In a short time I was joined by the
Countess who had thrown a hooded mantle over a brilliant evening gown.
Quietly slipping into a chair next to me she took some folded papers
out of her glove, and while fastening a little rosebud into my lapel
slipped them into mvv pockets with the words:
"All I could obtain, but you'll find it sufficient. I'm leaving for
Rome to-morrow night. Bon voyage!"
I looked at my watch and saw I had time to catch the train for Milan.
No sooner was I locked in my coupe and the train in motion, when I had
a good look at the papers. They were two half sheets of note paper,
embossed with the princely coat of arms and containing abbreviated
sentences of dates, and names and a route, all in the handwriting of
Delcasse and the Prince. The whole gist with her repeated, overheard
snatches of conversation showed clearly an intended secret visit of
the President of France to the Czar of Russia, the names of the
officials to be present and the meeting place, the Czar's yacht, the
_Staandart_, off Kronstadt. This meeting, however, did not take
place, the Kaiser forestalling it by his quick action on the Moroccan
situation.
From Milan I went to Berlin and within forty-eight hours the documents
were delivered into the hands of Count von Wedel, and then into the
hands of the Emperor. Their significance was this:
The Moroccan trouble was very ominous.
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