Williams news., 1917-08-30

and further, that he had taken with him his crafty crony, Lohlein.
 During that mysterious absence when the tinseled world of Potsdam seemed at peace-the good-looking Saxon crown princess arrived.
 was on duty on the railway plat form to bow over her hand and to well come her.
 "Ah! Count von Heltzendorff! Well, did I not say that I should not be very long before I returned to Pots dam, eh?" she exclaimed. Then with a merry laugh: "Do you remember those clattering hoofs and my broken rope of pearls? Nothing has hap pened yet"
 An Angry Emperor.
 Three days later an incident occur red which caused me good deal of thought, and, truth to tell, mystiied me considerably.
 That somewhat indiscreet journal, the Ailitaer Wochenblatt, had pub lished a statement to the effect that Friedrich-August of Saxony and the handsome Louisa had had a violent quarrel, a fact which caused a great deal of gossip throughout court cir cles.
 Old Won Donaustauf, who at that time was master of the ceremonies at the emperor's court, busied himself by spreading strange scandals regarding the Grown Princess Louisa. There fore, in the circumstances, it struck me as strange that her highness should have been invited to the puritanical and hypocritical circle at Potsdam.
 That afternoon, soon after the guard had been changed, chanced to be writing in my room, which over looked the big central courtyard, when I heard the guard suddenly turn out in great commotion, by which I knew that his majesty had suddenly re- turned from Hubertusstock.
 Ten minutes later my telephone by order to his majesty's study, that chamber of plots and secrets, hung with its faded green silk damask, it's furniture covered with the same mate rial, and it's net curtains at the win dows threaded with ribbons of the same shade.
 The moment entered the emperor's countenance showed me that he was very angry. Lohlein had returned with him, and stood watching the emperor as the latter impatiently paced the room.
 I saluted, awaiting orders in silence, but so preoccupied was his majesty that he did not notice my presence, but continued his outburst of furious wrath. "Only see what Won Hoens- brooch has reported!' he cried. q am being made laughing-stock- you know it, Lohlein! It has been said of us that woman, a whim, or 9 word will today raise any person , high rank in our empire! That black-guard, Harden, has actually dared to write it in his journal. Well, we shall see. That woman-she shall"
 Suddenly he realized that I was present, and hesitated. Next second both his tone and his manner changed.
 "Heltzendorff-I-I- you to go to Dresden and take a private letter. It will be ready in half an hour. Say nothing to anyone concerning your de parture, but report to me here at four o'clock"
 A Secret Mission to the Saxon Court.
 As commanded, I reported, but the kaiser was with the empress, who, in one of her private apartments, was holding petit cercle, the Princess Louisa being present. Indeed, as en- tered that semi-circular salon the kaiser was standing astride before Louisa's chair, laughing gayly with her. He could alter his moods just as he changed his three hundred odd uni forms.
 There was something mysterious in the wind-of that felt absolutely con vinced. The atmosphere of that faded green upstairs room was always one of confidential conversations, intimate conferences and secret plots-plots, as has since been proved-against the peace of the world.
 The emperor, noticing that I had en- tered the imperial presence, came for ward, and followed him back into the softly-carpeted corridor. Then he took from the inner pocket of his tunic an envelope of what you in England call