, 1917-08-16

came even more mystiied by his ac-
lions a few days later.
/ was in ignorance that a fortnight
before Hermann Hardt, one of his
%highness' couriers, had left Potsdam
and on arrival at Nice had rented for
three months the fine Villa Lilas.
We soon settled there and on the
evening Of our arrival ] accompanied
the crown prince down into the town
to the Jetee promenade.
We smoked together and chatted, as
we often did when his imperial high
ness became bored. l was still mysti-
fed 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 n short, stout old Frenchman,
with white, bristly hair-who l af-
terward found out was Monsieur Paul
Bavouzet, the newly appointed project
of the department of Alpes-Marltimes
called, to leave his card, upon b
Count Won Grunau.
The imperial i%ncognito only means
that the public are to be deluded. Off
cialdom never is. They know the ruse,
and support it all the world over. His
highness the crown prince was paying
his annual visit to Nice, and the presi-
dent had sent his compliments through
his representative, the bristly-haired
little project.
AS 1 departed from the crown prince,
who yawned and declared that he was
tired, he said:
"Ah! H%eltzendorff. How good it is
to get a breath Of soft air from the
Mediterranean We shall have a port
ON this pleasant sea one day-if we
live as long-eh?"
That remark showed the trend of
events. 1t showed how, hand in hand
with the emperor, he was urging prep
arations for war-a war that had for
its primary object the destruction of
the powers which, when the volcano
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
FOpera, 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, advanced to the lit
tie table in the corner whereat l was
sitting.
MAY 1 be permitted to have a word
with you, monsieur" she asked in
French, in a low, refined voice.
Certainly" was my reply, and, 1
rose and drew a chair for her.
She glanced round quickly, as
though to satisfy herself hat she
would not be overheard. j saw that
she was about twenty-four, handsome,
dark-haired, with well-cut features.
81 know, monsieur, that / am a COM
plete stranger to you" she exclaimed
with a smile, but to me you r quite
familiar by sight. i have passed you
many times in Berlin and in Potsdam,
and / know that you are Count Won
Heltzendorff, personal adjutant to his
highness the crown prince-or Count
Won Grunau, as he is known here in
France"
You know that !" ! exclaimed.
She smiled mysteriously, replying:
Yes. well, 1 happen to be a
friend of his highness."
l held my breath. So this pretty
young Frenchwoman was one of my
imperial masters friends!
1.-The fact is" she went on, II have
travelled a considerable distance to see
you. 1 said that / was one of the
crown princes friends. Please do not
misunderstood me. / know that he
has u good many friends, but l have
never been introduced to him, and he
does not know me. / am his friend
because of a certain friendliness to-
ward him."
REALLY, madame, / don't quite I'M
d%erstand," l said.
'Of course not" she answered, and
then, glancing round, she added: This
place is a little too public. Cannot
we go across the garden yonder?"
1 rose and walked with her to a
quiet spot in the gardens.
She told me that her name was
Julie de Rouville, but she would give
no account of where she lived.
81 have ventured to approach you,
because l cannot approach the crown