The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-09-08

prince, she Salu presently. you prop
ably do not know the true reason Of
his visit here to Nice?'
mo-" 1 said. 81 admit that I dc
not. Why is he here?"
ut is a secret of his own. But. ]
am aware of the reason, and that is
why I have sought you. Would it sur.
prise you if I told you that in a Ger
tain quarter in France it will, in q few
days, be known that the German EN-.
peror is establishing a movement fol-
an entente between Germany and Brit.
ain, and that the whole affair is based
upon a fraud? The emperor wants nc
entente, but only war 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 mysteriously,
and said:
II merely tell you this in order to
prove to you that l 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 an
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 enc
miles,"
"All I can tell you, count, is that the
matter is one of the gravest impor-
tance."
"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 l will reveal all l
know, and, further, will suggest a
means of preventing the truth from
leaking out"
But you are French" I said.
81 have told you So" she laughed.
"But probably his highness will refuse
to see Julie de Rouville, therefore, /
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-
| droccod RI Tulio do po11ui1o OF tho
Post Restante at Marseilles will quick
ly find me. 1 do not wish the letter
to be sent to me here. From Mar
settles l shall duly receive It,"
l was silent for a few moments.
Il confess" / exclaimed at last. II
confess l do not exactly see the neces-
sity for an interview with his high
ness, when whatever you tell meas
his personal adjutant-wilf be regard
ed as strictly in confidence"
81 have already said, Count Won
Heltzendorff, that l am his highness'
friend, and wish to approach him with
motives of friendship"
"You wish for no payment for this
information, EN-" l 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 l apply for an interview"
Then, rather abruptly, she rose and
walked away, leaving M 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 / heard of his return l
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 l told him of her secret
knowledge of the kaiser's intended es-
tablishment of a bogus entente with
Great Britain.
"She wishes to see you," / said.
"And she told me to give you her pho
tograph."
/ handed it to him.
At sight of 1t his face instantly
changed. He held his breath and her
examined the photograph beneath the
light.
Next second, however, he had recov-
cred his self-possession and said:
"Yes, of course, l know her. She