Evening star., 1922-04-30
Secret of the Playful Princess
g M extremely annoyed at the
whole situation, M'sieur LIE
Queux. and l beg that you will
assist me-"

~
assist me-
1T will not only be my pleasure,
but consider it my duty, your maj
esty''
Well. have explained the reason
why l have given you private au-
dience tonight. / want you to hasten
TO London and see exactly what is
happening. I appoint you equerry to
Leopoldine. and place her affairs en-
tirely in your hands,"
1t was the white headed old En-
peror Francis Joseph who spoke. the
head of the Inflated Hapsburgs. Ever
since the long-ago days when my
father had represented the French
government at the Court of Vienna l
had been persona grata there. and for
a number of years the emperor ia
vored me with many gracious acts.
Because of my constant visits to VII
emma I had become acquainted with
several of the young archduchesses.
including the very skittish Princess
Leopoldine, who. at the age Of twen-
ty-three. had kicked over the traces.
and. her father being dead. she had
formed her own encourage and trav-
eled about Europe, enjoying herself
hugely.
Whispers of her unconventional
friendships having reached the en-
peror's ears, his private secretary.
Count Won Zichy, had telegraphed to
men in Leghorn. where l was living. to
come at once to Vienna. Next day !
Joined the Rome-Vienna express at
Pisa, and on arrival in the Austrian
capital had at once put on my dress
suit and presented myself to his maj
esty.
WAS known to the liveried servants
of that huge palace. AS I had
driven into the courtyard the sentries
had saluted. and without delay Won
Mariassy. the imperial chamberlain,
had conducted me up the grand stair
case ard through those many softly
carpeted corridors to the heavy pol
ished mahogany door which led to
his majesty's private apartments.
This the chamberlain opened with
his latchkey. and in large work.
room. half office. half salon, with
three long windows through which
the summer sunset was streaming, l
had found the emperor with his Sec
retary. engrossed in a great pile of
state documents.
At sign from his imperial master,
Won Zichy rose and left US together.
Then his majesty, who wore the un-
dress uniform Of a general. with decora-
tions, had sat and for full half hour
discussed the impossible doings Of the
pretty young princess.
"I see that the newspapers are
talking about her." he went on. II
am very displeased at all this. I
quite understand that girl of her
high spirits and bright temperament
is fond OF young society. Her fathers
home at Innsbruck was as quiet as
a monastery. went there once.
Ugh! Never again! Charles believed
in bringing up his children too strict
ly. / disagreed with him all along.
Here We have the result. Leopold
inc is bringing disgrace upon our
house. Therefore. hope that you will
do your best. M'sieur LIE Queux, to
stop all this"
Her imperial hiehness may resent
1t. I fear" 1 ventured to remark.
IF she does, then tell her you are
acting at my ORDERS" was his majes-
ty's hard reply. And II she still re-
sents, / will recall her here"
"As you wish, your majesty"
IT know very we'll that you are old
friends since childhood the en-
peror went on. "And I know that
Won have more influence over her
than any one"
perhaps. but II I join her in Lon
don, gossip will link our names to-
rether and there will be yet another
scandal"
And what matter" asked his
majesty. laughing lightly.
ITO myself it matters nothing. T, l
am only thinking of her highness.'
"well, one scandal more or less will
not be of much consequence, I sup
pose" he remarked, with a heavy
sigh.
THOUGH much has been said and
l written about the dead emperor.
he was, after all, very genial old
soul. and though some believe he was
anti-British, have reasons for
knowing that he looked upon Eng
land as his protector. and only by
the vile intrigues Of the kaiser was
hs pitchforked into the war against
,us.
1 drove back to the Bristol full OF
deep reflections. He had sent me
back once more to the side Of the
playful princess as her friends
loved to call her. Two years ago we
had parted in Palermo and I had
vowed within myself never to see
her again. Yet by fate and the or
der of the emperor I was to go back
to her as director of her affairs.
I confess that 1 was going to Lon
don upon a somewhat distasteful mis-
sion, but when one Is in the conf
-dence of a ruling sovereign 1t is DIFF
ficult to refuse or disobey. At last
Il found myself on the Dover boat.
crossing the channel on a gray and
cherries afternoon.
That night after dinner I tapped
at tie door of Princess Leopoldine's
private sitting room at Claridge's.
and. hearing her voice within, en-
tered.