, 1917-08-02

court" size-linen-lined, as are all en-
velopes used by the emperor for his
private correspondence. 1 saw 1t had
been sealed in black by his own hand.
Then, as he handed it to me, he said !:
go to Dresden as quickly as pos
sible and obtain a reply to this"
1 clicked my heels together, and,
saluting, left upon my secret mission
to the Saxon court.
The letter was addressed to Baron
Georg o Metzsch at Dresden.
Next day, when 1 presented it to the
tall, thin controller of the household,
I saw that its contents greatly puzzled
him.
He wrote a reply, and as imperial
messenger, l returned at once to Pots
dam, handing it to the emperor as he
strobe alone from the Shell salon,
through which he was passing after
dinner.
He took it from my hand without a
word, tore open the envelope, read its
contents, and then smiled contentedly,
after which l went to old Won Donau-
Sldul IOODl1 anu SLlOhtu u EOOu ClbdI
in his company.
The Crown Princess Calls.
Next day we were all back at the
Berlin Schloss. During the morning
his majesty inspected the Berlin gar
rison in the Tempelhofer Field, and
the Princess Louisa rode with him.
That same afternoon, while 1 was
htrcu rxrftinu In thu lnnn rnnrn oil
lotted to me in the Berlin Schloss, her
imperial highness, to my surprise, en-
tered, closing the door quietly after
her.
Count Won Heltzendorff, you have
been on a secret mission to hat spy,
Won Metzsch, in Dresden. have you
not?"
/ rose, bowed, and without replying
~courteously offered her a chair.
why do you not admit it," she
asked quickly.
princess, If the emperor gives me
orders to preserve secrecy, then it is
my duty to obey" l said.
81 know" she answered, and then I
realized how upset and nervous n
seemed. But Won Metzsch hates me,
and has put about all sorts of scandal
u reports concerning me. All !
count" she sighed, you do not know
how very unhappy 1 am-how / am
surrounded by enemies!"
81 much regret to hear that" I said.
But your imperial highness has also
many friends, of whom 1 hope 1 may
be permitted to number myself"
"Ah! 1t is extremely good of you
to say that-very good. If you really
are my friend, then you can help me.
You are in a position to watch and
discover what is in progress-the rea
son the emperor exchanges those con-
slant condolences with Won Metzsch,
the man who twisted my husband
with my Observation-Disclosures, Frau
o Fritsch, already poisoned his mind
against me. Ali you have no idea
how much / have suffered"
She seemed on the verge of a nerv-
u crisis, for l saw that in her fine
eyes stood the light of unshed tears,
and / confess / was much puzzled,
for l had certainly believed, up to that
moment, that she was on excellent
terms with her husband.
But surely his highness, the crown
prince of Saxony, does not believe any
of those wicked reports?" / said.
"Ahl Then you have heard. OF
course, you have. Won Metzsch has
taken good care to let the whole world
know the lies that he and the Countess
Paule Starhemberg have concocted be-
tween them. 1t is cruel! 1t is
wickedl !"
"No, no. Calm yourself, princess !"
1 urged sympathetically. 81 am at
least your friend, and will act as such,
should occasion arise"
"Ah !" she exclaimed in u low voice.
Il fear 1 shall require the assistance
of a friend very Don Do you recol-
lect my broken pearls?"
And n few moments later she left
the room.
"You Liel"
Through all that day and the next
/ wondered what underhand work
could be in progress. / pitied the good
looking, unconventional imperial prin-
cess who, because of her somewhat
h~oydenish high spirits, had aroused
the storm of anger and jealousy in the
Saxon court. But the Hapsburgs had