Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-09-07

crime. wife of Peter the Great. gave in
secret to the grand vizier to secure
the escape Of the Russian army across
the Pruth. l know, too, how he
laughed with my husband at the clever
ness by which he is fooling the too
trustful Turks. /"
Pardon. madame" I said. interrupt
Ing her, and speaking in French, hut
Is II really wise to speak thus of the
emperor? Your husband is, 1 fear
guilty Of great indiscretion I'm mention
ing such matters"
Il am his wife. count. and he con-
ceals little, If anything. from me-"
L looked the pretty young woman
straight In the face in fear and re-
gret.
Instantly l realized the serious dan
ger Of the secret being betrayed to
France.
Madame" | said. IF I may be per-
mitted, 1 would urge that the emper-
or's diplomacy neither concerns your
husband, as an official. nor yourself.
Ii is his own private affair, and should
neither be discussed nor betrayed"
Il know" she said. THAT is just
why l have ventured to come here to
consult you, monsieur, You have been
my good friend as well as my hus-
bands, and here today, while the en-
peror is our guest beneath our roof,
feel that l am in greatest peril"
"WhyT / asked with considerable
surprise.
The emperor has already learned
that 1 know the truth regarding his
secret" was her slow reply. by what
means his majesty discovered 1t, I.
alas! know not. But I do know from
confidential quarter that l have in
CURED the emperorss gravest displeas-
ure and hatred"
"WhO is your infOrmantT" inquired
sternly. eager to further investigate
the great intrigue.
"A certain person who must be name
less"
Have you spoken to anybody OF the
emperor's secret plans In Turkey. or
Of his possession of the Empress Cath
crimes jewels?"
81 have not uttered word to a sim
gle soul except my husband. swear
It,"
Your husband was extremely indis-
Greet in revealing anything" declared
again quite frankly.
II fully admit that. But what can
l do? How shall l act?" she asked in
a low. tense voice. "Advise me. do"
For some moments l remained ST.
lent. The situation was difficult.
well, madame replied after re-
Election, ''if you are really ready to
promise the strictest secrecy and leave
the matter to me. I will endeavor to
find way out of the acknowledgements
ing you-gOOd German that you are
by marriage-will take. before the en-
peror himself, an oath of complete
secrecy"
Il am ready to do anything-any-
thing for my dear husbands sake" the
handsome young woman assured me,
tears yelling I'm her fine dark eyes.
in that case, then, please leave
the matter entirely i'm my hands," l
said.
That same night. about ten O'Clock,
the emperor entered the room to which
l had just returned to work.
"Send Frau Kleist to me-" he
snapped. "And / will summon you
later when want you. Heltzendorff."
Frau Kleist! had no idea the wOm-
an had arrived ut the castle. But dis
patched one of the servants TO search
for her, and afterwards heard her high
pitched voice as she ascended the
stairs to hold secret counsel with his
Below I found the fat. fair-haired
little doctor from Augsburg. who was
still an enigma. but eager to see his
imperial patient.
Suddenly one of the imperial fun
keys bowed at the door. commanding
the doctor to the royal presence, and
he left me, hot and fiurried.
Had the emperor called the unknown
doctor into consultation with Frau
Kleist?
Inquiries / had made concerning the |
iOctor from Augsburg showed that he
was quite a well-knOwn specialist on
mental diseases, and he had also writ |
en a textbook upon bacteriOlOgy and |
he brain. Why had the kaiser sum-
nOned him? He required no brain
specialist.
I'VE leave tomorrow at nOon." the
Emperor exclaimed brusquely when. an
lOur later, i was summoned to his
Dom. This amazed me, for our, ar
angements were to remain three days
Onger. recollected Madam Reit-
chels words.
81 do not feel at all we'll" his majes-
v added. land this Doctor VOllerthun
riders me rest at POtsdam."
In silence / bowed. and then VEN
ured to refer to what was uppermOst
n my mind.
MAY be permitted to speak to your
majesty upon certain confidential
ubject?" I begged.
what subject?" snapped the EN-
error.
"Your majesty's negotiations with
he sultan of Turkey. Frau Reit-
chel has learned of them. but she Is
ager to come before you and take
n oath of entire secrecy"
The kaiser's eyes narrowed and
lowed in sudden anger.