It never has failed me. Twice in my life I went against
it; twice I had bitter cause of regret.
Well, I didn't give von Stammer his decision on the moment because I
wanted to try the old test. Kim produced the cards and I began to
play. I got it out the second time. Going to the 'phone I called von
Stammer and told him I would undertake the mission. He asked me to
come at once to his house, and there I received final instructions and
passports, the latter essential south of the Austrian frontier.
At three o'clock in the morning I boarded the Orient Express via
Vienna and made a stop over of a day at Budapest. I went immediately
to Donaustrasse 24 and saw the Austrian agent Kowalsky. From him I
gained points that were invaluable to me. For instance, he gave me
the names of men who frequented certain places in Belgrade, men w ho
would be of use to me. He also warned me of certain persons,
especially women whom he knew to be in Russian employ. That night I
caught a train for Belgrade, well satisfied with the results of my
visit to Kowalsky.
Before dinner time the next day, I was installed at the Hotel de Paris
in Belgrade. My rooms had been engaged for me beforehand and they
were the most expensive in the hotel--for a reason. I found myself in
an elaborate suite on the first door, known as the suite Des Princes.
This was a necessary move of the parvenu as money is the first and
last word in the Balkans.
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