entente, but only wal with France and
with Britain. The whole plot will be
exposed in a few days!"
From what source have you de-
rived this knowledge?" 1 asked, look
ing at her in amazement.
But she again smiled m%ysteriously,
and said:
81 merely tell you this in order to
prove to you that 1 am in possession
of certain facts known to but few peo-
pie"
you evidently are" I said. "But
who intends to betray the truth to
France?"
81 regret, count, that I cannot n
swer your question"
"If you are, as you say, the crown
princes friend, it would surely be a
friendly act to let us know the truth,
so that steps may be taken, perhaps,
to avoid the secret of Germany's diplo-
macy from leaking out to her ne
miles,"
"All / can tell you, count, is that the
matter Is one of the gravest impor-
lance"
"But will you not speak openly, and
give us the actual facts?"
81 will-but to his imperial highness
alone" was her answer.
eff his highness will honor me with
an interview, then I will reveal all /
know, and, further, will suggest a
e of preventing the truth from
leaking out"
But you are French" / said.
II have told you So" she laughed.
"But probably his highness will refuse
to see Julie de Rouville, therefore, 1
think it best If you show him this"
From her little gold chain-purse she
produced a small, unmounted photo
graph of herself, and handed it to me.
"When he recognizes who wishes to
see him he will understand" she said,
in a quiet, refined voice. "a letter ad-
dressed to Julie de Rouville at the
Post Restante at Marseilles will quick
ly find me. / do not wish the letter
to be sent to me here. From Mar
settles / shall duly receive it."
i was silent for a few moments.
II confess" i exclaimed at last. 81
confess ! do not exactly see the neces-
sity for an interview with his high
ness, when whatever you tell meas
his personal adjutant-will be regard
ed as strictly in confidence"
81 have already said, Count Won
Heltzendorff, that / am his highness'
friend, and wish to approach him with
motives of friendship"
"You wish for no payment for this
information, eh?" / asked suspiciously,
half believing that she might be a Sc
cret agent of France.
"Payment-of course not! !" she an
swered, half Indignantly. "'Show that
photograph to the crown prince, and
tell him that / apply for an interview"
Then, rather abruptly, she rose and
walked away, leaving me with her pho
tOgraph in my hand.
The crown prince was out motoring,
and did not get back to the villa until
after seven o'clock.
AS soon as i heard of his return /
went to his room and recounted my
strange adventure with the dark
haired young woman in black. He be-
came keenly interested, and the more
SO when / told him of her secret
knowledge of the kaiser's intended es-
Enlistment of a bogus entente with
Great Britain.
"She wishes to see you" 1 said.
"And she told me to give you her pho
tograph." ,
j handed 1t to him.
At sight of 1t his face instantly
changed. He held his breath and then
examined the photograph beneath the
light.
Next second, however, he had recov-
cred his self-possession and said:
"Yes, of course, / know her. She